Bellevue Family 4th to Celebrate Independence Day at Downtown Park

Bellevue Family 4th to Celebrate Independence Day at Downtown Park

The Bellevue Family 4th, the Eastside’s largest celebration of our nation’s birthday, is back at Downtown Park. This year’s edition of the annual event, presented by the Bellevue Collection, will be 5-10:40 p.m. on Tuesday, July 4, featuring live music, family activities and a fireworks display set to live music by the Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra.

The Family Fun Zone will offer family entertainment and a kids area starting at 5 p.m. Festivities also kick off at 5 p.m. on the Amazon Entertainment Plaza with Lady A, performing blues and soul, followed by folk/rock band Laurel Canyon Legacy at 7 p.m.

This year’s food court features 11 vendors: Blinchiki Crepes, Glow Tea, HP Smokehouse BBQ, Isidros, La Panadeia, Langostino Sushi Burrito, Mexicuban, Organic Juice Bar & Gyros, Ray’s Food, Seoul Bowl and Zieglers Bratwurst Haus. Food trucks around the perimeter of the park will include Ben & Jerry’s, Kulphi, Kornman, Nothing Bundt Cakes, Pioneer Popcorn, Road Dawgs and Samijon’s Shaved Ice.

People are encouraged to bring their own water bottles to the event. Water refill stations will be available at the event this year.

The Bellevue Youth Symphony Orchestra will have a pre-fireworks performance starting at 9:15 p.m.  To set the stage for the fireworks, which start at 10:05 p.m., the Fire Department’s Honor Guard will present the colors at 9:50 p.m., followed by a performance of the national anthem by the Newport High School Choir. The fireworks will be synchronized with the Youth Symphony Orchestra’s performance. After the fireworks, the orchestra will perform more music.

Personal fireworks and alcohol and other drugs are not allowed at Downtown Park. Grills, camp stoves and other cooking devices are also prohibited. Please see Family 4th Park Rules for details.

GETTING THERE

• Free parking available after 5 p.m. at The Bellevue Collection properties (Bellevue Square, Lincoln Square North, Lincoln Square South and Bellevue Place). Parking for people with disabilities located in Downtown Park’s parking lot located on the 200th block of 100th Ave NE.  Must display ADA permit to gain entry to lot. Please note 100th Ave closes for safety at 9:30 p.m. and reopens once police have given all-clear for drop zone safety, and those parking in the ADA lot may not be allowed to leave until as late as 11:30 p.m.  
• A designated Food Drop Off Zone will be located on the 200th block of 100th Ave NE near the northwest end of the park.  
• Visitors encouraged to walk, bike, take the bus or carpool to the event. Transit service to the Bellevue Transit Center (located at Northeast Sixth Street and 108th Avenue Northeast) from Seattle and many surrounding areas is also available. Comprehensive information about travel options can be found at ChooseYourWayBellevue.org.  
• Street parking in nearby residential streets is prohibited; violators may be impounded. Several streets will be closed near the park for safety and to minimize delays. Please be patient, observe posted signs and obey police officers directing traffic. 
• Full list of street closures before and after the event at: https://bellevuewa.gov/city-government/departments/transportation/traffic-conditions/traffic-advisories 

STAYING SAFE

• Bellevue Fire Department reminds residents and visitors that the sale, use and possession of fireworks are prohibited within the City of Bellevue.   
• Personal fireworks, alcohol, drugs and smoking are not allowed at Bellevue Downtown Park. In addition, grills, barbecues, camp stoves and other cooking devices are prohibited – no open flame.  
• No drones or amplified sound (beyond 30 feet).  
• Well-behaved dogs are allowed in the park but must be on 6 ft leash.  
• Canopies and sunshades are allowed until 8 p.m. No staking or tents allowed.  
• Please do not leave belongings, such as backpacks, coolers, etc., unattended. Lost Child Police station available in the center of the park next to the “Lest We Forget” World War I memorial with three large trees. First aid station located off of  NE 1st Street near the intersection of NE 1st and 100th Avenue NE. This lot is immediately adjacent to the playground. 

A big thank you to our 2023 presenting partner The Bellevue Collection, 2023 supporting partners Amazon, Microsoft, PACCAR, and Puget Sound Energy, media partners WARM 106.9 and The Seattle Times, and our friends of the fourth Cascade Water Alliance, Sterling Realty Organization, Wallace Properties Inc., and Wig Properties. 

The City of Bellevue and Bellevue Downtown Association have co-produced the Bellevue Family 4th for the past 31 years.

This blog is part of the Heart of Bellevue: our campaign to showcase local businesses while connecting you with stories of activity, creativity and recovery. Find out about our campaign and explore more of what’s happening around Downtown.