For the past 69 years, the Redmond Derby Days Summer Festival has been a vital part of summer in Redmond.
This year, the festival will begin Friday, July 10 from 6-10 p.m. and continue on Saturday, July 11 from 10 a.m.-10 p.m. at the Redmond City Hall Campus, 15670 NE 85th St.
Derby Days has some fun new events for 2009.
Friday Night Live is a free multi-band concert starting the weekend fun on July 10 from 6-10 p.m. Universal Soul, the winner of the Old Fire House Teen Center Classic Rockathon, will kick it off with Heather B to follow. The headliner is one of the area’s premier party bands, the Beatniks. They perform the music of the ’60s and ’70s with energy and passion. A beer and wine garden with food will provide a great spot for both people and band watching.
Another fun twist this year is the combination of the Kids’ and Grand Parades into one Redmond Medical Center Derby Days Parade, beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 11. The kids will still be decked out on their wheels. However, added to that will be drill teams, bands and floats interspersed among the groups of kids.
The Criterium, the nation’s longest running bicycle race, starts with a Juniors race at 2 p.m. and all-ages kids’ lap at 2:50 p.m. The men’s and women’s competition runs from 3-7 p.m.
The Funtastic Carnival runs from July 9-12 at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center, on the corner of Northeast 80th Street and 165th Avenue Northeast. Thursday is discount day at the carnival, with all rides discounted from 5-10 p.m.
As always, free interactive games, bouncy houses and more family fun are planned on the green at Redmond City Hall.
The fun at the Microsoft Entertainment Stage begins at 11:45 with the Sophisticated Swing Big Band, playing their old-time swing and dance music for the whole family. Various other fun, family-oriented entertainers will put on 30-minute shows between each of the bands.
At 1 p.m., the day-long music line-up begins with The New Blues Brothers, a soulful group that gets everyone on their feet. At 2:30 p.m., Time Slip, one of the hottest club bands in the Pacific Northwest plays hits from the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s. At 4 p.m., That ’80s Show gets down with a high energy ’80s tribute, complete with costumes ala Madonna, Billy Idol and Devo. At 5:30 p.m., disco is back with a Derby Days favorite, the Afrodisiacs. At 7 p.m., Soul’d Out entertains with their funky seven-piece show band. This year’s headliner is Big Dog Revue, a great seven-piece horn dance band playing favorites from the ’60s and ’70s.
The Beer and Wine Garden, provided by Beck’s Steaks and Seafood, is located close to both the food and music and opens at noon. New this year – an additional beer and wine garden, sponsored by Black Raven Brewery, has been added on the corner of Northeast 83rd Street and 161st Avenue Northeast.
At 10 p.m., a spectacular fireworks display will finish off the evening.
“We are so excited this year to introduce the new element, Friday Night Live,” stated Lisa Rhodes, events and marketing administrator for the City of Redmond. “With three great bands and the beer and wine garden, we hope this free concert and dance will quickly become a Derby Days tradition.”
Ample parking is available at the City Hall Parking Garage, Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center and Redmond Town Center. A free shuttle will run from 9 am.-10:30 p.m. Saturday, July 11 between parking sites. For additional information, call the Derby Days Hotline at (425) 556-2299.
Click here for a full-size map detailing the layout of Derby Days festivities.
