The opening day celebration for the Crosslake Connection on Saturday, March 28, marked a major milestone for the region — and a day full of energy, community, and connection.
The festivities began with a ribbon cutting ceremony at Sam Smith Park – just across the street from Judkins Park Station, where community members, partners, and leaders gathered to celebrate the first passenger light rail service across Lake Washington. Following the ceremony, a lively street fair brought the station to life with music, activities, and partner activations.
Once service began, the celebration expanded across the 2 Line, with activations at 11 stations throughout the Eastside and the Westside. Riders were encouraged to explore the new connection, hop on board, and experience the system in a whole new way.
Microsoft played a key role in the celebration, sponsoring the first train departing Judkins Park Station and welcoming riders with commemorative ORCA cards. Their activations at both Judkins Park and Redmond Technology stations set the tone for the day — forward-looking, innovative, and community-focused.
Fueling the celebration
Bringing both flavor and fun, Dick’s Drive-In Restaurants rolled up with their iconic food truck, serving free burgers to excited riders and families. Their setup along 23rd Ave S created a festive hub complete with music, games, and prizes — drawing a steady crowd throughout the midday celebration.
Nearby, other partners kept the energy high with treats, giveaways, interactive booths, and branded experiences.
Community, wellness, and connection
Kaiser Permanente and UW Medicine helped put community well-being front and center, offering safety-focused giveaways, educational materials, and interactive activities. Their presence highlighted how expanded transit access connects people not just to places, but to essential services and care.
Lime showcased sustainable first- and last-mile options with bikes and scooters on display, reinforcing how the Crosslake Connection integrates with a broader, more flexible transportation network. Lime also provided free helmets and rides on opening day.
Celebrating the partners behind the project
The Crosslake Connection represents years of collaboration, and that spirit was on full display throughout the event.
Engineering and project partners including David Evans & Associates, Jacobs, WSP, Hatch, HDR, HNTB, and KBA connected with attendees through booths, giveaways, and conversations about the work that made this historic connection possible. From early planning to final construction, their contributions helped bring this once-in-a-generation project to life.
RailPros, Symetra, STV, and Siemens were also valued sponsors of opening day, joined by Visit Bellevue, which brought its mobile welcome center to the celebration.
Seattle Symphony added a cultural touch with giveaways and engagement, while Alaska Airlines brought a dose of local spirit with appearances from beloved mascots, creating memorable moments for attendees of all ages.
A celebration across the system
The excitement extended far beyond Judkins Park Station, with community-led activations at stations across the line.
From live music and performances to food trucks, family activities, and local showcases, each station offered a unique experience that reflected its surrounding community. Riders could travel from stop to stop, discovering something new at each destination and celebrating the connectivity the Crosslake Connection makes possible.
Sno-Isle Libraries had their Bookmobile at Lynnwood City Center Station, Seattle Symphony hosted live music at Symphony Station, Bellevue Downtown Association activated Bellevue Downtown Station, Wright Runstad & Company had a petting zoo and other activities at Spring District Station, Microsoft held a big party with free food and coffee at Redmond Technology Station, and Seattle Orcas taught the community about cricket at Marymoor Village Station.
Prizes, partners, and exploration
To encourage exploration along the new 2 Line alignment, riders were invited to take part in a system-wide activity, Discover. Stamp. Win!, with the chance to win prizes provided by generous partners.
Organizations like Microsoft, Alaska Airlines, Dick’s Drive-In, Seattle Bouldering Project, FRS Clipper, Seattle Symphony, the Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce, and more contributed exciting giveaways — adding an extra layer of fun to a day already filled with discovery.
Moving forward, together
The Crosslake Connection isn’t just a new piece of infrastructure — it’s a new way for the region to come together.
This milestone opens the door to more access, more opportunity, and more connections for the communities we serve. And thanks to the partners, riders, and community members who showed up to celebrate, opening day was just the beginning.
