This year, Redmond Lights Winter Festival is on a new day and time. The popular holiday community event will be held on Saturday, Dec. 5 from 3- 9 p.m. at various locations around the city.
At Redmond City Hall, the celebration begins at 3 p.m. with food, music and lots of fun children’s activities, continuing until 6 p.m. Musical entertainment includes Bollywood Christmas from 4-6 p.m. in the Redmond Senior Center, Russian folk dancers and holiday songs from the Holy Names Academy Girls Choir. The Microsoft Orchestra Brass Ensemble will play in City Hall lobby from 4-5 p.m. Santa will arrive just before 5 p.m. to help with the tree lighting.
Music and entertainment for the walk along the Luminary Trail plays from 5-6:45 p.m. New this year are bonfires and hot chocolate at Luke McRedmond Park and a balloon glow (weather permitting) in the Bear Creek Meadow next to Redmond Town Center. Entertainment along the trail includes barber shop harmonies, marimba, steel drums, Native flute, Croatian singers and traditional holiday carols.
At Redmond Town Center, the festivities begin at 5 p.m. continuing until 9 p.m. Enjoy complimentary tastes of food representing the diversity of the community. New this year is a beer and wine garden close to the musical entertainment. Such entertainment includes the Seattle Women’s Jazz Ensemble, gospel and mariachi. Kid’s Row offers free arts and crafts hosted by faith communities from the Redmond area.
A new tradition this year is “Sleigh Bells Ring.”
Leading up to and during Redmond Lights (as supplies last), participating merchants will be giving away silver bells for a community chorus of bells. Everyone will gather at Center Plaza at 8 p.m. to ring their bells and join the choir in singing Winter Wonderland.
Parking is available at either Redmond Town Center or in the City Hall parking garage. Free shuttle service is available outside of Ruby’s Diner in the south parking lot of Redmond Town Center and at the Redmond Senior Center. Shuttles will run every 30 minutes between 2:30-9:30 p.m.
For all the information about Redmond Lights visit www.redmondlights.com or call the events hotline at (425) 556-2299.
