Sizzling summer activities at King County Parks

Fair, concerts and outdoor movie series among the great recreation opportunities

With more than 25,000 acres of parks and nearly 200 miles of regional trails, a world-class aquatic center and other outstanding venues, King County Parks offers great places and recreational opportunities for everyone.

Tradition takes center stage July 18 when the 146th edition of the King County Fair gets under way in Enumclaw. The oldest county fair west of the Mississippi has returned to its agricultural roots and will focus on King County’s rich agricultural heritage and the environment. Parking, admission and entertainment are all free at this year’s fair, which runs through Sunday, July 20.

By itself, Marymoor Park can keep anyone busy for a long time. Events such as the acclaimed Concerts at Marymoor series and Movies@Marymoor are both summertime traditions. Concerts scheduled over the next few weeks include Los Lonely Boys with Los Lobos, the Chieftains and Keller Williams, while the Movies@Marymoor series continues with “Juno” on July 23 and “Monsoon Wedding” July 30. Visit Marymoor Park on any Wednesday evening through August and see another great movie.

For the aerobically minded, Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park offers three dozen miles of well-maintained hiking trails through more than 3,000 acres of beautiful and historic scenery, while the nationally acclaimed Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center has a full schedule of low-impact exercise sessions, family swims and other opportunities for pool time.

Here are some of the highlights:

Enumclaw Expo Center (formerly the King County Fairgrounds)

July 18-20
Parking and entrance are free
King County 4-H/FFA Agricultural Fair  

A summertime tradition that dates back to the mid-19th Century, the fair features livestock displays and demonstrations, plus great food and live entertainment, free activities for the kids and more. This year’s theme, “Grow It, Show It, Know It,” reflects the fair’s return to its historic roots as an agricultural showcase. Parking and entry are free. Learn more at http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/fair/.

Marymoor Park

The Concerts at Marymoor
Concert tickets can be purchased at the Marymoor Office during business hours (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday), call 206-205-3661, or via e-mail at marymoorpark@kingcounty.gov. A fee of $8 per ticket supports maintenance and operations of King County Parks. Tickets can also be purchased through ticketmaster.com.

July 19 – 7 p.m.
Tickets are $35 and $49.50; $5 parking fee
The Brotherhood Tour, featuring Los Lonely Boys and Los Lobos
The heralded Concerts at Marymoor series continues July 19 with a tremendous double bill of Los Lonely Boys and Los Lobos. Los Lonely Boys crashed onto the scene in 2003 with their multi-platinum, self-titled debut, and earlier this month released their third studio album, “Forgiven.” In between those two records, brothers Henry, Jojo and Ringo Garza have played to growing crows worldwide. Joining the “Boys” on this tour is Los Angeles-based Los Lobos, a band that’s been together longer than any member of Los Lonely Boys has been alive. Formed in 1973, Los Lobos has effortlessly morphed between traditional Mexican folk ballads to feedback-fueled, guitar-heavy rock-n-roll. Their 1987 cover of Richie Valens’ “La Bamba” is one of the few non-English songs to climb to the top of the pop charts.

July 20 – 7 p.m.
Tickets are $29.50 and $49.50; $5 parking fee
The Chieftains
With dozens of albums recorded, a half-dozen Grammys and 14 more Grammy nominations earned, the Chieftains remain the most-popular traditional Irish band around. In addition to its long list of album successes, the band has added its distinctive sound to soundtracks such as Stanley Kubrick’s “Barry Lyndon.” The band was formed in 1962 and includes founding member and multi-instrumentalist Paddy Moloney, fiddler Seán Keane, vocalist Kevin Conneff and flute player Matt Molloy.

July 22 – 7 p.m.
Tickets are $29.50
Keller Williams and the Yonder Mountain String Band
It’s impossible to pin down Keller Williams’ musical style. He plays guitar, bass guitar, piano, synthesizer and other instruments while exploring numerous styles, including bluegrass, folk, jazz, funk electronica and other types of music. He’s cranked out a dozen albums during his 14-year recording career, and one of his favorite collaborations is with the Yonder Mountain String Band, a bluegrass quartet out of Nederland, Colo., that has laid down nine albums since forming in 1999. The band’s last two albums have topped the U.S. bluegrass chart.

Volunteer and see three concerts for free!
Want to attend the Concerts at Marymoor for free? Join King County Parks’ Recycling Crew volunteers to help promote recycling and composting at the concerts. Crew volunteers will also teach concert-goers about sorting their recyclable and compostable materials, and help keep the Marymoor concert venue litter-free.

Recycling Crew volunteers receive free entry and parking to the shows at which they volunteer. A minimum commitment of three concerts is preferred, and shift hours vary depending on show times. Training will be provided on site. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old, and service learning credit is available.

Details are available by contacting Marymoor Park, at 206-205-3661, or marymoorpark@kingcounty.gov.  Include your name, contact information, telephone number, and how you heard about volunteering, and identify the shows for which you are interested in volunteering.

Movies@Marymoor
July 23 (8:54 p.m.) – Juno [PG-13] 
July 30 (8:45 p.m.) – Monsoon Wedding [R]
Seating opens at 7 p.m., and movies begin at dusk. Admission is free, but a donation of $5 for individuals and $15 for families is suggested. Proceeds support King County Parks.

Back for a fourth year, the popular Movies@Marymoor series continues July 23 with the award-winning “Juno,” followed by “Monsoon Wedding” on July 30, and features more great movies every Wednesday through August. Movies are shown on a 50-foot-tall inflatable screen at MacNair Field. Nintendo DS will be there for the “Juno” screening with free game demonstrations and other fun.
 
New this year is the “Viewer’s Choice” series finale, where movie-goers can vote for one of three popular movies, which will be shown Aug. 27. Voting can be done in-person at each movie night or online at http://www.questionpro.com/akira/TakeSurvey?id=988262. The movie with the most votes will be announced at the Aug. 20 movie and shown as the series finale.

Group Health Velodrome
July 25-26 – Racing begins at 1 p.m. on July 25, and 9:30 a.m. on July 26
FSA Grand Prix and Northwest Velodrome Championships

Come see some of the finest track cyclists in the nation as they compete for more than $14,000 in prize money during this event that’s full of lightning-quick racing. The Group Health Velodrome at Marymoor Park is a great venue for spectators, with seating is available in bleachers and on a lawn berm around the track. Details are available at http://www.fsagrandprix.com/.

Volunteer opportunities

The King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks offers numerous volunteer opportunities. You can help clean the Cedar River shoreline on July 19; restore the Red-Town Meadow at Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park on July 26; or restore wetlands at Skyway Park in south Seattle on July 26. Visit http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/PI/calendar.htm for all of the details on these and other volunteer events.

King County Parks - Your Big Backyard - offers more than 25,000 acres of parks and natural lands, including such regional treasures as Marymoor Park and Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, 175 miles of regional trails, plus pools and a world-class aquatic center. By cultivating strong relationships with non-profit, corporate and community partners, King County Parks enhances park amenities while reducing costs. Learn more at http://www.kingcounty.gov/parks/.

Related Information

King County Parks – Your Big Backyard

Recreation and Leisure Opportunities