Mercer Island’s only community-wide festival, drawing crowds between 20,000-30,000, is held annually on the second full weekend in July and boasts a new theme each year. This year’s festival, themed “Out of This World,” consists of many events around the Island on July 8-9, including the brand new “Sk8te the Rock.”

Mercer Island Parks and Recreation is partnering with Bellevue Parks and Recreation for this new skate event, which will be from 1-3 p.m. Sunday at the Mercerdale skate park. Contestants can choose from three age divisions and will have 60 seconds to skate their best run. Giveaways, demos and prizes will be offered for the winners of each division.

Summer Celebration also features classic events, including the grand parade, car show, food fair and boat rides around the Island.

The parade will open Mercer Island’s 27th annual community festival at 10 a.m. Saturday. The parade route begins at Southeast 27th Street and 78th Avenue Southeast, running along 78th Avenue Southeast to Mercerdale Park. The parade is a family friendly event focusing on the Mercer Island community. There will be a prize awarded to the entry that incorporates the Summer Celebration theme to their best ability.

The boat rides are also on Saturday. Hop aboard the Argosy “Celebrations” boat for a narrated ride around the Island, learn fun facts and history and enjoy a drink or snack from the on-board no-host bar. The cruise departs from the Luther Burbank docks, and free parking is available in the park meadow for ticketholders. Boat rides are approximately one-and-a-half hours long. There is a choice of three sailing times: 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $10 for youth under 18 years old and $15 for adults.

The 15th annual Mercer Island Car Show is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday at the Farmers New World Life Insurance parking lot. Bring your classic, street rod, sport, exotic, antique, motorcycle or project car. There is no entry fee, and it’s non-competitive. Details and registration can be found at www.mercerislandcarshow.com.

The food fair, children’s fun zone and arts and crafts marketplace will be open both days. The fun zone is located in the middle of Mercerdale Park and serves as the main attraction for pint-sized festival attendees, with games, rides and inflatable attractions. The marketplace provides a great opportunity to do some shopping for unique finds, as craft vendors from all over the region will showcase their art work and goods from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

There will also be fireworks at 10:15 p.m. Saturday at Luther Burbank Park and a Sons of Norway Pancake Breakfast from 9 a.m. to noon Sunday.

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