Snowflake Lane Photos
You might also consider
More like Snowflake Lane
Recommended Reviews - Snowflake Lane
Start your review...
Reviews With Photos
Got there at 5pm so that we'd be right in front for the parade at 7pm. Ended up leaving at 6:45pm because it was crowded. Yes I was in front, but people spent the last half hour pressing p on us to try to jockey their way to the front. We gave up and gave our space to a family from San Diego because they had kids and we wanted to give them a gift. Was glad we could do that for strangers, but it's really a mess. Had there been a heart attack, that person would have died because it's dangerously packed on the sidewalk. I've done ushering before so I know the importance of having clear egress or else the show gets down. Cops run this event and it was impossible to get out because everyone was trying to get in. They could have an exit path and enforce it? It was dangerous and if they can't do it safely, the answer isn't to look the other way, but to maybe not do it. Otherwise, it looked like it was going to be awesome, but I can't recommend doing this knowing that people could get really hurt going to this event.
Hard to rate a parade. I am not a huge parade person but this was cute. After dining at a nearby restaurant the best view was from the bridge. Super crowded on the street below. Very cute costumes and good holiday vibes. The snow was pretty cool too. I imagine it's freezing down below sitting on the sidewalk waiting for the parade to start. It was a very short parade. Seemed to last only 20/30 minutes or so. Will I go again? Maybe. Maybe not. Super crowded. Worth at least one visit. SYOY.
Snowflake Lane is a yearly celebration from the end of November to the end of December in downtown Bellevue. The Bellevue Way street is closed off and there is a parade that starts at 7pm. It lasts about 20 minutes and has small floats, bands, and festive music. Parking is free at any of the parking garages which is great other than the fact that there will be a lot of other people parking. It can get packed on certain days so come early for a better view. If you're lucky you can also get a seat in a restaurant facing the street and see it from the warmth inside. It's a family friendly event that's also free which can't be beat.
My daughter and I go multiple times a year. We meet up with friends and/or family on different nights. It is definitely worth going. We always look forward to the magic of the season and the countdown to Christmas. I will say your enjoyment depends on your preparation. With a small amount of planning this is a solid five-star experience. However, if you show up 10 minutes before it starts and expect a great view, you will be disappointed. I recommend grabbing a bite to eat or do some window shopping before the parade so you don't get caught up in the traffic and can find good parking at the mall. The whole area is decorated beautifully and is fun to look at and get some pictures. They close off the street at 6:30 +/- 10 minutes. Be ready to grab a spot then. If you stand behind the fence you will have people in front of you on the street. I recommend getting a good spot on the curb as soon as they close the street (Bellevue Way). The day of the week and the weather play factors as well. Monday through Thursday early in the month are going to be a lot less crowded, and the parade is very similar every evening. On busy nights make sure to have most if not all of your party with you as it is hard to save spots. If there is any open space someone is going to wiggle in. The parade is a little over 20 minutes. Some of the performers hand out candy canes to the children and the young at heart. We will go again next year, and the next, and the next.....
Really fun to do with kids! We have been the last two years. Last year we went on opening night, this year we came on a random Thursday a couple weeks after opening night. We definitely preferred the weekday! We showed up 45 minutes early and were able to grab seats right on the curb for us to sit and watch the parade. It "snowed" before the parade which the kids loved and we got coffee and hot cocoas from the Starbucks nearby while we waited. Afterward we walked the mall and saw Santa. Really fun to do as a family with kids!
Great Christmas time event happens every night for 1 month. The staff are always enthusiasm and professional. They will give lollipop to small children. For a better view, to take a spot early is recommended.
It's loud. Characters came out one end ( 4th side) at 7pm and exited same way starting at 7:25pm. Seemed a bit longer than I remember this year. Parking is a pain if you don't get there early. ( in years past we would make reservations to eat at like 5 , then be down on the street around 6:40ish to nab a spot in front. We prefer the corner of 4th by the capital one cafe. You can sit on the curb and have front row unobstructed views. You still get snow and its not as claustrophobic as cramming in the middle. This year there were some people holding signs before the parade started and it went on for almost as long as the parade. Just disruptive as we were trying to get in a family photo. The parade participants were so friendly and did a great job interacting with all the kids from afar. ( rock, paper, scissors)
This event is awesome. I'm amazed that they run every night for a month. It's been running for 18 years apparently. That's dedication. There seems to be nothing like this event anywhere else in Seattle. Essentially, it's a 25-minute musical show and parade. There's a marching band, many floats, characters dressed up and general mascots of winter. Faux snow and light-up balloons are on site. For parking, you may want to check out Lincoln Square parking as an option, but get there around 6 PM, so you will be ready for the show at 7 PM after walking around and maybe grabbing a coffee. I believe parking is free at this garage and potentially maybe others for this event. If you plan on having dinner before the 7 PM show, it will be tough without reservations. All the restaurants in the area will have a long wait or not take walk-ins. If you have a reservation, then no worries. You don't need to have kids to attend; adults can have fun too with the festive atmosphere. The parade route is available on the website, so take a look so you can figure out where you want to stand. I see people standing at their spots as early as 6:15 for the 7 PM show, so keep that in mind. We've tried watching from one of the bridges that crosses the parade route, which was an OK experience, but one side of the bridge was blocked off... likely to reduce people gathering on the bridge.
3 years ago
It's a nice parade with dancers, drummers, floats, lights and bubbles (snow). It gets pretty crowded so get there slightly before 7pm to get a good view whether on the street or on the sky bridge. I wouldn't brave the mall crowds just for this event, but if you are making it just one component on an evening out, it's very nice. Prepare for inclimate weather. The show is about 20 minutes total. read more
You've got family from out of town visiting and you want to get them in the Christmas spirit... What do you do? Take them to Snowflake Lane! So now that you've made up your mind to go, here are some tips to help you make the event more enjoyable. DESCRIPTION: It is a 20 minute performance of costumed characters such as the Sugar Plum Fairy, a polar bear, a snowman, etc... There are also drummers, dancers and elves. There are lots of lights creating an effect of dancing snowflakes to accompany the music and artificial snow made of soap that floats downward on the crowd. The nightly event is free to the public and runs for 20 minutes from the Friday after Thanksgiving to Christmas Eve. From December 26th to the 31st the theme of the celebration changes to ringing in the New Year. WHERE Snowflake Lane is along the sidewalks of Bellevue Way & NE 8th at The Bellevue Collection, in the heart of Downtown Bellevue. There are four stages including the Snowstorm dance crew, Main Stage at Fountain Court, Princess Court meet and Greet and Snowstorm. Ask in the mall for information about the specific locations. PARKING There is free parking at Bellevue Square, Bellevue Place and Lincoln Square. There are seven entrances to the Parking garage at Bellevue Square (the largest garage), three at Bellevue Place and one at Lincoln Square. I suggest you arrive more than an hour before the performance or it will be difficult finding a space. We arrived several hours to do some shopping, eat dinner and see the performance and there weren't many spaces. Do not even think about parking to the west of the last parking garage in the residential neighborhood. You would need a specific zone pass to park on the streets there. STREET LEVEL Do not stand or sit on the drummer displays along the street. Drummers will be standing on them during the presentation so you will need to move. They will close the streets off to traffic and once that is done you can move into the actual street. You will need to stay within a given space in the street during the performance. If you have children it's best to wait at the street level until you can enter the street and get close to the action! They hand out candy to the kids so they'll get a sugar rush. THE PEDESTRIAN WALKWAY If you stand on the pedestrian walkway you must make sure you can fit within the black line on the floor of the walkway. If you cannot fit you will have to go somewhere else. Security will not allow people to block the center of the walkway. ETIQUETTE There are a lot of people in a small area. Remember to try and be polite. People will be pressing up against you and kids may be standing on your feet. The lamest thing I experienced was a guy who had his arms stretched out who kept shifting his body to block people from getting a spot yelling that the spots were all saved. Fortunately Security took care of him! This is a fun holiday experience, especially for the kids! read more
10 years ago
8 years ago
13 years ago
I've heard so many goo things about this show. I was actually quite disappointed. It was crowded and the show itself was not that great. It was a 20min show but my friend and I arrived early because we wanted to make sure we got parking and a good view. We stood on the bridge that was above the street level view but it was still crowded. The best part of this show was the drummers going through at the beginning and playing their drums while handing out peppermint Blowpops. They just played Christmas music while the performers stayed in the same spot playing the drums on beat or dancing on a box. I wouldn't do it again or take anyone there to see it.We were just lucky to beat the crowd leaving because we wanted to leave 5min before the end since we were tired of it. read more
It's a 20 minute show featuring many high school drummers who are dressed as toy soldiers, some fairy princesses and comic book characters and snowmen who interact with children Disney style. There are 2 performance stages set up on the side. It's fun if you're already there for shopping or eating out. Not sure if it's worth an extra trip just to see the parade as it's short but the fake snow was fun. Kids seemed to enjoy it. Crowds are allowed to gather on the cordoned off street and sidewalks and the skybridge above the parade. Plenty of free parking at Bellevue Square and Lincoln Center (evenings) but it fills up so go early. Allow 20-25 minutes just to park and get situated as traffic is heavy. Bundle up as it can get chilly waiting for the parade to begin. read more
7 years ago
The only street show where my kids are safe aardvark entertained. It's very well produced and most actors are juSt super incredible and very well trained. They are cheering and performing whether is its raining or snowing. Also they give out candy to little kids which is a nice gesture. Great atmosphere and good song selection. I do suggest to include Jesus in Christmas though. The show is about anything but Christmas. Maybe a few SOngs and a few nativity characters would be nice after all it's CHRISTmas read more
12 years ago
Save yourself the headache! You have to get there at least an hour early to even be able to see the show. The sidewalks are at least 10 people deep and there is no chance of seeing anything if you aren't there by 6pm unless you try and watch from the parking garage balcony. This is only a 15-20 minute show, while very cool it's not worth the hour (no exaggeration) you'll need to fight traffic and the mile walk from any open parking spot. There are so many people it's almost hard to even enjoy it at all. We tried to make the best of it this year and my 2.5 and 6 year old danced to the music in the alley. read more
12 years ago
If you like giant penguins and Nordic ice princesses parading by while toy soldiers form a drumline and the sky rains bubble-snow, this is the show for you. If you don't like that sort of thing, you should take yourself less seriously. The show was a great weeknight trip - 20 minutes and near plenty of coffee and shopping. read more
Been attending Snowflake Lane for the past 5 years and it keeps getting better with age. True, no matter which day of the week, plan to arrive an hour early to find parking and scout out your spot on the sidewalk; it will be crowded. Situate yourself near one of the large drums, but do not allow your child to climb upon the drums, they're not play structures. At a quarter to 7, a high school crew will start preparing the scene, passing out suckers and then the magic begins. At 7 o'clock snow falls gently from the surrounding skyscrapers and drummers dressed up as toy soldiers begin marching down the street. The soldiers will take their place upon one of the drum pedestals, so that is your best bet for viewing. Snow princesses and other characters add to the spectacle. The show in its entirety lasts about 20 minutes. It's free, and compared to other light shows ( Garden D'lights, Zoo Lights, Lights of Christmas ), this one provides affordable fun for the whole family. read more
8 years ago
We visited this on 12/1 - the event went for about 20 mins and definitely worth a visit given there is no fee. Lot of music and color. read more
8 years ago
We attended the 2017 show. It was very crowded so plan on getting the fairly early for a good spot. The kids were amazed at how fun the whole thing was!! Very well put together! We'll be adding this event to our yearly holiday traditions! read more
10 years ago
11 years ago
I'm a self proclaimed Slave to Xmas, so there's no way I would find this less than satisfactory. That said, I love the opportunity it provides for both the high school performing arts students and the audience! It looks so beautiful on Bellevue Way and will make even the most cynical of people fee the Christmas spirit! Well maybe not, but there's hope yet! Note to drivers, AVOID this area. For your safety and for spectators. read more
This was my 4th time out and it's a fun time for the family and really puts you I the holiday spirit. It's dropped a star over the years because before, there used to be much more interaction with the characters in the parade. A few years ago before and after the parade, there was people walking on stilts and drummers up and down the sidewalks, princesses strolling and polar bears roaming. This last time about - there was much less of that and it was pretty direct focus on the parade and parade only. They have changed the direction of where the parade comes out so there really isn't a bad seat in the house. Best is to get there early enough to claim a spot on the sidewalk to get a front row view. It does get pretty loud and it does get pretty crowded as well. Luckily there is ample amount of parking with the new south building opened up. And there's plenty of shops and restaurants to eat before/after the show to keep you and yours occupied. Overall - it's a great family tradition to get into the holiday spirit with some fun and festivities and the faux snow falling from the sky, bright lights and music. Always a good time! read more
8 years ago
Saturday night slam dance! We decided to give this a try on a Saturday night and it was great! I'm sure any other night would be less chaotic, but it was worth the crowds. The lights, music, performers, and fake snow made this a good time. Why Santa isn't the last in the parade is confusing, but what the heck, your standing in a mosh pit on Bellevue Way, just go with the flow. The stroller gangs smashing you in the shins and the toddlers on parents shoulders kicking you in the head has nothing to do with the parade, more of a reflection on the people who attend. If you are anti crowds and traffic, don't go on a Saturday night. HO HO HO! read more
4 years ago
You have to come here! Whether you're old or young, this amazing and free show will put you in the Christmas spirit. We come every year and although it can get quite crowded, we make sure to plan ahead and arrive early. The music, the snow, the friendly performers, are all amazing. I have seen the same performers each year and that says a lot for the way they are treated as employees. Thank you to the businesses that work hard and fund this event. It's truly a gift to us! read more
6 years ago
So Much fun!!! before we went we ate dinner at the Cheesecake Factory, then came out to watch. I will day get your spots early because lots of people come! read more
It's things like this that make me proud to call Bellevue my hometown. This is a Christmas tradition that goes up through Christmas Eve. The whole show only lasts twenty minutes so don't be late! Expect candy, drummers, lots of great costumes, and of course the fake snow. This is an absolute win win for the mall and for shoppers. read more
Snowflake Lane is a great part of the holiday festivities. There's nothing religious about it. No Santa Clauses. It's always busy this time of year regardless of where you go so it should be expected to go early. They close the streets off and drummers and dancers fill the street for approximately 20 minutes. Kids love it. It's fun. It's FREE! read more
7 years ago
13 years ago
Intended for family or the young at heart - Snowflake Lane is a good spectacle show without cost with appearances of toy soldier drummers, friendly snow fairies/princesses accompanied with other winter-themed characters, all choreographed by dancers with traditional holiday music from the PA. This show offers a good entertainment for its intended audience, and offers around a twenty minute reprieve from all of the shopping around the holidays. If willing to brave the crowd and wanting a distraction or decompress from all of the shopping for a few minutes, watching Snowflake Lane isn't a bad choice. read more
11 years ago
9 years ago
11 years ago
More info about Snowflake Lane
Ask the Community - Snowflake Lane
Review Highlights - Snowflake Lane
You might also consider
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
4 reviews that are not currently recommended
The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.
6 years ago
4 years ago
2 years ago
10 years ago
