Kent-area community calendar | Sept. 29

Events

25th annual Seattle-Tacoma Guitar Show: 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Oct. 2, Kent Commons, 525 Fourth Ave. N. More than 130 vendor tables full of vintage, new and used guitars, amps, effects pedals and more. You can buy, sell or trade. Free musician magazines while they last. Admission: $10 adults; 12 and under free. SeaTacGuitarShow.com

The Age Wave, a candidates forum on Washington’s aging readiness: 10 a.m.-noon, Oct. 4, Auburn Community and Event Center, 910 Ninth St. SE. Public invited to free event and hear the perspectives of state legislative candidates from five districts, including locally the 30th, 31st, 33rd and 47th. The forum will include a presentation about how Washington can take the lead to create age friendly communities, strengthen the long-term support system, promote economic security in retirement and increase protections against abuse, neglect and exploitation. Legislators and candidates will comment and take questions from the audience. Doors open at 9:45 a.m. Seating is limited and RSVPs are encouraged but not required. RSVP online, by email at gigi.meinig@seattle.gov, or by phone at 206-684-0652.

Community meeting: 7-9 p.m. Oct. 5, Totem Middle School, l26630 40th Ave. S. Kent Police Department hosts a continuing discussion on police/community relations as well as information on a crime scene drone. Chief Ken Thomas and members of the command staff and neighborhood response team will give assigned sector updates and will be available to answer questions from the public.

Tacoma Fall RV Show: Oct. 6-9, Tacoma Dome, 2727 E D St. Show times: 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday; 11-5 p.m. Sunday. Northwest RV dealers showcase the latest and most fuel-efficient motor homes, fifth-wheels, toy haulers and travel trailers. Area dealers will also offer end-of-the-year closeout pricing on many other models. Presented by the Boeing Employees Credit Union (BECU). Admission: $12 general admission, $6 military personnel with ID, free to children 12 and under. Get $2 off discount coupons online at www.otshows.com.

Fall Recycling Collection: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Oct. 15, Hogan Park, 24400 Russell Road, Kent. Residents can bring those items that are not easily recycled at the curb including appliances, mattresses, even toilets and sinks. Residents may also bring batteries and electronics other than computers or TVs, as these can be recycled free of charge, year-round at E-Cycle Washington designated collection sites. For a list of these sites, visit ecyclewashington.org. Concrete, rocks, asphalt and bricks will also be accepted. Please place these items on a tarp, plastic sheet or in buckets to speed up unloading. Tires and petroleum products will be collected. The Shred-It of Washington Truck offers free shredding of up to three file-sized boxes of documents per vehicle. V&G StyroRecycling will be on hand to collect Styrofoam blocks and peanuts. For a complete list of accepted items and fees, visit KentRecycles.com. Event is funded by grants from the Department of Ecology, King County Solid Waste Division and the Local Hazardous Waste Management Program.

Benefits

Walk for the Babies: 9 a.m.-noon, Oct. 1, Kent Station, 417 Ramsay Way. Pediatric Interim Care Center recruiting registrants and donors for its annual 5K walkathon to raise funds for the care of drug-affected infants in PICC’s Newborn Nursery. The event starts in front of Duke’s at 9 a.m., with on-site registration, packet pick-up, and face painting. Starting flag is at 10:30. The route will go past PICC on 4th Avenue and then complete a loop on the Interurban Trail, ending back at Duke’s for a chowder feed, family fun, and prizes. To register or donate go to the events page at picc.net or call PICC at 253-852-5253. Registration fee is $25 for adults, $15 for seniors and students, kids 10 and under free. To learn more, visit www.picc.net.

Kent 24th CROP Hunger Walk: 1 p.m. Oct. 2. Community event sponsored by Church World Service and hosted by Kent Lutheran Church. The 5.5-mile walk starts at 1 p.m. and takes participants through downtown Kent and along the Green River and Interurban trails, ending at the church, 336 Second Ave. S. Sign up to walk, or donate to a walker or team at crophungerwalk.org/kentwa.

Quota International of Kent Valley’s Holiday Magic Dinner Auction: 5-10 p.m. Oct. 15, Kent Commons, 525 Fourth Ave N. Evening includes a buffet dinner, raffle, silent and live auctions and dessert dash. Proceeds go toward local, national and international needs. Local support includes: Children’s Therapy Center; Kent and Highline school districts; Mary’s Place; KentHOPE and college scholarships in ASL fields. Tickets can be purchased at quotakentvalley.com or at the door.

Sleep Train’s Shoe Drive for Foster Kids: Through Oct. 30. Remember how your favorite shoes as a kid helped you run, play and walk into school with confidence? Help ensure local foster children have that same feeling with a donation of new shoes to Sleep Train’s Shoe Drive for Foster Kids. Donate new shoes in all sizes – toddler to teen – at any Sleep Train store. For more information, visit www.sleeptrainfosterkids.org.

Sunrise Fall Craft Fair: 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Nov. 5, Sunrise Elementary School, 22300 132nd Ave. SE, Kent. Shop for unique and one-of-a-kind items from over 50 vendors. www.sunrise-pta.org/fall-craft-fair.html

Health

Kent4Health Free Trail Walks: 6-7:30 p.m. Each Tuesday evening and Wednesday morning (June 1-Sept. 28). Each walk highlights various parks. Open to all ages and modalities. Up to 3-mile round-trip self-guided walks; volunteers on site during walk hours; marked paved or compact trails. Sign in when you arrive. For more information and a schedule, visit kent4health.com.

Bloodworks Northwest drives: Oct. 5, Flow International, 23500 64th Ave S.; 12:30-3:30 p.m. Oct. 15, Expeditors International, Kent, 21318 64th Ave. S.; 8-10 a.m., 10:45 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 7, Kentridge High School, Special Charger Gym, 12430 SE 208th St.; 10 a.m.-noon, 1-4 p.m., Oct. 19, Northwest Harvest, 22220 68th St. S.; 8:30-10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Oct. 19, Centerpoint Corporate Park, Mount Adams Room, 20809 72nd Ave. S.; 10 a.m.-noon, 1-4 p.m., Oct. 19, Kent School District, Puget Sound Room, 12033 SE 256th St.; 9-11 a.m., noon-3 p.m. Oct. 21, Green River College, Kent Station, 437 Ramsay Way. Appointments can be made by calling 1-800-398-7888, or visit www.bloodworksnw.org.

Your Life, Your Choices: 2-4 p.m. Oct. 9, Calvary Lutheran Church, 2415 S. 320th St, Federal Way. Free seminar on creating conversations about end-of-life care. Created and Sponsored by the Institute for Healthcare Improvement, The Conversation Project, and Virginia Mason. Bring your parents or adult children. Register online at calvaryfw.org/your-life-your-choices

TOPS (Taking Off Pounds Sensibly): 6:45 p.m., Thursdays, Swanson Court Clubhouse, 12200 SE 207th St., Kent, near Kentridge High School. Nonprofit weight loss support group. Cost: $32 to join and $8 monthly. For more information, call 253-709-5098 or visit www.tops.org or www.whywelovetops.com.

Alzheimer’s Association: Meetings on the second Wednesday of the month, from 2:30-4 p.m., at Kent Senior Activity Center, 600 E. Smith St. Caring for someone with memory loss? Do you need information and support? Family caregiver support groups provide a consistent and caring place for people to learn, share and gain emotional support from others who are also on a unique journey of providing care to a person with memory loss. For information Susan Dailey at 206-471-2351, or www.alzwa.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.

Clubs

Soroptimist International of Kent-Covington: Program meetings from 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., on the fourth Monday of each month, September-May, Covington Library, 164th and Kent-Kangley Road. Lunch provided, suggested donation $10. No reservation needed. Contact President Jo Ladd Clark at 253-854-1895.

South King County Alliance for Retired Americans: Monthly meetings at 1 p.m. on the second Thursday of the month, Kent Senior Center, 600 E. Smith St. Meetings open and free to the public. For more information, contact Pat Paulsen at 206-400-7149.

Autism Social Skills Group: 6-8 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, Kent Commons, 525 Fourth Ave. N. FEAT (Families for Effective Autism Treatment) of Washington, a nonprofit organization, brings social group opportunities for teens with autism to Kent. Looking for teens with autism as well as peer mentor volunteers. To volunteer, register or to learn more, visit www.featwa.org.

Rotary Club of Kent: Join the local Rotary Club of Kent every Tuesday for its weekly meeting and luncheon at Down Home Catering in historic downtown Kent, 211 1st Ave. S. For more information go to: www.kentrotary.com

Kent Evening Toastmasters: 7 p.m., Wednesdays, Kent Commons, Interurban Room, 525 Fourth Ave N. 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.

Autism Support Group: 6:30-8:30 p.m., second Wednesday of the month, Kent Covenant Church, main conference room, 12010 SE 240th St. Share resources and encouragement. 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 email namiskc@qwestoffice.net, or visit www.nami.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.

Volunteer

City of Kent: 9 a.m.-noon Saturdays, Oct. 1, 2, 8, 15, 16, 22. Selected sites. City looking for volunteers of all ages and abilities to help remove invasive weeds, plant trees and shrubs and spread mulch at some of its most popular parks this fall. Tools and staff supervision are provided. Opportunities include: • Oct. 1 – Planting Party at the Park, Morrill Meadows Park, 10600 SE 248th St.; • Oct. 2 – Planting Work Party, North Meridian Park, 22828 120th Ave. SE; • Oct. 8 – 15th annual “ReLeaf” event at Clark Lake Park, 12700 SE 248th St.; • Oct. 15 – Green Kent Planting Party, Lake Fenwick Park, 25828 Lake Fenwick Road; • Oct. 16 – Planting the Park Work Party, Park Orchard Park, 11058 SE 230th St.; • Oct. 22 – 5th annual Green Kent Day, Morrill Meadows Park, 10600 SE 248th St. Register to volunteer by noon three days before each event at KentWA.gov/ComeVolunteer. For more information, contact Desireé Kennedy, volunteer coordinator with Kent’s Parks, at 253-856-5114.

Libraries

Kent Public Library: 212 2nd Avenue N., Kent. 253-859-3330. Hours: 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Monday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m., Friday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Saturday; 1-5 p.m., Sunday. Library events include:

CHILDREN & FAMILIES

Play & Learn: 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. (Spanish only) Fridays. Newborn to age 5 with caregiver. Have fun singing songs, telling stories, reading books, creating art and playing.

Family Pajama Story Times: 6:30 p.m. Tuesdays. All ages welcome, ages 5 and younger with adult. Stories, songs and fun. Social Time with blocks, balls and bubbles takes place right after Story Time.

Toddler Story Times: 10:15 a.m. Wednesdays. Ages 2 to 3 with caregiver. Stories, songs and fun. Stay for a brief play time afterward.

Preschool Story Times: 11 a.m. Wednesdays. Ages 3 to 5 with adult. Stories, songs and fun.

Infant and Young Toddler Story Times: 10:30 a.m. Thursdays. Ages newborn to 2 1/2 with adult. Stories, songs and fun. Social Time with balls, blocks and bubbles takes place right after Story Time.

Fun with Bricks!: 10:30 a.m. Oct. 1. Family program, all ages welcome with adult. Have fun building with plastic bricks. Create around a theme or build what you like. You bring the ideas and the library will supply the building materials.

Science of Art, Monotype Printing: 4 p.m. Oct. 10. Ages 5 to 14, ages 8 younger with adult. Monotype means one of a kind. Let your creativity run wild as you try multiple methods and find out why some marks stay and others change color. Registration required.

Explore Snap Circuits: 4 p.m. Oct. 14. Ages 8 to 14. The Snap Circuits kits use building blocks with snaps to build different electrical and electronic circuits in a variety of projects with different levels of difficulty. Have fun and learn all about snap circuits. Registration required.

Kids Movie of the Month: 3:30 p.m. Oct. 21, “Hotel Transylvania 2”. Family program, all ages welcome with adult. Rated PG, 89 minutes.

Caspar Babypants, Winter Party Concert: 10:30 a.m. Oct. 24. Family program, all ages welcome with adult. Get ready to party with Caspar Babypants. Sing and dance along with one of the most popular children’s performers in the Northwest. This family concert features favorites from their new holiday album.

Build a Robot Puppet from Recyclables: 4 p.m. Sept. 29. Presented by Cheryl Hadley. Ages 11 to 14 with adult. Learn how to design and create your own robot rod puppet with rotating head and body, and use your creativity to give it some personality! No batteries required. Everything’s provided and you’ll go home with a complete puppet. Please register online or call the library.

TEENS

Teen Zone: 3:30 p.m. Oct. 4, 18. Middle and high school ages. Hang out, study, play video games, listen to your music, learn how to use library apps to get free books, music or videos … you decide.

Teen Writers’ Club: 3:30 p.m. Oct. 11. Middle and high school ages. Like to write stuff? Wish you did? Join us for fun exercises and inspiration. New ideas and topics each month.

Study Zone: 1:30 p.m. Sundays; 3:30 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Beginning Sept. 7. Grades K-12. Drop in for homework assistance from trained volunteer tutors.

Star Wars Reads Day: 11 a.m. Oct. 15. Star Join in the Star Wars fan fun! Play Star Wars trivia, make a pin back button or Star Wars Craft, disguise yourself as a Jedi (or not), snap a pic with Chewbacca.

The Money Maze & the Scholarship Marketplace: 2 p.m. Oct. 15. Come to one or both of these back-to-back workshops that present the ins and outs of college finances. Learn about the tools to find and apply for need and merit-based college financial aid and scholarships.

Teen Zone Technical Tuesday: 3:30 p.m. Oct. 25. Drop in and get techy with Idea X Kits, play video games, hang out with friends or study. Each monthly session will feature a different project, tool or experiment.

ADULTS

English as a Second Language Classes: 6 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays. Learn English grammar, reading, writing, and conversation skills with an experienced instructor.

Talk Time Class: 5-6:30 p.m. Tuesdays. Practice speaking English with other English language learners. Classes are free, join anytime.Registration not required.

Citizenship Application Help: 1 p.m. Oct. 5. Provided by the staff of ReWA (Refugee Women’s Alliance). One-on-one assistance with the N-400 Application for Naturalization and other citizenship-related issues. Please call for an appointment, 253-859-6197.

Multi-Service Center Drop-in: 10 a.m. Oct. 6, 20. Multi-Service Center (MSC) representatives will be on-hand to answer questions about their services. MSC offers people pathways out of poverty through support and resources in education, employment, housing, energy assistance, food, and clothing. They also provide statewide advocacy for elderly and disabled residents of long term care facilities.

Citizenship Classes: 7 p.m. Tuesdays. Learn how to become a U.S. citizen. Study for the naturalization test, including civics and government questions, reading and writing English, and practicing your interview skills. Classes are free, join anytime.

Job Readiness Program: 10:30 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. Tuesdays; 3 p.m. and 3:45 p.m. Thursdays. The library is here to help you get a free email account, start a résumé, start an online job search, or navigate the job application process! Librarians are available to provide 45-minute one-on-one assistance. Register online or at 253-859-3330. Strongly recommended that you bring a flash/USB drive.

After Lunch Book Club: 1 p.m. Oct. 12. “Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town” by Jon Krakauer.

Congressman Adam Smith, Mobile Office Hours: 10 a.m. Oct. 18. Staff members will be available to answer questions about federal agencies, such as the Social Security Administration, resources to help with loan modulations and avoiding foreclosures, assistance with immigration services and information on federal grants.

Kent Friends of the Library Meeting: 1 p.m. Oct. 13.

Sign up for ORCA Lift: 10 a.m.-noon, Oct. 7. Income-qualified riders, 19 and older, can save 50 percent or more on Metro, Sound Transit and more. Drop in to register with Multi-Service Center’s Intake Specialist. See if you qualify at www.orcalift.com or call MSC at 253-838-6810. Your income must be at or below 200 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Please bring ID & income verification documents.

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, Anatomy of a Masterpiece: 2 p.m. Oct. 22. Who controls life and death? Does a man-made being have rights? Written by 19-year-old Mary Shelley, Frankenstein has resonated in our imagination, and in films and plays. Led by scholar Lance Rhoades, this multi-media presentation considers how Shelley addressed some of our greatest concerns, about technology, slavery, and universal suffrage, with a creation that took on a life of its own.

SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives): Free counseling for small businesses. Please call 206-553-7320 for appointments.

Computer Classes: Registration required beginning two weeks before the class, 253-859-3330. • Computer Basics, 7 p.m. Sept. 29; • Internet Level I, 7 p.m. Oct. 6; • Microsoft Word Level I, 7 p.m. Oct. 13; • Microsoft Excel Level I, 7 p.m. Oct. 27; • Drop-In to Learn about eBooks: 10 a.m., Oct. 29; • One-on-One Computer Help, 5 p.m., Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

EVERYONE’S TALKING ABOUT IT

Is Great-Grandmother Really Native American?: 2 p.m. Oct. 2. Many families have the oral history that an ancestor was Native American. How do you discover if this is true? What federal, state and tribal records are available? Local genealogist Janice Lovelace, Ph. D., will guide you through these specialized resources.

Key Ingredients All Chefs Use: 2 p.m. Oct. 9. Inspired by her Seattle Magazine column, author Amy Pennington highlights some of the key ingredients chefs use to make their recipes shine. Taste a selection of ingredients and learn how to incorporate them into your own cooking. Pennington shares anecdotes from chefs, offers cooking tips and incorporates a focus on health and wellness in this interactive, informative class.

Gearing Up to Succeed in NaNoWriMo: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 17. Have you decided that it’s time to begin writing your novel? Join New York Times bestselling author Bob Mayer and Jen Talty in a very informative program as they uncover tips and techniques to write faster, turn off the internal editor and get that manuscript finished in thirty days. Registration required.

Entertainment

SHOWARE CENTER

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

Casting Crowns featuring Hannah Kerr: 7 p.m. Oct. 2. Night of worship and Christian rock music. Tickets: $22-$77.

Disney On Ice, Worlds of Enchantment: 7 p.m. Nov. 2. Rev up for non-stop fun with four of your favorite Disney stories. Thrill to high-speed stunts as Lightning McQueen and the crew of Disney Pixar’s Cars race across the ice. Dive into adventure with Ariel and The Little Mermaid’s undersea kingdom. The toys are back in town with heroic action when Buzz, Woody, Jessie and the Disney Pixar Toy Story gang escape Sunnyside Daycare in their most daring adventure. Enter the wintry world of Arendelle with sisters Anna and Elsa and pals Olaf and Kristoff from Disney’s Frozen as they learn that true love comes from within. Tickets: $27-$82.

SPOTLIGHT SERIES

Spotlight Series is presented by the Kent Arts Commission and Kent Parks, Recreation and Community Services and partially funded by 4Culture, WESTAF, National Endowment for the Arts, Washington State Arts Commission, and a variety of business and individual sponsors.

Tickets may be purchased online at kentarts.com, by calling 253-856-5051 or in person at the Kent Commons, 525 Fourth Ave. N. Hours for phone and in-person sales are Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The box office is closed on Sunday.

Reduced Shakespeare Company: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 15, Kent-Meridian Performing Arts Center, 10020 SE 256th St., Kent. Just in time for the 2016 presidential election. It’s a 90-minute roller coaster ride through the glorious quagmire that is American history. Rated PG-13 for occasional bawdy language and mild innuendo. Tickets: $28 general, $25 senior, $15 youth

Magical Strings 30th Annual Celtic Yuletide Concert: 3 p.m. Dec. 4, Kent-Meridian PAC. The Boulding Family’s musical celebration of the holiday season is a treasured tradition in Kent. Once again, Pam and Philip Boulding are joined by their children, grandchildren and guests for an afternoon of enchanting Yuletide music, Irish step dancing, drumming and storytelling. Tickets: $25 general, $22 senior, $15 youth

Windham Hill Winter Solstice: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 9, Kent-Meridian PAC. Celebrate the winter solstice and its warm traditions with a concert of acoustic music drawn from the multi-platinum selling Winter Solstice series as well as the artists’ many solo releases. Tickets: $32 general, $30 senior $15 youth

The Peking Acrobats: 7:30 p.m. Jan. 27, Kentwood Performing Arts Center, 25800 164th Ave. SE, Covington. The Peking Acrobats perform daring maneuvers atop a precarious pagoda of chairs; are experts at trick-cycling, precision tumbling, somersaulting and gymnastics; and defy gravity with amazing displays of contortion, flexibility and control. Masters of agility and grace, they push the envelope of human possibility. Tickets: $28 general, $25 senior, $15 youth

The Irish Rovers with We Banjo 3: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 21, Kentwood PAC. In 2017, The Irish Rovers celebrate 50 years of music and one final world tour. These international ambassadors of Irish music consistently charm audiences with their rollicking and rousing performances. Joining The Irish Rovers are special guests, We Banjo 3, an award-winning quartet from Galway, Ireland. Tickets: $30 general, $28 senior, $15 youth

International Guitar Night: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25, Kent-Meridian PAC. North America’s premier traveling guitar festival. Each tour, a new cast of guitar luminaries come together for a special evening of solos, duets and quartets that highlight the virtuosity and diversity within the world of acoustic guitar. Tickets: $28 general, $25 senior, $15 youth

Seattle Rock Orchestra performs Led Zeppelin I & II: 7:30 p.m. March 10, Kentwood PAC. Seattle Rock Orchestra (SRO) was born out of the desire to marry the unabashed performance energy of rock ‘n ‘roll with the broader palette of musical nuances treasured in classical music. SRO is a 50-plus piece orchestra with strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion, choir and a rotating cast of guest vocalists. SRO celebrates and perpetuates the orchestral tradition while exploring the rich history of rock and pop music. Tickets: $28 general, $25 senior, $15 youth

Kahulanui: 7:30 p.m. March 17, Kent-Meridian PAC, 7:30 p.m. In Hawaiian, Kahulanui means “the big dance.” These “Kings of Swing” create a danceable blend of traditional Hawaiian music and the Big Band Swing that servicemen imported to the Aloha State during World War II. The nine-piece band’s energy and dynamic performances borrow from this sound, keeping Hawaiian Swing vibrant and alive in Hawaii today. Tickets: $25 general, $22 senior, $15 youth

Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem “American Spiritual” featuring guest performance by Rainier Youth Choir: 7:30 p.m. April 1, Kent-Meridian PAC. Rani Arbo & daisy mayhem are a melting pot of American folk melody and style. “American Spiritual” leads audiences in a bona fide revival. This charismatic quartet draws from 200 years of roots music to find songs that uplift and connect. Tickets: $25, $22 general, $15 youth

ELSEWHERE

Live music, Tuesday night dances: 7:30 p.m., Kent Senior Activity Center, 600 E. Smith St. Open to all ages. Cover charge: $4 at the door for all ages, dancers and listeners. Program schedule: • Kings of Swing Big Band, first Tuesdays, 7:45-9:30 p.m. Refreshments by Radcliffe Place served during break at 8:30 p.m. • Randy Litch Ballroom, second and fourth Tuesdays, 7:30-9:30 p.m. Refreshments provided by The Weatherly Inn and Farrington Court, served while supplies last until 8:45 p.m. • Andy Burnett Rock ‘n Roll, third and fifth Tuesdays, 7:30-9:15 p.m. Refreshments provided by Stafford Suites and Judson Park, served while supplies last until 8:45 p.m. For more information, call 253-856-5164 or visit kentwa.gov/SeniorActivityCenter/

No Experience Necessary Square Dance: 7:30-9:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Kent Meridian Grange, 15422 SE 272, Kent. Featuring Wayne Easton, caller. Learn basic square dance moves from experienced dancers. Watch experienced square dancers perform mainstream moves. Drop in or call. Casual attire. No charge. 206 935-0856, wagonwheelsquaredanceclub@facebook.com.

Bohemian Rhapsody with Nicholas Hersh: 2:30 p.m. Oct. 9, Auburn Performing Arts Center, 702 Fourth St. NE. Auburn Symphony Orchestra opens its 20th anniversary season with an all-rhapsody program under guest conductor Nicholas Hersh, associate conductor of Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Virtuoso Russian pianist Gleb Ivanov performs in Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini and Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue. Queen’s iconic Bohemian Rhapsody, arranged by the guest conductor himself and featuring principal violist Betty Agent, is the genre-crossing headline piece. Free pre-concert lecture begins at 1:45, hosted by Dave Beck and Nicholas Hersh. The concert is sponsored by The Boeing Co. and made possible in part by support from the city of Auburn. Tickets: $35 adults, $28 seniors, $10 students. Call 253-887-7777 or purchase online at auburnsymphony.org

Music

Maple Valley Youth Symphony Orchestra: Taylor Creek Church, 21110 244th Ave. SE, Maple Valley. MVYSO boasts a playing group for every level, from beginning strings to string ensemble. For more information, call 425-358-1640 or visit www.mvyso.org.

Rainier Youth Choirs: RYC has four leveled groups based on age and ability (grades 2 through 14). Call 253-315-3125 to schedule an audition. For more information, visit www.rainieryouthchoirs.org.

Galleries, studios

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.

Third Thursday Art Walk: 4-7 p.m., Rusty Raven Studio, 212 First Ave. S., Kent. Designed around the idea of creating a rich and diverse artistic experience in downtown Kent. Free kids art activity every month. Have your map initialed by the artist at each stop and be entered into a drawing for a $50 gift certificate from a participating businesses. One entry per person and must go to every stop to qualify. For more information, contact Lyra Penoyer at 253-813-6976 or kdpadminassistant@kentdowntown.org, or visit www.facebook.com/events/1530632470566958/

Museums

Greater Kent Historical Society: 855 E. Smith St., historic Bereiter House, Kent. Hours: noon-4 p.m., Wednesday-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. www.gkhs.org.