The sun was shining and a cool wind was blowing July 11 for the Kent Cornucopia Days' annual tradition: the Grande Parade. This year's parade had everything from Seafair pirates to politicians, drill teams to marching bands. It wound its way from Willis Street, Fourth Avenue and Ramsay Way in downtown Kent, attracting hundreds of onlookers.
See what's happening at Kent's biggest community festival July 8-11.
Want to listen to live music during lunchtime?
Then go hear Rod Cook and Toast play American roots music from noon to 1 p.m. July 13 at Take-Out Tuesdays at Kent Staion, 417 Ramsay Way.
Gray skies couldn't dampen the spirit of participants at the Kent Fourth of July Splash. The city's big ode to Independence Day had the hallmarks of an old-fashioned festival, with pie- and watermelon-eating contests, live music, and of course fireworks.
You don't have to go far from home to celebrate America's birthday.
The 12th annual community celebration at Lake Meridian Park, 14800 S.E. 272nd St., features a variety of fun and free activities from noon to 11 p.m. July 4, including a large fireworks display over the lake at 10 p.m.
The Morford Family Carousel will take its first spin 5-8 p.m. July 16.
The city of Kent and the non-profit operating group had planned to open on July 14, as soon after Cornucopia Days as possible.
Lake Meridian residents simply call Brad Omon the "pyro."
Omon works as a pyrotechnician for Olympia-based Fireworks Entertainment Inc., the company that will produce the 10 p.m. show for Sunday's 12th-annual Fourth of July Splash at Lake Meridian Park.
Children and their parents can check out Tickle Tune Typhoon at the city of Kent's free Wednesday Picnic Performances from noon to 1 p.m. July 7 at Town Square Plaza Park, Second Avenue and Harrison Street in downtown Kent.
Look at the art, meet the artists and enjoy hors d'oeuvres, beverages, desserts and a no-host bar at the Kent Summer Art Exhibit and Gala from 5-8 p.m. July 7 at the Centennial Center Gallery, 400 W. Gowe St.
The Kent International Festival celebrated its second year in operation June 25, with plenty of cultural energy. There was live entertainment, food, music and a dose of sunny, warm weather to bring the crowds in. See the excitement with these Kent Reporter photos by photographer Charles Cortes.
So, here’s the deal. When my husband Donald retired, everyone asked him, “What are you going to do after you retire?” He replied, “Carry my wife’s bags when she travels to teach quilting.”
The Blue 4 Trio of Seattle, which plays eclectic music that swings, opens the city of Kent's annual Take-Out Tuesdays from noon to 1 p.m. July 6 at Kent Station, 417 Ramsay Way.
Organizers count on local performers, food, arts and craft vendors to make the Kent International Festival such a strong community event.
The second annual free festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 26 at the Town Square Plaza Park at the corner of Second Avenue and West Smith Street.
Jenny Kolin initially started to teach Irish dancing in the 1990s at a class at Kent Commons before she formed the Rowan Fae Irish dance group in 1999.
Fourteen dancers from Rowan Fae are part of the 16-group entertainment lineup at the Kent International Festival from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 26 at Town Square Plaza Park, Second Avenue and West Smith Street, in downtown Kent. Rowan Fae performs from 2:45-3:15 p.m. at the main stage.
Maria Lopez, of Kent, learned to make nylon purses by hand from her mother as a child in El Salvador.
Now Lopez, 43, sells the purses as one of the many vendors at the Kent Farmers Market downtown along Second Avenue between Smith and Gowe streets. The market opened June 5 and runs 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. each Saturday through Sept. 25.
The winning films and video games from the Kent School District's 2010 VisFest Film and Game Festival can be viewed online.
Paintings, photographs, prints and collages are part of the Kent Summer Art Exhibit June 4 through Aug. 27 at the Centennial Center Gallery, 400 W. Gowe St.
Confessions of a quiltaholic: My Thursday quilting group of friends
Holy smokes, am I stoked! I got to see the cover of my new book for the first time today. My latest quilting book, “Quick Little Landscape Quilts,” makes its debut this fall. In fact, I’m so happy, I feel like doing cartwheels across my lawn. I said I feel like doing cartwheels, not that I will do cartwheels. Hell would freeze over and pigs would fly if I attempted a cartwheel at my age.
It’s time to get international in Kent.
On June 19, the city will have its own International Taste of Kent, a fundraising dinner for the Kent International Festival (which happens the following week, on June 26.)
Kentwood High seniors walked across the stage at the ShowWare Center during the commencement ceremony Saturday evening.
Principal Doug Hostetter welcomed the parents and 435 graduates.
