Kent-area community calendar | June 6

Events

Kent Farmers Market: 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays, through Sept. 28, Town Square Plaza Park, corner of Second and Smith. Kent Lions community service project. Vendors offering a variety of fresh locally grown farm-based foods, hand-crafted items, live entertainment and more. Free admission. Information: 253-486-9316, www.kentfarmersmarket.com.

South King County Stand Down & Veteran Families Resource Fair: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. June 8, Green River Community College, 12401 SE 320th St., Auburn. Military and veteran families plus homeless veterans welcome to attend. Free services and referrals available include VA benefit and claims assistance, employment resources, financial and rent assistance, medical and dental, housing assistance, individual and family counseling resources, childcare, haircuts, food and clothing. Information: 206-802-5578, www.southkingcountystanddown.org.

VCA Kent Animal Hospital’s third annual Furfest: 11 a.m.-4 p.m. June 15, behind the hospital, 10834 SE Kent-Kangley Road. Free to the public. Festival features more than 20 pet-related vendors and pet rescues and adoptions. Discounted services such as $10 nail trims, $25 microchips and free exams for all pets adopted during the festival. Goodie bags and raffle prizes will be given away. Alki Bakery is catering. For more information, call 253-852-8460.

Second annual Juneteenth celebration: 11 a.m.-6 p.m. June 15, Kent Senior Center, 600 E. Smith St. Community-wide event features programs, information, vendors, food, entertainment and speakers while commemorating African American freedom and emphasizing education and achievement. Free and open to the public. KBAC seeks a major co-sponsor for the event. If interested, please contact Richard Johnson, director of project funding for KBAC, May 20 at 253-631-7944 or ajrj01@msn.com. To learn more about the organization, call 253-852-0614 or visit www.kentblackactioncommission.com.

Kent World Dance Party: 6:30-9 p.m. June 21, Kent Senior Activity Center, 600 E. Smith St. Jointly sponsored by Project U(th) and the Kent International Festival. Dances are fun and for all ages. Learn and the accomplished Japanese, Indian, Middle Eastern and South American dances. Non-alcohol drinks and snacks available for purchase. 253-852-0874, kentinternationalfestival.com

Fifth annual Kent International Festival: 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. June 22, Kent Senior Center and Kent Town Square Plaza, corner of Smith and Second Avenue. Live entertainment, ethnic food, cultural and crafts booths, cheer hand carried floats, Generations Walking Together, student art contest. A four-block walk opens festivities at 9:30 a.m. Volunteer workers wanted. For details, visit www.kentinternationalfestival.com.

Sixth annual Kent Jazz & Art Showcase: 5-8 p.m. June 27, Kent Senior Activity Center, 600 E. Smith St. Kent 50 Plus Program and Kent Arts Commission host the event,  featuring concerts, art show and boxed dinners. Jazz pianist Richard Dean plays indoors (4:30-5:15 and 6:15 to 7) while outdoor concerts feature electronic violinist Geoffrey Castle (5:15 to 6:15) and renowned jazz saxophonist Darren Motamedy and his band (7-8). Limited indoor concert seating is available. Guests are asked to bring blankets, lawn chairs and umbrellas for outdoor seating. Call 253-856-5164 for more information.

Kent Cornucopia Days Bike Event: 8 a.m. June 29, Burlington Green Park (gazebo), Railroad Avenue North and Meeker Street, Kent. Options: 25-, 60- or 100-mile bike routes. Live music, food at pit stops, pasta feed by Paolo’s Italian Restaurant, massages by Evergreen Massage, raffle prizes. Proceeds help feed families in need with “Our Daily Bread Basket” by Emerald City Lights Bike Ride. Cost: $40, $50 day of the event. All participants receive a tote bag. T-shirts on sale for $10. Registration starts at 7 a.m. Road closes at 4 p.m. Information: 253-709-1530, emeraldcitylights.com, info@emeraldcitylightsbikeride.org

Kent Postcard and Paper Collectibles Show: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. June 29, 30, Kent Commons, 525 Fourth Ave. N. Approximately 20 dealers from throughout the Western States will be showing nearly one million old postcards, paper collectibles, stamps and ephemera for display and sale. Trade cards, cigar labels, valentines, scrap, travel brochures, matchbooks, posters, prints, stereographs, aviation, auto, railroad, ship, movie memorabilia and Western Americana will be available. Free appraisals of all old paper collectibles will be given with $5 admission. www.postcardshows.com.

Kent’s Fourth of July Splash: Noon-11 p.m. July 4, Lake Meridian Park, 14800 SE 272nd St. Fireworks will light up the sky over Lake Meridian at 10 p.m. Admission is free. More details at KentArts.com.

42nd annual Kent Cornucopia Days: July 12-15, Town Square Plaza and throughout downtown Kent. General hours: July 12 – 3 p.m. until closing for the carnival; July 13 – 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. for the festival and street fair, 2 p.m. until closing for the carnival; July 14 – 10 a.m.-8 p.m. for the festival and street fair, 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. for the dragon boat races, 10 a.m. until about 6 p.m. for the skateboard and inline tournaments, noon until closing for the carnival; July 15 – 10 a.m.-5 p.m. for the festival and street fair, 2 p.m. for the parade, noon until closing for the carnival. South King County’s oldest and largest festival features a full-size carnival and street fair with more than 600 booths offering a variety of items, including tastes from more than 35 food booths. Entertainment, beer garden, carnival with rides, Kent Youth Soccer Association Cornucopia Cup tournament, parade, skateboard tournament, dragon boat races at Lake Meridian Park and more. The Kent Lions produces the event, a community service project that benefits more than 250 charitable organizations. Free admission. Information: 253-852-LION (5466), www.kcdays.com

Speed Candidating: 5-8 p.m. July 18, Kent Senior Center, 600 E. Smith St. Meet City Council, mayoral and King County candidates. Tables of 8-10 people will be set up.  You will have a new candidate at your table every 10 minutes. Food and drinks will be served. Cost: $10.

Benefits

Helping Women In Transition: 7-10 p.m. June 7, Kent Senior Center, 600 E. Smith St., Kent. Food, entertainment and fashion show as the Lois Renfro Foundation and Hope+Help Counseling launch a new community program designed to equip and empower single mothers in transition. Teaching moms how to live healthy, have successful recovery and maintain parental rights. Proceeds support the program. Tickets: $30. For tickets, call Claudia 253-315-4450 or Hope+Help Counseling, 253-347-0428. For more information, visit www.loisrenfrofoundation.org.

21st Annual Kiwanis Dungeness Crab and Spaghetti Feed: 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. seatings, June 8, Kent Senior Activity Center, 600 E. Smith St. Raffle prizes available. Ticket prices include all-you-can-eat crab, spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, soft beverages and dessert. Beer and wine are available for purchase. All proceeds benefit programs for children and seniors. Cost: $35 adults, $25 seniors and ages 13-18; $15 ages 6-12 and $5 ages 2-5. Info: Vivian Bruns, idahogirl@comcast.net, 253-839-3941.

Health

Cascade Regional Blood Center drives:  For more information, call 1-877-242-5663 or visit www.crbs.net/home.

Puget Sound Blood Center drives:  For more information, call 253-945-8667 or please visit www.psbc.org.

Southeast King County Parkinson’s Disease support group: Meets on the third Tuesday of the month, 10:30 a.m., St. John The Baptist Catholic Church, 25810 156th Ave. SE,Covington. Group’s monthly lunches are on the first Tuesday of the month at the Auburn Senior Activity Center, 808 Ninth St. SE, Auburn. For more information, contact Stephanie Lawson at 206-579-5206.

Gamblers Anonymous: For meeting times and locations, call toll free the Gamblers Anonymous Hotline 1-855-222-5542. Visit www.gawashington.org or www.gamblersanonymous.org for additional information.

Clubs, programs

Resident Camp at Waskowitz informational meetings: 6:30-9:30 p.m. June 12, July 10, Kent Commons, 525 4th Avenue N. Opportunity for parents and campers to meet the camp director and staff. Kent is one of the few cities to offer a summer resident camp for boys and girls entering the fifth, sixth or seventh grade this fall. The Aug. 5-9 camp, now in its 34th year, offers a wide spectrum of activities and professional management. Eighty-five percent of the camp counselors return. The camp, at the base of Mount Si in the Cascade foothills, is four miles east of North Bend. It is nestled in the woods on 360 acres of land. Cost for the camp is $320, which includes transportation, cabin accommodations, supervision and all meals, field trip and camp shirt. Scholarship monies are available for Kent residents on free-and-reduced lunches. For more information or to register, please call 253-856-5030 or visit www.kentwa.gov.

The Power of the Subconscious: 7 p.m. June 17, Lifetree Café, Community Room, First Christian Church, 11717 240th St SE, Kent. Practical ways to shed a bad habit or take a positive step in life will be explored. The program, titled “How to Stop Doing What You Hate: Taming Your Mind,” features an exclusive filmed interview with clinical hypnotherapist Deborah Lindemann. Free. Snacks and beverages are available. For questions about Lifetree may be directed to Bob Brooks at 206-653-6532 or pastorbob@kentdisciples.org. More information is available at Lifetreecafe.com.

Kent Evening Toastmasters: 7 p.m., Wednesdays, The Lodge, Arbor Village Retirement Center, 24004 114th Place SE, Kent. Are you interested in practicing and improving your public speaking skills? Boosting your self-confidence? Making yourself heard in that weekly meeting at work? Come practice your oratory skills with a friendly and informative group of people. With members ranging from beginners to experts, Kent Evening Toastmasters welcomes people of all skill levels. For more information, visit www.kenteveningtoastmasters.net.

Kent’s downtown Community Garden P-patch: Season runs April 1-Oct. 27 in its regular location on the corner of James Street and 64th Avenue South. Gardeners may rent a 20-by-20-foot plot for the season for $45 plus a refundable $25 deposit. There are 44 plots available, assigned on a first-come, first-served basis once the rental fee has been paid. Returning gardeners are allowed a maximum of two plots per household. The pre-registration period begins Feb. 27, and ends March 8. New gardener registration begins March 11. Register by calling the Kent Commons at 253-856-5000, or stop by in person at 525 Fourth Ave. S.  For more information, call 253-856-5110.

Leadership seminars, workshops: Noon-2 p.m. Saturdays, Holy Spirit Catholic Church, Room 1, 310 3rd Ave. S., Kent. Parents encouraged to attend and participate with their children. Topics to be discussed: leadership; advocacy within the school system; college readiness; job readiness, preparation skills; community service; public speaking and presentation skills; accounting class; robotics; mathematics, reading and writing. Free. If you have any questions, please call the parish office at 253-859-0444, ext. 14, or Antonio M. Morales at 915-252-7874. Fore more information, email moralesantoniom@gmail.com.

Autism Support Group: 6:30-8:30 p.m., second Wednesday of the month, Kent Convenant Church, main conference room, 12010 SE 240th St. Share resources and encouragment. Childcare available with 72-hour advance reservations by calling Fabiana Steele at 253-631-0222, ext. 325. For more information, visit www.kentcov.org.

NAMI Support Groups: 6:30-8 p.m., every second and fourth Tuesday of the month,  515 W. Harrison St., Kent.  Friends and family support group for family members and friends who are affected by mental illness. Free. For more information, call 253-854-6264 (NAMI)  or ermail namiskc@qwestoffice.net, or visit www.nami.org.

Valley Mothers of Multiples Club: First Christian Church of Kent, 11717 SE 240th St. Free. Inviting new and established parents/guardians of multiple order children to attend monthly meeting for support, resources and social activities. Club has monthly speakers and group sharing sessions. 425-445-7845. www.valleymomc.org

Parkinson’s Disease Support Group Meeting: Meets on the third Tuesday of every month, 10:30 a.m., St. John The Baptist Catholic Church, 25810 156th Ave. SE,Covington. • March 19 program: Andrew Whitver, LOGA Seattle Laughing Yoga (www.laughingyogaseattle.com) will join the group to demonstration laughter yoga. Laughter yoga is based on the belief that voluntary laughter provides the same physiological and psychological benefits as spontaneous laughter. Carrie Key, ACSM will give instruction on at home exercises. Breakout session for caregivers.  Monthly lunches will be the first Tuesday of the month at Kent Senior Center, 600 E. Smith St., Kent, WA 98030.  Questions, please contact Stephanie Lawson 206-579-5206.

Volunteers

Build a new playground: 8 a.m.-3 p.m. June 7, Turnkey Park, 23312 100th Ave. SE, Kent. Volunteers needed to buiild a new KaBOOM! kids playground ane make park improvements before a 3 p.m. ribbon-cutting ceremony. No experience is necessary. Jobs for people of all ages and abilities. Part of Radio Disney playing music. Food and tools will be provided. Parking: Fred Meyer parking lot, 10201 SE 240th St. Car pooling is strongly recommended and shuttle buses will take volunteers to the park. For more information: call 253-856-5113 or email vandrews@KentWA.gov.

Kent Litter Free Event: 9 a.m.-noon June 8. Make a difference in your Kent neighborhood, join family and friends to pick up litter. Volunteers can pick up bags by City Hall at 9 a.m. on that Saturday. Return them filled with litter by noon and get a ticket for a discount on lunch offered by Cal’s at Kent Station, Naked Pizza, Dilettante, Reds Wine Bar and others. Need a location? Check out the map at KentWA.gov/Adopt-a-Street. For more informaion, call 253-856-5549 or visit www.kentrecycles.com.

Soos Creek Botanical Garden: Soos Creek Botanical Garden, 29308 132nd Ave. SE, Auburn. If you love plants, gardens and gardening, the 22-acre garden wants you. Volunteers are asked to dedicate 3-10 hours a week in either garden maintenance, docent tours or marketing. Volunteers need not be master gardeners. Soos Creek Botanical Garden is a nonprofit organization. Information: 253-639-0949, www.SoosCreekBotanicalGarden.org

Faith

Soul’d Out Christian Center Party Service: 10 a.m. Sundays, Kent-Meridian High School, East Wing Auditorium,10020 SE 256th St., Kent. Join us at “The Hot Spot.”  Weekly services. www.souldoutkent.org

Network

The Kent Chapter of Business Network, Int’l (BNI): Meets every Wednesday morning at 7 at the Old Country Buffet, 25630 104th SE, Kent.  Chapter is growing.  Currently have 38 members.  Do you want excellent, personal, word of mouth referrals for your business?  Then come join us.  For more information, contact Dr. Allan McCord at 253-854-3040.

Entertainment

SHOWARE CENTER

625 W. James St., Kent. 253-856-6777. Order at www.tickets.showarecenter.com. Events include:

1964 Beatles Tribute: 8 p.m. June 28. Ticket: $70, $50, $40, $30.

Legends Football League, Seattle Mist vs. Minnesota Valkyrie: 8 p.m., July 6. Tickets: $15-$85. Tickets: $85, $55, $35*, $25, $15. * Party zone is general admission, standing room only in north end zone.

American Idol Live!: 7:30 p.m. July 19. The 40-show concert tour comest to Kent. Tickets: $66, $46, $33.50.

ShoWare Shootout presented by Republic Services: July 27-28. South King County’s premier 3-on-3 basketball event featuring age divisions for men, women, seniors, kids, wheelchair.  Registration: $65 per team until June 15, $75 after.  A portion of the proceeds will be donated back to Kent Youth and Family Services.

ELSEWHERE

“ma-jes-tic”: 7-9 p.m. June 22, Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center, 10020 SE 256th St. Kent. South Side Dance Force and director Joselito Castillo present a dance showcase featuring jazz, modern, ballet, Bollywood, hip-hop and pop dance styles from dancers of all ages. Tickets $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Family packets of 5 tickets available for $65 per packet. Ticket can be purchased from brownpapertickets. For more information, contact South Side Dance Force at 253-639-5829, www.ssdanceforce.com.

Beauty and the Beast Musical Theatre Camps: July 29-Aug.2. pre-K-fourth-grade camp; Aug. 2-6, fifth-eighth grade. Ridge Theatre, Kentridge High School Performing Arts Center, 12430 SE 208th St., Kent. If your child qualifies for free/reduced lunch in the public schools, then you can receive a reduced price for this day camp. At the Ridge Theatre (housed at Kentridge High School Performing Arts Center). Registration details at www.attheridgetheatre.com.

“Beauty and the Beast!” :  7:30 p.m. July 25-27, Aug. 1-3, Aug. 8-10; 4 p.m. July 28, Aug. 4, Ridge Theatre, Kentridge High School Performing Arts Center, 12430 SE 208th St., Kent. Tickets and more information available at www.attheridgetheatre.com.

KENT SUMMER CONCERT SERIES
KENT STATION TAKE-OUT TUESDAYS

Performances Noon-1 p.m., Kent Station Plaza, 417 Ramsay Way. Free.

Impossible Bird: July 9. Seattle-based upbeat alt-folk duo has come together in one formidable pairing: Fiddle, guitar, voice.

Keith Knight: July 16. Considered by many to be one of the finest finger picking guitarists in America, Knight breathes new life into Appalachian, ragtime and delta blues and Americana music.

Scott Cossu: July 23. A mix of jazz and classical music with ethnic influences from this acclaimed musician, composer and recording artist.

Bottomline Duo: July 30. Best described as light humor with serious music, this husband and wife team combines the warm depth of the double bass with the melodic beauty of the cello. Their performances are masterful, charming and entertaining.

Reilly and Maloney: Aug. 6. The enormously popular duo of Ginny Reilly and David Maloney are together again, delivering their signature brand of acoustic, contemporary folk.

Rod Cook and Toast: Aug. 13. Blues, rock, country, Americana, surf and American roots music.

REPUBLIC SERVICES WEDNESDAYS

Performances noon-1 p.m., Town Square Plaza, Second and Harrison. Free.

Tickle Tune Typhoon: July 10. Dancing vegetables, larger-than-life robots and award-winning music. Northwest favorite delivers positive messages and educational topics cleverly disguised as silly fun.

Roberto the Magnificent: July 17. He rides very tall unicycles, bounces on industrial strength pogo sticks, and juggles sharp knives, flaming torches and spinning hand saws – all while keeping audiences in fits of giggles.

Doktor Kaboom! “Look Out! Science is Coming”: July 24. An interactive one-man science variety show, Doktor Kaboom! creatively blends theatre arts with the wonders of scientific exploration.

Shókoto: July 31. A family-friendly mixture of traditional and contemporary African and world music that is sure to make your soul sing. Shókoto offers a dynamic fusion of rhythms from Ghana, Brazil, Cuba, Peru and the Deep South.

Recess Monkey: Aug. 7. Kids and parents love rockin’ to Recess Monkey. This trio blends various musical influences with clever and comical lyrics. There are hints of pop, folk, zany surf rock and swamp-tinged country.

Caspar Babypants: Aug. 14. Caspar Babypants puts on a fun, simple, sing-along show for kids age 0-5 and their parents to enjoy together. Old folk songs and good time rock and roll mix together to make the show a timeless treat for all ages.

THURSDAYS AT THE LAKE

Performances 7-8:30 p.m., Lake Meridian Park, 14800 SE 272nd Street (shuttle bus service available). Free.

The David Mayfield Parade: July 11. Grammy-nominated musician and producer David Mayfield is a force of nature on stage, from clubs to major festivals to opening for The Avett Brothers. His music and energy reflect the numerous influences that come from a lifetime of being immersed in American music.

Tommy Castro and the Painkillers: July 18. Castro’s signature brand of rocking rhythm and blues has garnered him numerous Blues Music Awards and nominations. His sound is funky with soulful vocals and inspired blues-rock guitar.

Men of Worth: July 25. Irish Scottish folk music duo combines humor, exciting tunes, and soulful, heartfelt ballads to bring to life the musical heritage of Scotland’s outer islands and Ireland’s west.

Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole: Aug. 1. Spearheading the emerging generation of Cajun and Creole musicians, Watson is a fiddler, vocalist, accordionist and songwriter of enormous talent. He moves with ease between fiddle and accordion and adds his strong blues-inflected vocals.

Bill Coffey and His Cash Money Cousins: Aug. 8. High-energy, roots-rock and retro-country singer/songwriter’s songs swerve from upbeat, jangly country pop to the darker, more lonesome side of Americana.

The Changing Colors: Aug. 15. Hailing from the tiny hamlet of Manitou Springs, Colo., The Changing Colors is a band led by twin brothers Conor and Ian Bourgal. Using the simplicity of acoustic guitar and the melancholy tone of lap steel, they sing of longing and beauty, hope and regret.

Galleries

Centennial Center Gallery:  400 W. Gowe St., Kent. Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday-Friday. Closed weekends and holidays. For more information, call 253-856-5050 or visit artscommission@kentwa.gov.

Museums

Greater Kent Historical Society: 855 E. Smith St., historic Bereiter House, Kent. Hours: noon-4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, and by appointment. Admission: suggested $2 donation; no tickets are required for entrance. Parking is available behind the house off East Temperance Street. GKHS is a nonprofit organization that promotes the discovery, preservation and dissemination of knowledge about the history of the greater Kent area.

PROGRAMS

A World of Sweets in Washington State: 7 p.m. June 18, Kent Senior Center, 600 E. Smith St. Julia Harrison, an anthropologist specializing in sweets, explains how the diverse range of treats people enjoy throughout the state reveals much about Washington’s shared history and culture. For more information, visit www.kenthistoricalmuseum.org.