This summer is full of entertainment options in Kent, from festivals to concerts to lingerie football and a 3-on-3 basketball tournament.
Keep the following dates and events in mind while making summer plans.
• Evening of Jazz and Art
June 24: Seattle-based Pearl Django and Kent saxophonist Darren Motamedy perform at the third annual event at the Kent Senior Activity Center, 600 E. Smith St.
The free event runs from 4-8 p.m. and includes a juried fine art show and a Kent Valley Artists exhibition.
For more information, call the senior center at 253-856-5164.
• Kent International Festival
June 26: The second annual festival runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Town Square Plaza Park at the corner of Second Avenue and West Smith Street.
The theme of the free festival is “Learn from Each Other.” The festival is a celebration of the cultural diversity represented in the community and its residents.
Ethnic dance, musical performances, spectacular native attire, arts and crafts booths and delicious authentic cuisine are all part of the festival.
For more information, go to www.facebook.com and search for Kent International Festival.
• Fourth of July Splash
July 4: 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., including a large fireworks display over the lake at 10 p.m.
Groups lined up to perform so far on the main stage include Submotive and The Beatniks. The activities include watermelon and pie eating contests as well as a boat parade and classic-car display.
The event attracts thousands of people, so free off-site parking and shuttle service is offered from Kent Fire Station No. 75 and Kentwood High School.
For more information, go to www.ci.kent.wa.us and search for Fourth of July Splash.
• Summer concert series
July 6 through Aug. 12: Gypsy jazz, Celtic tunes, African dance and extraordinary juggling are among the highlights for the annual city of Kent Summer Concert Series. The city has scheduled 17 free performances at three outdoor locations.
Concerts and performances for kids are held Wednesdays at noon Town Square Park, Second Avenue and Harrison Street. Families can enjoy music Tuesdays at noon at Kent Station and Thursday evenings at Lake Meridian Park.
For more information, go to www.kentarts.com or call the city at 253-856-5050.
• Kent Cornucopia Days
July 8-11: The 39th annual Kent Cornucopia Days is considered the largest family festival in South King County as it draws more than 200,000 people. A carnival opens the event July 8 followed by a large street fair downtown July 9-11.
Nearly 600 vendors fill 19 city blocks with crafts and food. A beer garden, music and plenty of people watching gives attendees a lot to do at the event run by the Kent Lions Club. The street fair runs from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 9-10 and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 11.
Dragon boat races, soccer games, a fun run, parade and the Miss Cornucopia Scholarship Program are other events to enjoy.
For more information, go to www.kcdays.com.
• Backstreet Boys
Aug. 5: The Backstreet Boys will sing songs from their latest album “This is Us,” as well as favorites from their previous six albums over the last 17 years at 7:30 p.m. at the ShoWare Center. The pop group opened their latest tour last fall. The group became popular in the late 1990s with hits such as “Quit Playing Games With My Heart” and “I Want it That Way.”
For tickets, go to www.showarecenter.com or call 253-856-6999.
• Summer Nights and the Silver Screen
Aug, 6, 13 and 20: The city presents outdoor movies on a large screen at Town Square Park. The lineup is “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off” at 9:15 p.m. Aug. 6; “Raiders of the Lost Ark” at 9 p.m Aug. 13 and the animated “Cars” at 8:45 p.m. Aug. 20.
For more information, go to www.kentarts.com or call the city at 253-856-5050.
• ShoWare Shootout
Aug. 7-8: The ShoWare Center’s first 3-on-3 basketball shootout hits the courts at the arena’s outdoor parking lot. The features age divisions for men, women and children. The team entry fee is $100. That fee includes a guarantee of four games, T-shirts and a trophy for teams that make the championship game in division play. The entry deadline is July 10.
For more information and to register, go to www.showareshootout.com.
• Seattle Mist
Aug. 27: The women’s Lingerie Football League returns to the ShoWare Center for its second season of two home games. The Mist plays the Los Angeles Temptation Aug 27 and the Chicago Bliss Oct. 8. The league features scantily clad women playing seven-on-seven tackle football on a 50-yard field.
For more information, go to www.myseattlemist.com.
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