<h1 style="text-align: center;">Redmond, <em>Seattle</em></h1>
<p>Located 16 miles east of Seattle, within the Seattle metropolitan area, lies the prosperous, suburban city in King County, Washington, United States&mdash;Redmond. Redmond is renowned as the home-base for Microsoft and Nintendo and its annual bike race on the city streets and Washington&rsquo;s only velodrome has dubbed this city the &ldquo;Bicycle Capital of the Northwest.&rdquo;&nbsp;</p>
<p>Numerous companies in the high-tech industry are centered in Redmond and due to the Microsoft Corporation moving its headquarters to the city in 1986--Redmond ranks high as the city&rsquo;s prime employer. Microsoft boosts over 40,000 full-time employees, 45,000 orange badge contractors (this number has increased to 94,000 as of June 2012 and over half are contractors) and hosts an impressive office space on the Eastside region of Seattle of more than 8 million square feet.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Redmond Derby Days is a yearly community festival that&rsquo;s celebrated the second full weekend of July. This time-honored occasion began in 1939 as a race around Lake Sammamish called the Redmond Bicycle Derby and has evolved into a multi-day event that includes a lively parade, bicycle criterium, a stage for entertainment, beer garden, and a variety of local food contributions and activities. Carnival rides and a fireworks display at dusk on Saturday. Redmond is also dedicated to the arts and the Eastside Symphony and the Second Story Repertory Theater Company, as well as artists, who put on productions at the Redmond Performing Arts Center, are prominent features. A rotating exhibition of outdoor sculptures beautify the streets and parks and is definitely worth the visit for those who want to be a part of Redmond&rsquo;s art community.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Redmond Lights is another annual community festival that takes place the first Saturday of December. A special guest is highlighted each year and the mayor leads a tree-lighting ceremony on city hall campus, followed by a luminary walk down the Sammamish Trail and Redmond Central Connector which includes music and light stations along the way, and ends at the Redmond Town Center where residents and visitors alike can enjoy an assortment of special attractions.&nbsp;</p>
<p>Redmond has established 23 public parks and many are community parks that have picnic tables and athletic fields. King County&rsquo;s 560 acre Marymoor Park is one of the most popular and largest parks, but it&rsquo;s not owned by the city of Redmond. Residents can enjoy rock climbing, a model airplane flying field, an off-leash dog park, a community garden, tennis courts, and a velodrome that is home to the FSA Star Crossed &ndash; Redmond cyclo-cross competition which takes place in September.</p>