This year’s Derby Days Summer Festival will be from July 13-15 and feature special activities to commemorate the City of Redmond’s Centennial Celebration.
The festival is in ints 72nd year and will run Friday from 6-10 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to noon and 4-8 p.m. Events will be downtown at the Redmond City Hall Campus, 15670 N.E. 85th St. The only exception will be the 4-8 p.m. Concert in the Park on Sunday at Redmond’s Downtown Park at 16101 Redmond Way.
“Every year we add new activities and look to make more improvements to attract new attendees and keep devoted Derby Days fans coming back to this long running festival,” City of Redmond events and marketing administrator Lisa Rhodes said in a city press release. “We have a terrific lineup of free entertainment that the whole family can enjoy.”
Friday Night Live kicks off the festival with headliner, HIT Explosion! The opening act, Clinton Fearon & the Boogie Brown Band, will get people ready for a night of dancing. There will be food vendors and a beer and wine garden for those who want to sit and enjoy the music. After the concert the Redmond Youth Partnership Advisory Committee (RYPAC) will be showing “Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows” from 10 p.m. to midnight on the lawn at City Hall.
Saturday’s events begin with a public pancake breakfast, sponsored by the Redmond Fire Department (RFD) from 8 a.m. to noon at Fire Station 11, located at 8450 161st Ave. N.E. All proceeds will go to the RFD Benevolent Fund, which supports local residents facing personal tragedy. In addition, kids can tour the fire trucks, spray water on a mock fire and try on firefighter gear.
The Derby Days Kids Parade, one of the nation’s largest kid’s parade will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Parade registration begins at 9 a.m. behind Redmond Medical Center located at the southeast corner of 161st Avenue Northeast and Northeast 83rd Street. Early arrival is strongly recommended in order to register before the parade starts.
The Grand Parade will follow with members of Redmond’s founding families as this year’s grand marshals. Prime viewing spots are located at the corner of Northeast 85th Street and 161st Avenue Northeast and along Northeast 85th Street to City Hall.
The Criterium, the nation’s longest-running bicycle race, starts at 1:15 p.m. with the last race at 7p.m. Race spectators can enjoy the race from the beer and wine garden, which opens at 1 p.m. and will be located just off the first corner.
The opening act Saturday on the Microsoft Main Stage will be the Gothard Sisters, a fiddling, dancing and singing sister act trio. They will perform at 12:30 p.m. Roberto the Magnificent will take the stage at 1:30 p.m., followed by Recess Monkey, a kid-driven, high-energy group, at 2:30 p.m. Crème Tangerine will play Beatles classics at 4 p.m. and at 6 p.m., Dr. Funk will get the crowd ready for the headliner of the night, Super Diamond, who takes the stage at 8:15 p.m.
Free, kid-friendly activities will also be on hand, including bouncy houses, a Cadman sandbox, a climbing wall and a Ben Franklin arts and crafts booth. New this year will be pony rides from noon to 4 p.m. This year, the carnival rides and games will be in a new location at the City Hall Campus Park and Ride on 160th Avenue Northeast. Hours of operation are Friday 5-10 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday morning starts with the Derby Days Dash, a 5K run/walk along the Sammamish River Trail that will benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. New this year is the Sunday Concert in the Park event, which be at the Downtown Park from 4-8 p.m. and feature local “X Factor” finalist, LeRoy Bell.
Derby Days will also feature the Redmond Impact Eco-Fair, showcasing information and resources for conserving energy and reducing one’s environmental impact. There will be vendors, a Green Car Show, family entertainment and a Root Beer Garden.
There will also be a fireworks display at 10 p.m. on Saturday.
There are more parking and shuttle options this year. Parking is available at the City Hall parking garage, Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center, Redmond Town Center and at two new locations: Overlake Christian Church, 9900 Willows Rd. N.E. and Redmond High School at 17272 N.E. 104th St. A free shuttle will run on Saturday from the parking sites from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
