The City of Bellevue invites the community to celebrate the annual Eastside Welcoming Week with several events during and around the official Welcoming Week period of Sept. 9-18.
This year Welcoming Week focuses on the places and spaces that foster belonging. The theme "Where We Belong" aims to go deeper and spark individual reflection on how and why belonging occurs, and ways we can break down barriers so places can foster belonging for all, including immigrants and refugees.
Welcoming Week in East King County brings together new immigrants and long-term community members in a spirit of unity, education and celebration through sharing of cultural traditions, art, dance and community. In a time when COVID-19 has shifted our ways of engaging with each other and social inequities are seen both nationally and locally, the city and its many partners continue the commitment to welcoming all.
The community is invited to engage in opportunities during Welcoming Week and beyond to learn, connect across differences and take joint action to achieve a welcoming, equitable and inclusive community. Bellevue has grown from a quiet suburb into a dynamic, international and multicultural city. As part of its Diversity Advantage Initiative, the city provides cross-cultural outreach and engagement opportunities, implements equity-driven policy change and strives to provide inclusive, accessible services.
Highlighted Events
Issaquah Welcomes You
Friday, Sept. 9, 5-8 p.m.
Come together for a free, family-friendly event to celebrate the cultural diversity of our community. Festivities include music, world dances, an art exposition, informational booths and food trucks. Wearing traditional clothing is encouraged. Everyone is welcome!
Stop by one of the informational booths to meet community partners, nonprofit organizations and various city departments to learn about their services and opportunities to volunteer. Meet the city’s Equity Board and learn about initiatives in our city and ways to be involved. Issaquah Welcomes You.
Location: Issaquah Community Center, 301 Rainier Blvd. S, Issaquah
Celebrate Bellevue
Saturday, Sept. 10, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Enjoy games, arts and crafts, cultural performances, food and a presentation from the Eastside Heritage Center.
- 10-11 a.m.: Eastside Heritage Center presentation on the history of Bellevue
- 11 a.m.-1 p.m.: Ian Dobson and his steel drum trio perform
- Noon-2 p.m.: Performance by Native American flutist Peter Ali
La Chingona Taqueria taco truck will have food for sale. Other activities include games, lawn games, arts and crafts.
Location: North Bellevue Community Center, 4063 148th Avenue Northeast, Bellevue
Northwest Ukrainian International Festival
Saturday, Sept. 10, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
The festival will feature Ukrainian customs including delicious and authentic Ukrainian food, vendor booths featuring local businesses, stage performances including bands, soloists, and choirs, and activities for children and adults, including inflatables, games and a trout fishing pond.
Location: Crossroads Park, Bellevue
Let's Move Redmond
Saturday, Sept. 10, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Let’s Move Redmond is a street festival that promotes healthy, active transportation by transforming 161st Street into a place where people can bike, walk, scoot, roll and play. Let’s Move Redmond celebrates local businesses and community organizations, and fosters civic pride in our streets. Let's Move Redmond
Location: 16101 NE Redmond Way, Redmond
Bellevue Welcomes All at Mini City Hall
Monday, Sept. 12, 2:30-4:30 p.m.
Learn about how Mini City Hall offers a place where you belong and provides access to critical services. Mini City Hall has been serving the Bellevue community for more than 25 years. Mini City Hall has several partnerships that provide in-person services to assist a variety of different needs, including:
- Employment and Entrepreneurship Assistance, providing employment support and small business consultations.
- Indian American Community Services (IACS) programs, ranging from women’s career services, early childhood education, crisis care, a youth leadership program and much more.
- SHIBA Specialists, providing one-on-one Medicare counseling appointments.
- Chinese Information Service Center (CISC), offering specialists who speak Russian & Chinese to help customers navigate public services and systems.
- King County Library System (KCLS), providing computer coaching geared toward beginners who want to improve their technical skills.
For more information, please visit BellevueWA.gov/mini-city-hall
Location: Mini City Hall at Crossroads Shopping Center
Cultural Conversations
Tuesday, Sept. 13, 1-2:30 p.m.
Cultural Conversations begins a new season of storytelling and connection, during National Welcoming Week. Enjoy tea and table conversation as you participate in interactive exercises and storytelling, exploring what you’ve learned during the past two years of pandemic and what practices for gathering and welcoming work best today. Be a “welcomer” and invite a new friend.
For more information, accommodation needs and to RSVP for purposes of space planning and providing updates, email neighborhoodoutreach@bellevuewa.gov or call 452-452-6836. Welcoming Week Cultural Conversations
Location: Crossroads Community Center, 16000 NE 10th St., Bellevue
Outdoor Storytime with Mayor Birney and Police Chief Lowe
Friday, Sept. 16, 11:15-11:45 a.m.
Join Redmond’s Mayor Angela Birney and Police Chief Darrell Lowe to read stories, sing songs, celebrate our diverse community and welcome everyone to the city where we belong. Held outside at the Great Lawn beside the Redmond Library, in front of the Redmond Courthouse. Please bring a blanket. Outdoor Storytime.
Location: Redmond Library, 15990 NE 85th St., Redmond
Kirkland City Hall For All
Saturday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m.-noon
Over the next several months, the City of Kirkland will be making important decisions about how we plan for the future of our community. The decisions will cover many elements such as housing options, community spaces, growing local business, and much more. The city plans for the future by creating guiding documents that provide tangible actions to meet expectations. City Hall for All
Location: Virtual event
PeaceFest!
Saturday, Sept. 17, 10 a.m.-1 p.m.
Celebrating International Day of Peace and Welcoming Week, the Bellevue Family YMCA with Bellevue Rotary present fun activities for the whole family: art show, art activity table, bouncy house, dedication of the Rotary Peace Pole and award ceremony for winners of the Rotary Poster and Essay Contest. The Rotary Peace Pole will have the word “peace” written in various languages spoken in our region. For questions, please contact Heather at 425-990-6972. Peacefest
Location: Bellevue Family YMCA, 14230 Bel Red Rd., Bellevue
Bilingual Hindi and English Storytime
Saturday, Sept. 17, 11-11:30 a.m.
Celebrate the diversity of welcoming week with Hindi Time Kids! Storytime will include a fun puppet show combined with engaging songs in Hindi. Registration required. Hindi Storytime.
Location: Redmond Library, 15990 NE 85th St., Redmond
Welcome to Juanita
Saturday, Sept. 17, noon-3 p.m.
Celebrating diversity and inclusion in Kirkland, the Juanita Neighborhoods Association invites all to enjoy free food from local restaurants (Gyro World, Jersey Mike’s, Papa John’s, La Carona, Hero’s BBQ), plus entertainment, games, prizes and community business information.
You do not need to be a resident of Juanita to be welcomed to Juanita! Invite your friends. Welcome to Juanita
Location: Edith Moulton Park, 13634 108th Ave. NE, Kirkland
Singing and Playing / Cantando Y Jugando with Marco Cortes
Saturday, Sept. 17, 2-2:45 p.m.
Join a bilingual English/Spanish program for kids and families with music and songs from different countries. Una programa en inglés y en español para niños y familias con música y canciones de diferentes países. Registration required. Singing and Playing.
Location: Redmond Library, 15990 NE 85th St., Redmond
Other highlights
The Eastside Refugee and Immigrant Coalition has a full schedule of Eastside Welcoming Week events.
Welcoming Week is sponsored by Welcoming America, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that supports local outreach efforts to build bridges between newcomers and long-time residents. This year’s national campaign is dedicated to fostering a more welcoming nation where everyone–regardless of their background–can feel they belong.