Amazing 4th in Bellevue

Thank you from the Bellevue Downtown Association to the thousands upon thousands of visitors who joined in celebrating America’s birthday at the park.  The freedoms we enjoy and the community we love truly shine at this event.  We also thank our partner, the City of Bellevue, for its tremendous support on all levels, from the Park to volunteers to the men and women who keep us safe.

We are also fortunate to have a company like Symetra headquartered here in Bellevue, an organization that leads by example and gives back on so many fronts.  To the Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra, as well as the many sponsors, partners and supporters who make the Symetra Bellevue Family 4th possible, we say thank you.

Hank Halle posted this great view of the fireworks finale.

View of the crowd and Downtown Bellevue skyline during the Bellevue Philharmonic’s pre-fireworks concert.

Arrive early, plan ahead, enjoy the show!

One day and counting to the big event – the Symetra Bellevue Family 4th!  Arrive early if you can to find your preferred spot in the Bellevue Dowtnown Park.  It’s big at 20 acres but fills in quickly starting around 7 p.m.  The Bellevue Family Fun Zone with rides, games and activities opens at 2 p.m. as do the food and refreshment vendors.  Free old-fashioned picnic games and competitions start at 3 p.m. at the Symetra Community Spotlight Pavilion.

While the Park is easy to access by car, foot, bus and bike, be prepared for heavy traffic volumes in the hour leading up to the fireworks and right after the show.  The Bellevue Police Department does an excellent job in keeping the traffic flowing.  Just plan for a little extra time.  If you’re up for a walk, you can park at Bellevue City Hall for free.  That will give you quicker post-event access to I-405.  Otherwise, your best bet for a free spot is at Bellevue Square – just expect a bit of a wait as the garage and streets clear after the finale.  Special thanks again to The Bellevue Collection for its invaluable staging assistance for both cars and the fireworks display.

Check out the event’s full schedule here.  We’ll see you on the 4th in Downtown Bellevue!

Game on!

There’s even more to do at this year’s Symetra Bellevue Family 4th. One of the highlights will be the good ol’ fashioned picnic games hosted by the Eastside Heritage Center.  Free for kids of all ages – (okay, realistically, toddler and up). Sack and three-legged races, the bean bag toss, hula-hoop contests, and much more all get underway at 3 p.m. near the Symetra Community Spotlight Pavilion.

Speaking of the Eastside Heritage Center – feast on shortcake at the annual Bellevue Strawberry Festival this weekend at Crossroads International Park.

Bellevue Philharmonic’s compositions for the 4th

The Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra, under the direction of Adam Stern, will again perform a pre-fireworks concert and the live music for the fireworks. We are delighted to preview the 4th of July composition list for 2009, courtesy of the BPO.

(Pre-fireworks at 9:20 p.m.)

SUPPE: “Light Cavalry” Overture
MASSENET: Ballet Music from “Le Cid”
COPLAND: “Saturday Night Waltz” from “Rodeo”
SIBELIUS: Alla Marcia from “Karelia Suite”
VAUGHAN WILLIAMS: “Folksongs from Somerset” from “English Folksong Suite”

(During Fireworks:)

COPLAND: Fanfare for the Common Man
ANDERSON: Belle of the Ball
SOUSA: Three Marches:
Washington Post
Semper Fidelis
The Stars and Stripes Forever

Great fireworks in a word

For me, any safe fireworks display is a good one. But what makes the Symetra Bellevue Family 4th especially worthwhile, other than the live performance of the Bellevue Phil and the massive number of shells exploding over the course 20 minutes?

Proximity. You feel this show.

Thanks to this patron for catching last year’s finale.

-Patrick Bannon

Visit the Symetra Community Spotlight Pavilion

Each year, title sponsor Symetra Financial hosts the Community Spotlight Pavilion at the Symetra Bellevue Family 4th.  It’s a great opportunity to interact with and learn more about some of the best non-profit organizations in our region.   Visit the pavilion on the 4th – look for giveaways – and check out this year’s list of participants.  Thank you Symetra for spotlighting these valued community partners.

Leading up to fireworks: music, Kids Zone, games, picnics, and so much more…

The 18th annual Symetra Bellevue Family 4th invites to you make the most of the your time at Park leading up to the fireworks.   From picnics to games to music to naps under the warm summer sun, the fun, food and and festive relaxation starts in the early afternoon when the The Bellevue Parks Kids Zone opens at 2 pm.   Here’s the schedule, including the list of performances on the Overlake Hospital Main Stage.  Of course, more information about the event is here.

2009 Tentative Schedule

• 2:00pm – Bellevue Parks Family Fun Zone opens
• 4:40 pm – C-17 Flyover from McChord AFB
• 5:30 pm – Jonathan Harris (Country singer/songwriter)
• 6:00 pm – Meet on-air radio personalities and win prizes at the 106.1 KISS FM and 94.1 KMPS FM tents
• 7:30 pm – Lenny Epps Revue (Dance Hits)
• 8:40 pm – Bellevue Fire and Police Department Honor Guard presentation and placement of the colors
• 8:55 pm – The National Anthem performed by Newport High School students Sarah Espinoza and Bailey Seeker
• 9:30 pm – The 60-piece Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra takes center stage to present a special Independence Day performance prior to and during the fireworks display
• 10:05 pm – The Eastside’s largest and most spectacular fireworks display!

C17 Flyover is a go!

A C17 Globemaster III (from McChord Air Force Base) will fly over Bellevue Downtown Park at an altitude of 1,000 feet at  4:40 p.m, July 4, 2009.

2009 poster off to print

The 2009 Symetra Bellevue Family 4th poster was just released to the printer.  Here’s a preview.  Nice work Ilium!