Reflecting on 2022 as we embark on its 4th quarter, I can’t help but smile.
The last few years have presented many challenges for all of us. We’ve had to navigate the different iterations and surprises of the pandemic along with continued stress and uncertainty in whatever ways we could make work. For over two years we were in a kind of limbo and totally disconnected from so much that we know and love.
Finally, this year I think we’ve turned a corner. 2022 is allowing us to come together again. We’ve been able to reconnect with friends and family. Hugs and handshakes are coming back. We’ve come together for big events and intimate gatherings. It is this coming together again throughout 2022 that puts a smile on my face.
And what a year it has been.
We kicked off 2022 with a surge of joyful adrenaline at the Polar Bear Plunge in January. We dove into the new year and Lake Washington with abandon at the return of this beloved tradition, now hosted by the City of Kirkland.
We enjoyed nights out under the stars at the Wheels and Reels drive-in movie series from February through April. The City’s giant LED movie screen beamed beloved films at Juanita Beach Park while we stayed cozy in our cars.
In May, our taste buds were transported at Taste of the World. This multi-cultural experience celebrated our diverse heritage with multiple food trucks with world flavors, an international bazaar, and live cultural music and dance.
We danced our way into June in the pouring rain at Kirkland Urban’s Wear Your Pride festival. Acrobatic performances captivated us, a drag queen show entertained us, and lively roller-skating performances impressed us. A live DJ kept the energy going for this larger-than-life, bright, and celebratory event.
The next day, we celebrated and honored Black joy and liberation at the Eastside Honoring Juneteenth event at Juanita Beach Park. We learned more about the history of Juneteenth, heard from speakers and booth resources, and celebrated the day’s significance with a DJ and performances.
A few weeks later, we gathered en masse at the joyful return of the Celebrate Kirkland Fourth of July parade and festivities. The grand procession again wound its way through downtown and featured local shops, dance groups, cultural groups, and much more. Folks from throughout Kirkland – and beyond – came out in droves to celebrate our county’s independence at this anchor of Kirkland’s annual events.
The next week, we gathered to celebrate the expansion of Feriton Spur Park on the Cross Kirkland Corridor, in the heart of Google’s 6th Street campus. We savored the live music and food trucks and laughed over pickleball and lawn games. The evening also marked the grand opening of Chainline Brewing’s café and tap room housed inside a historic Pacific Northwest Railway Caboose.
As July stretched into August, we lounged on blankets and lawn chairs at the Summer Outdoor Movie series at Juanita Beach Park and Heritage Park. We dined on delicious food truck fare and snacked on yummy popcorn while enjoying free double features on the City’s immense LED screen. We also came out in force for our mainstay summer special events. Summerfest, the Summer Concert Series, and Oktoberfest were just a few of the fun events that brought us out for connection and revelry amidst the sun and long days.
2022 also saw a major milestone for O.O. Denny Park. The Finn Hill Neighborhood Alliance hosted the park’s Centennial celebration as part of the annual Denny Fest event. We danced and sang along to live music and enjoyed engaging booths and conversations on Labor Day Weekend.
Even our furry family members found the fun! Countless canine companions enjoyed a day of soggy serenity at this year’s See Spot Splash event – a splashful end of summer at the Peter Kirk Pool.
As we fully fell into Fall, we enjoyed a bushel of family fun at the Harvest Festival. Thousands came out to this year’s event, which included activities and attractions for young and old. The Kid's Korral featured faux cow milking, bull roping, ring toss, horseshoes, pumpkin bowling, crafts, and pony rides. And the more competitive among us dove into the pie-eating and corn-shucking contests for both adults and children.
Yet our connections weren’t only festivities and celebrations. They were also supportive of our community’s well-being. In October, King County Promotores Network organized an impactful Health and Wellness Fair for our community, sponsored by the City, Public Health – Seattle & King County and the Lake Washington School District. As we come back together after years apart, it’s critical that we continue to support the health of our community.
Although there are many more events, milestones, and celebrations from 2022 that I could emphasize, I want to close by saying this: We see the true heart of Kirkland in the ways we are connected. Partnerships within our community, between businesses and organizations, between community members young and old – these connections demonstrate what makes Kirkland the city we all love.
I am grateful, with 2023 just around the corner, that we have found our way back to each other and will continue to take every opportunity to celebrate that. Money Magazine may call us the 3rd best city in the country, but I think we’re number one!