Derby Days a big hit in Redmond

Thousands of people flocked to the 69th Annual Derby Days Summer Festival on Saturday in downtown Redmond. The big hit of the extravaganza was the Redmond Medical Center Derby Days Parade, which featured University of Washington head softball coach Heather Tarr as the Grand Marshal of the parade. Tarr, who graduated from Redmond High in 1993, guided the Huskies to the NCAA national title in June.

July 13, 2009 2:00 pm
Heather Tarr
Heather Tarr

Thousands of people flocked to the 69th Annual Derby Days Summer Festival on Saturday in downtown Redmond.

The big hit of the extravaganza was the Redmond Medical Center Derby Days Parade, which featured University of Washington head softball coach Heather Tarr as the Grand Marshal of the parade. Tarr, who graduated from Redmond High in 1993, guided the Huskies to the NCAA national title in June.

In the past, there were two separate parades, the Kids Parade and Grand Parade. This year, the two parades were combined into one big event with plenty to see.

Saturday’s festivities also featured the Redmond Bicycle Criterium, a bounty of live entertainment at the Microsoft Entertainment Stage and of course, the Funtastic Carnival at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center.

Derby Days began with a pancake breakfast, hosted by the Redmond Firefighters, and concluded with a fun-filled fireworks finale.