Behind the curtain at Snowflake Lane

If you ask Newport High School student Alex Deszo, he'll tell you there is nothing better than getting paid for doing something you love.

Deszo picked up his first drum stick in the third grade and has been making loud music ever since. Now a junior at Newport, he joins his friends and fellow drummers, Erik Konen and James Chrosniak in Bellevue's Snowflake Lane and Celebration Lane. The magic of the holiday tradition takes over Downtown Bellevue nightly throughout the month of December, along the sidewalks of Bellevue Way Northeast and Northeast Eighth.

Deszo, Konen and Chrosniak meet nightly at Lincoln Square to run through a practice performance along with the other 40-plus drummers. Keeping rhythm on the back of chairs, the group plays in sync to the Snowflake Lane soundtrack, practicing for the grand performance each evening beginning at 7 p.m.

Following the practice run through, the performers change into their costumes, from Toy Soldiers to stilt walkers and fury reindeer.

"It's a lot of fun being a Toy Solider and entertaining the kids," said Chrosniak, a senior at Sammamish High School. "Seeing them smile makes it all worth it."

The majority of the Snowflake Lane characters are played by local high school kids and college students who have returned for winter break.

"We each had to read a sheet of music and dance for the audition because it's a very high energy performance," Konen said, a repeat performer of four years. "We had to show we could have fun with it."

Snowflake Lane runs through Dec. 24, followed by Celebration Lane, kicking off Dec. 26 and running through Dec. 31. Both events are produced by The Bellevue Collection.

"The best part of being a part of this is meeting all the other drummers and performers from all different schools," said Deszo. "We've made so many good friends and every year is like a fun reunion. Our job is to hang out and entertain families and kids- how cool is that?"

Contact Bellevue Reporter Staff Writer Lindsay Larin at llarin@bellevuereporter.com or 425-453-4602.

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