7 Tips for Snowflake Lane in Bellevue (Full Review!)
Last Updated on April 17, 2024 by Kelly
Snowflake Lane is one of our favorite annual winter traditions. Each year, it takes place in downtown Bellevue, Washington. We love that it’s a free event that occurs nightly during the holiday season. We can just show up on a night that works well for us! The parade typically takes place at 7pm each night through Christmas Eve. The parade contains a marching band, floats, fake snow, and lots of music!
We’ve been to Snowflake Lane several times over the years, and we plan on returning every year. In this post, we’re sharing all about our trips to Snowflake Lane! We’re including our best tips so that you have a great time at Snowflake Lane too!
Tips for Snowflake Lane
Tip #1: Arrive Early
We recommend arriving 30 minutes prior to the parade starting on a weekday and up to 45 minutes early on a weekend night.
We arrived 5 minutes early on a Monday night and we still had great views of the parade, although we weren’t in the first row of people. We didn’t mind holding our daughter up for the 20 minute show because she was little.
But if you want an unobstructed view of the parade, we recommend that you arrive at least 30 minutes early. Bring a hot beverage to keep you warm while you wait!
See our post about 35 Christmas Activities Near Seattle for more holiday ideas!
Tip #2: Allow Extra Time for Parking and Traffic
Driving into Bellevue during the holiday season is absolutely packed because of Snowflake Lane. It takes forever to get off the freeway, drive downtown, and find a parking spot.
Because the parade is only 20 minutes long, if you arrive late, you’ll miss a good portion of it. (Or even all of it!) Instead, give yourself plenty of time. You’ll need more than you think!
Tip #3: Make a Plan for Dinner
Unless you have restaurant reservations, we recommend eating at home and then watching Snowflake Lane. Another option is to eat after the show if you don’t have to worry about bedtimes for younger children.
The restaurants in Bellevue near Snowflake Lane are super busy prior to the parade. Unless you have a reservation, you might just miss the parade all together while you wait for a table.
If you can plan ahead, we recommend reservations at the following restaurants:
- Cactus
- Duke’s Seafood
- Tavern Hall
Each of these restaurants is located right along the parade route. We recommend asking for a window table. You might just have a front row seat to the Snowflake Lane parade from the restaurant! (This would be perfect for especially cold days!)
This year our plan was to have dinner at the Lincoln South Food Hall. We thought fast food would be easy since we didn’t make restaurant reservations. We were wrong! Our food order took over an hour to complete. We put in our order at 5:30pm, and it wasn’t ready until 6:45pm. By that time, we had to be outside to secure a spot. We had to eat outside really quickly while we were watching the parade. In hindsight, I think it would have been easier to eat dinner outside of downtown Bellevue prior to the show.
Bottom line: Make reservations and eat ridiculously early!
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Tip #4: Bring Your Own Light Up Accessories
At the event, we saw vendors selling light-up wands and necklaces. If you want to save money, you can likely save money by ordering your own in advance. (We bought light-up headbands from the dollar store, which worked perfectly!)
Tip #5: Dress for the Weather
The parade is outdoors, so be sure to bring weather-appropriate clothing. You’ll likely want to bring winter jackets, hats, gloves, and umbrellas. The only covered area to watch the show is on the skybridge. If you’re able to secure a spot on the bridge, you won’t have to worry about rain.
Tip #6: Prepare for Noise
The Christmas music can be pretty loud during the event. If you have people in your party that are sensitive to loud noises, try to find a spot away from the main speakers. You can also bring ear plugs.
Tip #7: Visit Early in December
Over the years, we’ve noticed that Snowflake Lane tends to be much more crowded the week before Christmas. (That’s when many kids are on winter break or folks are visiting for the holidays.)
If Snowflake Lane is on your holiday bucket list, try for a week night earlier in December. It’ll be less busy and you can watch the show stress-free.
Directions
The parade takes place between Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square from NE 4th to NE 8th streets. The city blocks traffic every night to allow for the parade.
If you’re driving into Bellevue, allow extra time for rush hour traffic and parking. There’s definitely more traffic as cars are diverted from the main parade route.
Tip: When we went to Snowflake Lane, the freeway exits into downtown Bellevue from I-405 were really backed up. There was a ton of traffic and it was stressful getting into downtown. If you qualify to use the carpool lane however, you can take the express lane exit (NE 6th) into Bellevue, which we found was much less crowded.
Parking
You can park at any of the parking garages near the mall. These include the Bellevue Square Garage and the Lincoln Square Parking Garage.
About Snowflake Lane
As you get ready for your visit, see this important information:
- Official Website: https://bellevuecollection.com/snowflakelane/
- Show time: 7pm
- Dates: November 24th – December 24th, 2023
- Duration: 20 minutes
- Cost: Free
- Location: Stand on the sidewalks anywhere between Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square from NE 4th to NE 8th streets
We’ve watched the Snowflake Lane production a couple of times. The parade contained numerous floats with Christmas characters, a marching band, festive music, and lots of artificial snow. We even saw floats with Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus.
Where to Stand to Watch Snowflake Lane
You can stand anywhere on the sidewalks between Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square from NE 4th to NE 8th streets.
One year we stood across from the Cheesecake Factory and liked that view just fine.
Another year we stood closer to NE 4th street, and that was pretty crowded. (Although that probably had to do more with timing than location.)
We also saw people standing on the skybridge.
Finally, you can also see the parade while dining at some of the restaurants along the route.
Our Review of Snowflake Lane
Our first visit to Snowflake Lane was because my sister-in-law invited us to the event. We had a blast! We ate dinner prior to the show and then walked over to the parade route. We arrived 5 minutes before the performance and stood on an upper sidewalk across from the Cheesecake Factory. We had a 2-year-old with us, and the artificial snow was a hit! We would definitely recommend this experience to others.
During our most recent visit to Snowflake Lane, we went with our extended family. We had multiple kids join for the event. The parade route was very crowded, so we had to put kids on shoulders to see the parade. If you have younger kids, we recommend that you arrive extra early. Otherwise, you’ll likely need to carry them for them to be able to see.
Nearby Hotels
It’s super convenient to stay overnight in Bellevue. If you choose to spend the night, you’ll be able to enjoy the festivities without having to think of a late evening commute home. (Or parking!)
- Hyatt Regency Bellevue: This hotel has an indoor pool and city views from the rooms. It’s less than a 5-minute walk away from Snowflake Lane.
- The Westin Bellevue: The Westin Bellevue is just a 3-minute walk away from Snowflake Lane. The hotel has a pretty indoor pool and is steps away from numerous restaurants.
- W Bellevue: The W Bellevue is located steps away from the parade route. This modern hotel has a lot of bold decor choices.
- Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Bellevue/Downtown: This hotel is located a few blocks away from the parade route. I’ve personally stayed at the Courtyard by Marriott Seattle Bellevue/Downtown several times and have enjoyed my visits there.
Nearby Activities
While you’re in the Bellevue area, you might also consider the following activities:
- Bellevue Botanical Gardens: During the holidays, you can see the Christmas lights at Garden D’Lights
- Meet Santa: Schedule a visit to see Santa
- Go Shopping: You can do some Christmas shopping at Bellevue Square Mall
- Go Ice Skating: Head to Bellevue Downtown Ice Rink to go ice skating
- KidsQuest Children’s Museum: We visited the children’s museum before our last visit
| See our article on the best Christmas tree farms near Seattle! |
Summary
We hope this review about Snowflake Lane was helpful to you! Snowflake Lane has been one of our favorite holiday traditions. It’s important to give yourself plenty of time. If you arrive early enough and you’re flexible, you’re sure to have a great time.
Disclaimer: We always strive for content accuracy. Since the time of publishing, travel-related information regarding pricing, schedules, and hours may have changed. Please look up such information directly from each vendor or institution for the most current information.