Symetra Bellevue Family 4th 101

There are only a few days remaining before we celebrate the 20th annual Symetra Bellevue Family 4th. Here are a few ways to make the most out of Bellevue’s spectacular 4th of July experience!

Arrive early for a prime viewing spot! Also bring blankets to sit on with your family and friends.

The weather looks up! Stay up-to-date with the holiday weekend forecast on q13.com/weather. Don’t forget to bring a jacket or sweatshirt, as it will get cooler in the evening.

There will be plenty of fun activities for kids. From sack races, 3-legged races, beanbag toss, tick-tack-toe, and hula-hoop to inflatable rides and arts & crafts! And of course the spectacular fireworks show, taking place promptly at 10:05 p.m.

Parents, as is normal for any event of this size, we suggest to place a note with your name and cell phone number in your child’s pockets just in case you get separated. Any lost children will be brought to the Information Booth in the center of the park. The Bellevue Police Department will be on-site for public safety and to assist on non-emergencies. Call 911 for emergencies.

There will be free parking at Bellevue Square after 6:00 p.m. and free parking in the Bellevue City Hall visitors lot all day. Also please be aware of traffic flow changes after the fireworks show. Be patient upon arrival and exit!

Hungry? Check out all the tasty food vendors who will be in the southwest corner of the park.

Bring a flashlight for safety when the show is over.

Alcohol is not allowed on park property.

And as always, please have a safe and happy 4th of July!

 

A farewell concert by the Bellevue Philharmonic

Independence Day  is just around the corner! Be sure to catch the Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra at the Symetra Bellevue Family 4th playing their final concert.

The Bellevue Philharmonic has been around since the 60′s, and over the years has created a strong and fruitful partnership with downtown Bellevue’s annual Fourth of July celebration. As is tradition, the Bellevue Philharmonic’s performance will be synchronized to the fireworks display.

The farewell concert includes a superb lineup of patriotic anthems, encompassing classic pieces as well as those lesser known. The concert will have two parts; the pre-fireworks program which begins at 9:30 p.m. and the fireworks program which begins at 10:05 p.m.

“Farewell Concert” Program (9:30 p.m.)
Hungarian March from the Damnation of Faust (Berlioz)
Sabre Dance (Khachaturian) Elgar – Pomp and Circumstance March No.1
Adagio from Ballet “Spartacus”(Khachaturian)
Entrance of the Gladiators (Triumphal March) (Fucik)
Yaga and Great Gates of Kiev from “Pictures at an Exhibition” (Mussorgsky – Baba)
Polovtsian Dances from the Opera Prince Igor (Borodin)

Fireworks “Independance Day” Program (10:05 p.m.)
Fanfare for the Common Man (Copland)
Washington Post (Sousa)
America the Beautiful (Ward)
National Emblem March (Bagley)
Battle Hymn of the Republic (Steffe)
Stars and Stripes Forever (Sousa)

Please join us in thanking the Bellevue Philharmonic for bringing years of spectacular music and dedication to this wonderful community event!

2011 Symetra Bellevue Family 4th ready for launch

The 2011 Symetra Bellevue Family 4th is ready for launch with strong civic support from Bellevue-based Symetra Financial. Symetra has supported the event as title sponsor for the past seven years.

This celebrated tradition will again feature a spectacular fireworks show set to Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bellevue Parks Family Fun Zone, a C-17 Flyover, the Community Spotlight Pavilion, live entertainment, festival food and much more.

Here’s a sneak peak at this year’s event poster:

Visit bellevuedowntown.org/events/familyfourth for complete event information.

Tips for enjoying the Eastside’s largest Independence Day celebration

The countdown is on for the 19th Annual Symetra Bellevue Family 4th.  The forecast is looking good, so producers of the event expect a big crowd with some 60,000 people filling the 20-acre expanse of Bellevue Downtown Park.  We’d like to share a few last-minute tips for enjoying the Eastside’s Largest Independence Day Celebration.

Arrive early to find your ideal viewing spot.  Some event-goers show up early in the morning.  The festivities, food and refreshments open at 2 p.m. with the Bellevue Parks Family Fun Zone (inflatables, bouncy rides, games) and the food court in the south parking lot.  Live music will play throughout the afternoon, leading up to the Honor Guard and National Anthem (performed by four Bellevue High School students). 

The fireworks will launch from the top of the Bellevue Square parking garage (looking north across the street from the park) around 10:05 p.m.  Kaci Aitchison from Q13 FOX will lead the countdown.  The 60-piece Bellevue Philharmonic will accompany the fireworks and also play a pre-fireworks concert at 9:30 p.m.

Be patient on arrival and exit.  The Bellevue Collection (Bellevue Square, Lincoln Square, Bellevue Place) provides free parking for the event after 6 p.m.  It may take several minutes to clear the lots after the show.  Free parking is also available in the visitor’s lot at Bellevue City Hall. If driving to the event, carpooling is highly recommended.  Get full directions online at bellevuedowntown.org.

The impressive C-17 flyover from Joint Base Lewis-McChord will happen around 4:40 p.m.

Bring a jacket or sweatshirt as it will get cooler in the evening.

Bring a flashlight for safety when the show is over.

Alcohol is not allowed on park property.

Parents: as a precaution for any large event, consider placing a note with your name and cell phone number in your child’s pockets just in case you get separated.  The information booth is located in the middle of the park. The Bellevue Police Department is on-site for public safety and to assist on non-emergencies.  Call 911 for emergencies.

Some of Bellevue’s downtown streets will be closed Sunday evening to accommodate event traffic. The street closures will start at 9:30 p.m. and will reopen at 10:05 p.m. Link to an article posted on the Seattle Times Bellevue Blog to learn more.

Two days and counting!

We’re officially two days out from the Eastside’s largest, most spectacular Independence Day celebration – the Symetra Bellevue Family 4th! To get you in a patriotic spirit, we’ve posted photos from past Bellevue Family 4th events below. And be sure to check out Sunday’s afternoon lineup of kids activities, picnic games, Main Stage entertainment, C-17 flyover and more! You won’t want to miss out on all the 4th of July fun!

2:00 p.m. — Bellevue Parks Family Fun Zone and Food Court opens. An array of kids’ activities, including carnival bouncers, slides, a mountain climbing wall, jugglers, stilt walkers, mascot characters, storytellers and face painting for ages 3 and up.

3:00 p.m. — Symetra Community Spotlight Pavilion opens. Representatives from the American Cancer Society, Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra, Look, Listen and Learn, YMCA of Greater Seattle, Senior Services, and the Pacific Science Center will showcase local non-profit programs and connect guests to volunteer opportunities.

3:00 p.m. — Eastside Heritage Picnic Games begin. Kids of all ages can partake in old-fashioned picnic games, including a sack race, three-legged race, bean bag toss, tic-tac-toe, a hula-hoop competition, and more. Games will be held near the Symetra Community Spotlight Pavilion and are free of charge.

3:30 p.m. — Singer/songwriter, Charlie Spring, performs on the Main Stage.

4:40 p.m. — A C-17 Globemaster III from Joint Base Lewis-McChord will make a precise flyover in the Downtown Park airspace.

5:30 p.m. — Country singer, Rae Solomon, performs on the Main Stage.

7:30 p.m. — Dance band, 3D, performs on the main Stage.

8:40 p.m. — The Bellevue Fire and Police Department Honor Guard conduct the presentation and placement of colors.

8:55 p.m. — The National Anthem performed by Anjani Briggs, Shelby Fanning, Juhi Mehta and Kallie Sullivan of Bellevue High School.

9:30 p.m. — The Bellevue Philharmonic takes center stage to present a special Independence Day performance prior to and during the fireworks display.

10:05 p.m. The Eastside’s largest and most spectacular fireworks display!

“A Salute to the Future”

This year’s Symetra Bellevue Family 4th makes “a salute to the future”. The event will highlight young members of the future generation, awarding the winners of Symetra’s Independence Day Essay Contest. Community organizations that make the Bellevue community a great place to live, work and play will also be featured in the Community Spotlight Pavilion. Click here to learn more about this year’s participants.

Bellevue Phil gears up for patriotic concert in the park

The Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra is busy practicing and preparing for their annual appearance at the Symetra Bellevue Family 4th.  As in tradition, the Phil will perform a special Independence Day concert on the Main Stage at 9:30 p.m., under the direction of Music Director, Michael Miropolsky. The set list will feature patriotic standards and favorites such as the Stars and Stripes Forever and Phantom of the Opera.

The Bellevue Philharmonic’s 30-minute performance sets the stage for the Eastside’s largest fireworks display, launching at 10:05 p.m. The orchestra will continue to play in synchronization with the fireworks throughout the spectacular show. The Symetra Bellevue Family 4th features the only fireworks display in the area that is set to a live music performance—one of the very special and unique features of this event.

Independance Day Program - Begins approx. 9:30 p.m.
Hungarian Dance No.5 (Brahms)
L’Arlesienne – Suite No. 1 – Farandole (Bizet)
Porgy and Bess (Gershwin)
Calling to Cavalry (Symphony of the Superhero)
My Fair Lady (Loewe)
Thunder and Lightening Polka (J. Strauss)
Phantom of the Opera (Webber)

Fireworks Performance Set - Begins approx. 10:05 p.m.
Fanfare for the Common Man (Copland)
Washington Post (Sousa)
Peter Gunn (Mancini)
National Emblem March (Bagley)
Musical Highlights from Rocky (Conti, Connors, Robbins)
Stars and Stripes Forever (Sousa)

In addition to the festive performances, the Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra will have a booth in the Symetra Community Spotlight pavilion. Orchestra musicians will offer live demonstrations of various instruments, play songs, and talk with visitors about the organization. See Community Spotlight schedule of instruments below:

3:00 p.m. Carolyn Wymann – Viola
3:30 p.m. Kirsten James - Flute
4:00 p.m. Bill Branvold - Trombone
4:30 p.m. Marti garrett - Violin
5:00 p.m. Marti Garrett and Lin Marcelais – Violin fiddle tunes
5:30 p.m. Linda Peragine - Double Bass
6:00 p.m. Becky Soukup - Violin
6:30 p.m. Rebecca Evans - Cello
7:00 p.m. Jay Scott - Trumpet
7:30 p.m. Mary Kantor  - Clarinet

To learn more about the Bellevue Philharmonic Orchestra and upcoming performances, visit bellevuephil.org.

Family 4th title sponsor Symetra Financial named “Corporate Champion”

Congratulations to Symetra Financial for their recognition by the Puget Sound Business Journal and the Seattle Foundation last month as a Healthy Community Corporate Champion in the category of Neighborhoods & Communities. The Puget Sound Business Journal’s annual Corporate Citizenship Awards acknowledge companies that are strengthening our community through giving and philanthropy. Symetra is a six time title sponsor of the Symetra Bellevue Family 4th and we are grateful for the wonderful partnership they bring to the table year after year. Learn about Symetra’s corporate citizenship philosophy and involvement within the Bellevue community and beyond at symetracommunity.com.

> Read the full Puget Sound Business Journal article here.

Seattle PI Blog: “Bellevue fireworks display survives and thrives”

Today Seattle PI blogger,
Deborah Robinson, wrote an article acknowledging that the Symetra Bellevue Family 4th
fireworks show in Downtown Bellevue continues to “survive and thrive”. Robinson notes that the consistent and generous support of the celebration’s title sponsor, Symetra Financial, and other community partners such as the City of Bellevue and Kemper Development Company, have been key to creating a sustainable event year after year. Read the full Seattle PI blog post here.

Seattle event saved

A 24-hour grassroots fundraising campaign led by Seattle radio show host Dave Ross and chef/restaurateur Tom Douglas effectively raised $500,000 to save the 4th of July event in Seattle.

Congratulations on a successful effort!