Summer Celebration! to bring out of this world fun Mercer Island’s only communitywide festival, drawing crowds between 20,000-30,000 over the festival weekend, is held annually on the second full weekend in July and boasts a new theme each year. For more information, visit www.mercergov.org/Page. asp?NavID=2437. The festival consists of many events around the Island on July 8-9:
Grand parade The grand parade will open Mercer Island’s 27th annual community festival at 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 8. The parade route begins at Southeast 27th Street and 78th Avenue Southeast, running along 78th Avenue Southeast to Mercerdale Park. The parade is a family friendly event focusing on the Mercer Island community. This year’s Summer Celebration! theme is “Out of This World!” There will be a prize awarded to the entry that incorporates the theme to their best ability.
Car show Time to open up the garage and let your automotive treasure out for a stretch. You’re invited to join us in this year’s 15th Annual Mercer Island Car Show on Sunday, July 9. Bring your classic, street rod, sport, exotic, antique or motorcycle. Have a project car you’ve been working on? Bring it down, we’d love to see it! No entry fee and it’s non-competitive. Details and registration at www.mercerislandcarshow.com. Register now to avoid filling out paperwork on the day of the show. The car show runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., July 9 at the Farmers New World Life Insurance parking lot. Check-in begins at 8 a.m.
Fireworks celebration The fireworks, sponsored by The Roanoke Inn, will be at Luther Burbank Park on Saturday night, and are set to begin at about 10:15 p.m. 8
98040 | ISLAND SUMMER 2017
Katie Metzger/file photos
Above, kids ride on scooters, bikes and car toys during the Summer Celebration! grand parade in July 2016. Right, Mercer Island High School band members and cheerleaders perform during the grand parade last summer in downtown Mercer Island.
Shuttles will run from Mercer Island City Hall beginning at 6 p.m. Clowns Unlimited will have three inflatable attractions from 6:30-9:30 p.m. Wristbands on sale at the event for $8 or $2 per ticket. Food trucks will include Curry House, Buns on Wheels, Ezells Express Chicken, Nosh, Chopstix, Falafel Salam Co., Auntie Anne’s Pretzels and Nibbles.
Children’s Fun Zone The Children’s Fun Zone is located in the middle of Mercerdale Park and serves as the main attraction for pint-sized festival attendees. You will find arts and craft activities, inflatable rides and other child-friendly activities sure to provide hours of entertainment,
designed just for kids. Clowns Unlimited will be on site both days with exciting rides and inflatables in the Children’s Fun Zone. Rides are available during all festival hours.
Arts and Crafts Marketplace The Summer Celebration street fair “Arts & Crafts Marketplace” is a great opportunity to do some shopping for unique finds. Craft vendors come from all over the region to showcase their art work
and goods. Visit the Arts and Crafts Marketplace from 11 a.m.- 7 p.m. on Saturday July 8, and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday, July 9.
Food Fair The celebration’s colorful street fair takes place at beautiful Mercerdale Park and Town Center on July 8-9, with a fireworks show and entertainment on Saturday evening at Luther Burbank Park. SEE CELEBRATION, 9