Mercer Island Summer Celebration is set for July 13

Katie Herzog feels that the Mercer Island tradition of Summer Celebration is a positive community event that connects people of all ages during the fun, entertainment-filled day and night.

The city’s recreation program supervisor takes the lead in organizing the robust event that will occur from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on July 13 with a plethora of activities at Mercerdale Park and Luther Burbank Park. The day will commence with the community parade along 78th Avenue Southeast and conclude with a thunderous fireworks show over Lake Washington.

“It is our premier event that we hope to highlight everything that we can do for this community,” Herzog said. “It’s so fun to know what is coming up. It’s like the excitement’s building.”

Herzog and Islanders aplenty are especially thrilled to watch and participate in the community parade, which returned to the celebration last year in partnership with Island Books, Island Treats and John L. Scott Real Estate Mercer Island. The parade will start rolling at 10 a.m. from the Greta Hackett Outdoor Sculpture Gallery onward toward the finish line at Mercerdale Park.

Last year, spectators lined the street as members of the Mercer Island VFW Post 5760 led the parade — which they will reiterate this time out — that featured local community groups like the Boys and Girls Club; Cub Scouts and Girl Scouts troops; Island wiener dogs; Nancy Stewart’s Sing With Our Kids; tai chi and martial arts groups; MI City Councilmembers; city vehicles like a marine patrol truck and boat, fire truck and public works vehicles and much more. Those participants are expected to join the parade again this year.

“As longtime members of the Mercer Island business community, John L. Scott, Island Treats and Island Books are all proud to be business community sponsors and organizers of this Island tradition. Our families, friends and neighbors have enjoyed it for many years and we hope to preserve this special community tradition for future generations of Mercer Islanders,” reads an Island Books statement to the Reporter.

A host of activities are scheduled at Mercerdale Park from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., including touch-a-truck, community and city booths, art vendors, food trucks, live music by Wally & The Beaves and The Dogtones, a no-tent circus and kids zone, foam party and bubble stations and Uncle Stinky’s Magic Booth.

Later on July 13, attendees can hop on Mercer Island School District shuttle buses at Northwood and Island Park elementaries between 5:30-9 p.m. and cruise to Luther Burbank Park for the evening’s festivities. Food trucks and the Brickhouse Band will serve up dinner and tunes from 6-10 p.m., aerial acts and a stilt walker will entertain the crowd from 6:30-8:30 p.m. — and the Western Display Fireworks extravaganza will light up the sky at 10 p.m.

Herzog has received immense positive feedback from Islanders regarding the event: “It’s such a great showing of the community. When I stand at Mercerdale Park and look down 77th and just see the sea of people that are there, it’s so great.”

She said it’s all hands on deck in the city realm on the day of the event, including the right of way team blocking streets, police helping with the parade, the parks maintenance crew getting things set at Mercerdale and Luther Burbank and more. Throughout the year, the city’s recreation team and manager have sent ideas Herzog’s way to help fill the schedule.

“It takes us all to get this event done,” said Herzog, adding that, “Summer Celebration is always on my mind.”

When January comes, she hits the ground running by searching for entertainment and securing contracts and continues putting the pieces together with each passing day and month until showtime nears. Two weeks prior to the event, Herzog is pretty much locked in on the schedule, but there are always a few more applications to sign off on from community groups, parade participants and vendors.

According to Herzog, the city budget allocates $103,000 for the event, which is supported by monetary and in-kind sponsors Mercer Island Martial Arts, John L. Scott Real Estate Mercer Island, Parent Map, Belle Harbour, Mercer Island City Lifestyle, Island Animal Hospital, Windermere Real Estate, Abode Consulting, Puget Sound Energy, Baklinski Home Improvement, The Mercer, Pure Food Fish Market, Island Books, Island Treats, Mercer Island School District and Haka Fine Crafted Hats.

For more information, visit: https://www.mercerisland.gov/parksrec/page/summer-celebration-2024