Growing Derby Days Summer Festival ready to rock and roll

Published 9:45 am Friday, July 1, 2011

For nearly two decades, Alan and Shay Nohr have seen the Redmond’s Derby Days Summer Festival grow and grow each year.

The Redmond couple began as sponsors for the festival’s Kids Parade, but in the last few years, their roles have grown as they now coordinate the event. A Derby Days tradition since the festival’s inception in 1940, the Kids Parade is one of the biggest attractions at the festival — which celebrates its 71st anniversary next week — and has particularly grown in the last few years.

Two years ago, 726 children marched along the parade route; last year, that number nearly doubled to 1,308 children.

“It’s just like herding cats,” Shay said with a laugh about directing the crowds of children and parents on parade day.

She said one of the reasons the numbers have increased could be that the parade route has been shortened — beginning at the corner of Northeast 83rd Street and 161st Avenue Northeast, heading north before heading west at Northeast 85th Street and ending at 158th Avenue Northeast by Redmond City Hall at 15670 NE 85th St.

With only a few blocks for the kids to ride their bikes, be pulled in wagons or pushed in strollers, Shay said parents are more inclined to sign their kids up because they won’t get tired as easily.

She added that the Kids Parade is open to all children — whether or not they live in Redmond — as long as they have a helmet to wear while they ride their bikes.

Shay said her favorite thing about being part of the Kids Parade has been seeing children show up each year, showing off their decorated bikes and just seeing people creating family memories.

“This is just good, wholesome family fun,” she said. “It’s so important for us that people have time for their kids.”

The Kids Parade is on Saturday, July 9 and precedes the Derby Days Grand Parade, which will feature King 5 TV’s Dennis Bounds as grand marshal.

From 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, most of the Derby Days festivities will be at the City Hall campus and include — in addition to the parades — an IMPACT Redmond Eco-Fair, which will provide information and resources to attendees about sustainable living.

Two beer and wine gardens, located on the north and south sides of City Hall, will be open from 1 to 10 p.m. and feature beer and wine from Redmond’s Black Raven Brewing Company and Vortex Cellars, respectively.

Live music on the Microsoft Mainstage located in the center of the City Hall campus will begin at noon and run till 10 p.m.

Saturday’s events will also feature the Criterium, the country’s longest-running bike race. The first race begins at 1:15 p.m. with the final race beginning at 7:15 p.m.

Kids’ entertainment will include the Overlake Hospital Kids Zone, which will feature bouncy houses, a Cadman Sand Box, interactive sidewalk chalk art, Ben Franklin arts and crafts booth and more. The Kids Zone will be in the City Hall parking lot and campus lawn. The Funtastic Carnival at the Old Redmond Schoolhouse Community Center at 16600 N.E. 80th St., will run from Thursday, July 7 to Sunday, July 10, with Thursday offering discounts on all rides.

While most Derby Days events will be on Saturday, the festival kicks off Friday, July 8 with Friday Night Live, a live concert at the City Hall campus from 6 to 10 p.m. and recent addition to Derby Days.

“(Derby Days is) a huge event now,” Shay said about the festival’s growth over the years.

The audience will be treated to a Beatles music experience with Creme Tangerine before headliner Nearly Dan performs the music of Steely Dan.

The second annual REI Friday Night Poker Ride, benefitting Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center, will begin at the REI at 7500 166th Ave. N.E. in Redmond Town Center at 5 p.m.

On Sunday, July 10, the second annual Derby Days Dash will begin at 9 a.m. This 5K race/walk will benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and take place along the paved Sammamish River Trail.

With so many things going on in four days, Derby Days is the result of a lot of hard work.

“We have no paid staff,” Shay said. “Every person that works with Derby Days Kids Parade is volunteer.”

Despite all the challenges that come with her involvement, Shay said it’s worth it as she describes Derby Days as “endless fun all weekend long.”

“It’s my favorite day besides Christmas,” she said. “I would never in a million years take a vacation during this day.”

For complete schedule and more information about Derby Days, visit www.redmondderbydays.com.