What, no reviews of Redmond Derby Days? Wow, this has been an annual event for 72 years!
This summer event has changed a lot over the years, but it always includes a kids' parade, a grande parade a carnival area with rides and "fair" foods, and fireworks. It's famous for its adult bike race. The last few years they've also had a wine and beer garden area, and more live music and family entertainment.
For those of us who used to participate in this event 10-15 years ago, we remember it being a lot better than it is nowadays - especially for the young kiddie set. In years past, the kiddie parade was a huge event: we congregated at the Redmond medical bldg on 160th Ave with our elaborately decorated kiddie strollers, wagons and bikes. There'd be SO many babies and kids and families. The parade route would extend at least half a mile, east on Redmond Way, through the downtown core, looping north and then west to the Old Redmond Schoolhouse, where there would be a large carnival set-up with amusement park rides in the big field there behind Redmond El. All kids who completed the parade route would get a newly minted silver dollar, too. (My kids each have 10 or more of these!). At some point, the parade route got shortened, and the carnival got moved to the lot south of City Hall (where an office complex is now being built). Nowadays, the kiddie route is just a few blocks long, from the medical bldg on 160th to City Hall. THis is so sad.
Most Redmond residents I know are more into the annual Redmond Lights event in Decenber, and less into the Derby Days event. Unless you're a big bike racer or have a very young child who's happy with a 3-block "parade" on his/her bike, then this event has lost its luster. Most residents are greatly inconvenienced by the closing of streets and all the detours for the bike races and there even seems to be fewer carnival rides than in years past. The fireworks are still nice to see, but all in all, I'd say this event is more geared for very young toddlers and those who don't remember how elaborate it used to be. read more