Derby Days 2026 dates, programming and budget preview; $61,000 funding gap covered by event fund balance

Parks events staff provided an information update on Derby Days 2026, the city’s historic summer festival, and outlined dates, programming, accessibility and budget details.

"Derby Days is open to the public, it's free, and it brings together community members, visitors, and staff to celebrate the city of Redmond," a staff presenter said, summarizing the event’s community role. Staff said Derby Days typically draws about 35,000 attendees across the City Hall campus and partnering sites and that this year the festival will take place Friday–Saturday, July 24–25, with a drone show concluding the event Saturday night.

Programming highlights include a craft market with more than 70 artists, a grand parade, live performances, a family activity area (inflatables and splash features to replace the carnival for this year) and a partnering velodrome event. Staff said Microsoft is sponsoring an ADA shuttle between Microsoft campus and the City Hall campus and that reusable cups and careful waste management reduced landfill waste at last year’s event.

On finances, staff estimated total event expenses around $234,000, with sponsorships (including Microsoft and Amazon), vendor revenues and an ELTAC grant contributing income; the absence of the carnival reduced expected revenue and produced a funding gap of roughly $61,000 that staff plan to cover from the events fund balance. The presentation was informational; councilmembers asked about possible free or reduced tickets for lower‑income attendees and about bringing back bike‑ and running‑race elements in future years.