Bellevue’s modified Snowflake Lane keeps holiday spirits up
Dec 12, 2020, 7:53 AM
If you’re looking for a fun and socially-distanced holiday activity this weekend, look no further than across Lake Washington for Bellevue’s modified Snowflake Lane.
The COVID-19 pandemic couldn’t stop the Bellevue Collection’s festive nightly show from returning this winter. And while the Puget Sound holiday favorite won’t include the usual parade of dancing nutcrackers and elves, the lights, carols, and even the “snow” will still bring some much-needed cheer every evening.
“We really wanted to still be able to bring some of those kind of key things that people really love about it, which for us was the snow, the lights, and the music,” said Jennifer Leavitt, vice president of marketing for the Bellevue Collection. “Unfortunately, there are no performers this year for everybody’s safety.”
While other years featured one big event at 7 p.m. each night, this year will see smaller shows at intervals of every several minutes between 5–8:30 p.m.
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“We’re able to do what we call ‘mini moments,’ where you get a little bit of snow, and some really beautiful lights on the building that are all timed to the music, as well as kind of a light show,” Leavitt said. “The snow is the thing that people always come for, and it never ceases to delight.”
The idea behind this was to spread the fun out over the entire evening, so that people do not gather at one spot at the same time. Similar holiday events, such as Westlake Park’s light display and Leavenworth’s Village of Lights, have taken the same approach. Leavitt said this model seems to be working well for both keeping people socially distant, and lifting their spirits.
“It’s been fun to see people just come down and enjoy it on their own, what makes them comfortable,” Leavitt said. “It’s definitely working in the way that we had hoped in terms of spreading it out. We have had great feedback from people about the fact that we’re still doing something, and really trying to continue to bring some joy.”
And with no parade, Bellevue Way is open to cars during the Snowflake Lane shows this year. That means you can choose whether to walk or drive through the snowfall, based on your comfort level.
“It’s working out well, and I think that people appreciate the opportunity to have a little bit of normalcy,” Leavitt said.
Snowflake Lane runs every evening through Christmas Eve along Bellevue Way, between Lincoln Square and Bellevue Square malls.
Bellevue is not the only city on the Eastside feeling the holiday spirit. Other nearby festive activities that you can do on your own and outdoors all month long include Woodinville’s Festival of Lights — a sort of scavenger hunt to find Christmas lights displays around downtown — the Issaquah Reindeer Festival at Cougar Mountain Zoo, and Redmond Lights in Redmond’s Downtown Park.
