Through all seasons of the year, there's never a shortage of things to do in Bellevue. Here are highlights of annual activities and festivals in the city. For continuing updates visit...
Through all seasons of the year, there’s never a shortage of things to do in Bellevue. Here are highlights of annual activities and festivals in the city. For continuing updates visit www.seattletimes.com/eastside/calendar
Late Night Music at Crossroads:
Live music by local and regional bands, 7:30 to 10 p.m. Saturdays at Crossroads Shopping Center MarketStage.
First Fridays at the BAM:
Music and free admission to exhibits, 5:30 to 10 p.m. on the first Friday of the month at the Bellevue Art Museum.
Free-for-all Saturdays at the BAM:
Family activities, workshops and free admission to exhibits, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the fourth Saturday of the month at the Bellevue Art Museum.
March
16th Annual Bandage Ball and auction to benefit Overlake Hospital Medical Center, 5:30 p.m. March 29 at Meydenbauer Center. Reservations: 425-688-5539.
April
Crossroads Youth Talent Competition: April 4 at the Crossroads Community Center.
Wild & Woolly Fest: Sheep shearing, spinning and dog herding, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 5 at Kelsey Creek Farm Park.
Bellevue Botanical Garden tours: 2 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays April 5 through Oct. 26.
Bellevue Live Spring Jazz Concert Series: 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesdays April 9 through May 28 at various downtown locations. Information: 425-453-1223 or www.bellevuedowntown.org
Bellevue Community Band Spring Concert: April 15 at Crossroads Shopping Center.
Annual Spring Egg Hunt for children up to age 12 and pancake breakfast April 19 at the Crossroads Community Center.
Standing Ovation 2003 Annual Gala benefit to support Eastside arts groups, April 26 at the Hyatt Regency. Information: 425-455-1345.
May
Boats to Go Show marks the opening of boating season, May 1-4 at Factoria Mall.
Spring Plant Sale: More than 25 plant societies and specialty growers, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 3 at Bellevue Botanical Garden.
Mercer Slough Canoe Tours: Five-mile interpretive paddling tour, 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, May 10 through October. Reservations: 425-452-2752.
Mother’s Day Celebration: Music, refreshments and spring blooms, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. May 11 at Bellevue Botanical Garden.
Memorial Day Service: Veterans groups and youth musicians, 9:30 a.m. May 26 at Sunset Hills Memorial Park.
Bellevue Chamber Chorus: Annual World Music Concert, “Eastern Fires,” 2 and 7:30 p.m. May 31 at Meydenbauer Center. Information: 425-881-0445 or www.bellevuechamberchorus.net
June
Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra: 38th Anniversary Concert, 7 p.m. June 2 at First Presbyterian Church of Bellevue. Information: 425-467-5604.
Race Unity Day: June 14 at Crossroads Shopping Center.
Ol’ Fashion Strawberry Festival with shortcake and stories of old Bellevue, June 21 on Old Main Street and 103rd Avenue Northeast. Information: 425-452-2752.
24-Hour Relay: Annual youth and adult fitness event, June 21-22 in Downtown Park. Information: 425-452-2846.
90th Annual Rose Show: Hundreds of varieties by Northwest growers, June 28-29 at Factoria Mall.
July
Patriotic Concert performed by the Bellevue Community Band, July 3 at Crossroads Shopping Center.
Family Fourth Celebration: entertainment, activities and fireworks, 6 to 11 p.m. July 4 in Downtown Park. Information: 425-452-4106 or www.bellevuedowntown.org
Seafair Half-Marathon and 5k Fun Run to benefit the Benaroya Research Institute at Virginia Mason Medical Center, July 6 starting and ending in Downtown Park. Information: 206-726-0123, Ext. 108 or www.seafair.com
U-pick blueberry fields Open mid-July through August at the Lake Hills Greenbelt Farm.
Live at Lunch Summer Concert Series: Tuesdays and Thursdays July 15 through Sept. 18 at various downtown locations. Information: 425-453-1223
Pops in the Park: Music and picnicking, 5:30 to 8 p.m. July 19 in Bellevue Botanical Garden.
Bellevue Art Museum Fair: July 25-27 at Bellevue Square. Information: 425-519-0770 or www.bellevueart.org
6th Street Arts & Crafts Fair: July 25-27, 106th Avenue Northeast and Northeast Sixth Street. Information: 425-453-1223 or www.bellevuedowntown.com
15th Annual All-British Field Meet: Car show and swap meet, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. July 26, Bellevue Community College. 425-644-7874 or www.abfm.com
August
Bellevue Botanical Garden Society Photo Exhibition: Aug. 1-30 at the garden.
StoryFest International: Local and international storytellers, music and activities, Aug. 15-16 at the Bellevue Regional Library. Information: 425-369-3349.
Summer Garden Open House: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lake Hills Greenbelt demonstration garden.
Eastside Fuchsia Society Show: Aug. 16-17 at Bellevue Botanical Garden. Information: 425-885-2604.
ChalkWalk at The Corners: drawings by professional and amateur sidewalk chalk artists Aug. 22-24 outside Bellevue Square.
Paradiso in the Park: Outdoor ’50s movie night, Aug. 23 in Downtown Park. Information: 206-283-8368.
28th Annual Dahlia Show: Aug. 23-24 at Factoria Mall.
September
Lake-to-Lake Walk: 15k walk along the Lake-to-Lake Greeway Trail, Sept. 6. Information: 425-452-2752.
Aki Matsuri: Annual fall Japanese cultural festival, Sept. 13-14 at Bellevue Community College. Information: 425-861-7865 or www.enma.org
Harvest Day Open House: Samples of produce, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sept. 27 at the Lake Hills Greenbelt demonstration garden.
October
Kelsey Creek Farm Fair: Heritage demonstrations, activities, farm animals, music and tractor-pulled wagon rides, Oct. 11-12 at Kelsey Creek Farm.
Halloween party with live music for youth ages 12-19, Oct. 31 at the Ground Zero Teen Center, 251 100th Ave. N.E.
Trick-or-treating: Oct. 31 at Bellevue Square, Factoria Mall and Crossroads Shopping Center.
November
Eastside Association of Fine Arts Exhibition: Artwork and demonstrations by local and regional painters and photographers through November at Key Center. Information: 425-883-9168.
Earshot Jazz Festival Showcasing local musicians, 7:30 to 10 p.m. Nov. 1 at Crossroads Shopping Center.
Hopelink Benefit Luncheon features keynote speaker Patty Stonesifer, co-chair and president of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Nov. 3 at Meydenbauer Center. Information: 425-883-8430.
13th Annual Cultural Crossroads Festival: Music, dance and cultural information, Nov. 7-9 at Crossroads Shopping Center.
Crescendo Auction to benefit the Bellevue Philharmonic Nov. 8 at the Doubletree Hotel Bellevue. Information: 425-455-4171 or www.bellevuephil.org
Turkey Bowl: Annual Thanksgiving dinner and party for youngsters ages 12-19, Nov. 26 at Ground Zero Teen Center, 251 100th Ave. N.E.
Wintergarden Tree Lighting with music by the Bellevue Chamber Chorus, Nov. 28, Wintergarden at Bellevue Place. Information: 425-881-0445 or www.bellevuechamberchorus.net
Santa Arrives Nov. 28 with a Toyland Parade at Bellevue Square, a magic show at Factoria Mall and also at Crossroads Shopping Center.
Sleeping Beauty performed by Ballet Bellevue, Nov. 28-30 at Meydenbauer Center. Information: 425-455-1345 or www.balletbellevue.org
Bellevue Magic Season Ice Arena opens in Downtown Park, Nov. 28 through Dec. 31. Information: 425-453-1223 or www.magicseason.com
Tree lighting and caroling with local bands and children’s choirs, Nov 29 at the Bellevue Galleria. Information: 206-322-1610.
December
Garden D’Lights: Annual holiday tour of botanical light sculptures, 5-9 p.m. daily Dec. 1-31 in Bellevue Botanical Garden.
Holiday Pops Concert presented by the Bellevue Philharmonic, Dec. 6, Wintergarden at Bellevue Place. Information: 425-455-4171 or www.bellevuephil.org
Mistletoe Magic Concert performed by the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra, Dec. 9 at Meydenbauer Center. Information: 425-467-5604.
Holiday Dinner for youth ages 12-19, Dec. 18 at the Ground Zero Teen Center, 251 100th Ave. N.E.
Handel’s Messiah performed by the Bellevue Philharmonic and the Bellevue Chamber Chorus, late December. Information: 425-455-4171 or www.bellevuephil.org
Compiled by Nyssa Rogers.