Snowflake Lane Draws Festive Crowds to Bellevue

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Festivities at Bellevue’s Snowflake Lane include nightly parades and other holiday festivities

Alexis Losse, Staff Writer

Now that it is December, it is finally time to begin the countdown to Christmas. Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year, and although Seattleites get into the spirit by going to the Westlake Center Tree Lighting, or going to Candy Cane Lane, Bellevue has its own event.

Bellevue Square hosts its 11th annual Snowflake Lane this year, which not only has drummers, snow, and music, but also has floats, characters like Frosty the Snowman, and princesses. Snowflake Lane’s first night of the season is always the day after Thanksgiving, and it goes all the way through Christmas Eve, every night at 7 pm. The best night to go to Snowflake Lane, is obviously the kick-off night, because it is the only night that Santa Claus comes. Santa Claus comes in his sleigh, and afterwards, he stays to light the tree at the Bellevue Place Wintergarden, where people can go to take pictures with the characters, and drink hot cocoa. Julia Panelli a junior from Holy Names and a princess in Snowflake Lane this year, said, “I have always grown up loving the holiday spirit, and I knew as a little kid that I wanted to become a performer in Snowflake Lane to spread Christmas joy someday”.

Panelli later said that her favorite part of Snowflake Lane is “seeing the kids’ faces light up as you wave or blow a kiss to them”.

The biggest difference in this year’s Snowflake Lane versus other years is there used to be a main stage where the dancers perform, but this year they are adding new pop-up stages with dancers and drummers to create a more spread out show. They even have people on skates this year! Panelli summed up Snowflake Lane in one sentence by saying, “Snowflake Lane is a magical performance where the spirit of the holiday comes alive!”

Snowflake Lane is the highlight of many people’s holiday season, and directly following Snowflake Lane, there is Celebration Lane from December 26th through the 31st which is getting everyone ready for the New Year. Snowflake Lane is definitely a sight to see, even if it means trekking over 520 to Bellevue. Merry Christmas!