Snowflake Lane has over the past nine years marked the commencement of the winter holiday season in downtown Bellevue with highly orchestrated jubilation, each season an expectation of something more — and the 10th annual production will be no different.

“To me, it’s funny to think how it’s grown so much,” said Kristin Alessandroni, production manager with Greg Thompson Productions, which puts on the Bellevue Collection show annually. “I remember the first year, it was like, ‘So You Think You Can Drum.’ “

Adapting to the growth in attendance at the nightly holiday show, starting 7 p.m. Friday and running through Christmas Eve, has meant adding to Snowflake Lane’s large cast of characters and performers.

One of the first to take on the challenge every year is Mimi Countryman, wardrobe supervisor for GTP. She began fitting the 230 characters and performers four days before Halloween, spending a half-hour with each member teaching them how to quickly change in and out of their ensembles. Last year Countryman took on the task of adding 60 Jingle Belle dancers.

This year Snowflake Lane’s base of operations is vacant space below Sleep Country, across from Bellevue Square and recently acquired by the Kemper Development Company through a long-term lease with option to buy.

Performers have been practicing there for months, with curtains segmenting changing areas for holiday critters, Jingle Belles, princes and princesses, sugar plum fairies, drummers and stilt-walking toy soldiers.

“They walk like it’s nothing,” said Alessandroni of the toy soldiers. “They make it look so easy.”

Countryman said this year’s staging area for Snowflake Lane has the added challenge of lacking an elevator, requiring all performers to use a flight of stairs, including the toy soldiers, but they will not be allowed to descend on their stilts.

“I was going to suggest a zipline, but they’d love that too much,” she said.

Performers also share space with a wall of candy — about 1 million pieces — to be passed around during the nightly holiday event, as well as all of the props, costumes, mini-stages and drums.

“I’m just curious what it’s going to be like when everyone is here,” said Alessandroni.

Last Saturday was one of the last practices for this year’s new feature at Snowflake Lane, the Snow Storm Dance Crew, given the daunting task of fusing hip-hop moves with holiday music.

“This year they wanted to introduce an element of funk,” said Ana Vincenti, Snowstorm dance captain, who worked with a professional choreographer on incorporating hip hop and Christmas music. “I worked with the choreographer for a week. I came in every day for two hours or four hours.”

Bijua “Bi” Napat was 19 when he started at Snowflake Lane as a drummer 10 years ago, but has proven to be one of the most flexible crew members over the past decade, Alessandroni said, taking on wardrobe, stilts, set design, and now Snowstorm dancing.

“I don’t mind the backstage,” Napat said. “I like building stuff.”

Napat said two years ago he got to drill holes in oil drums used by the Snow Storm Drum group, whom the new dance crew will complement this year. The holes let out the festive lights inside the drums.

“They’re like Blue Man drummers a la ‘Stomp,’ but they’re in white,” said Countryman.

Napat was asked to join the new dance crew for his energy, which he’ll need to perform with the more seasoned dancers, who are taking to the main stage, but he said the group has been welcoming and fun — he also isn’t dressed as the hip-hop polar bear.

“Everybody gets along,” he said. “Ice breaks pretty quick here.”