Saturday: A day of open streets parties in Redmond and on Lake Washington Blvd

The 2-Line will connect two big open streets parties Saturday, so clear your schedule and plan for a day of biking and dancing in the streets.

The annual Move Redmond Open Streets Festival goes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and the lineup includes a performance by the bicycle-inspired troupe Heap. Eastside Urbanism will also host a bike petting zoo, which is a great chance to try out different kinds of bikes and get honest advice about them in a non-sales environment. Move Redmond is also bringing their bouncy house that looks like a light rail train. (Full disclosure: My incredible spouse Kelli is the Executive Director of Move Redmond).

You can find the street party at 161st Ave NE and Cleveland Street, just a couple blocks from Downtown Redmond Station at the end of the 2-Line. It is also a short trail ride from the Chomp! festival in Marymoor Park, which is also free and family-friendly.

Then from noon to 7 p.m., a coalition of community groups are hosting the first ever Lake WA Blvd Bash to coincide with Bicycle Weekends. Folks with bikes can get between the two open streets festivals easily by taking the 2-Line to Judkins Park Station, then biking through the I-90 Trail tunnel, then taking Lake Washington Blvd. down the Colman Park curves to a point just north of where Bicycle Weekends begins. It's a fun and lovely ride if you're never done it.

As usual, the car-free section of Lake WA Blvd is between Mt Baker Beach and Seward Park. The Bash is at the Ferdinand Street Hand Carry Boat Launch, so you can enjoy the music from land or by water.