Celebrate Kent’s history at multiple events this weekend

For the Reporter

Kent history comes to life this weekend with tours, open houses, a car show and other attractions throughout the city.

Visitors and residents are invited to celebrate Kent’s past at multiple events in August. The events are free and open to the public.

Saturday brings:

• Greater Kent Historical Museum and Mill Creek Neighborhood Historic Home and Garden Walking Tour, 855 E. Smith St., 10 a.m.-4 p.m., every half-hour. Turn-of-the-century and Great Depression-era homes. Tours start at the museum.

• Neely-Soames Historic Homestead Annual Open House, 5311 S. 237 Place (along the Green River Trail) 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tour the grounds and get a glimpse of the way residents lived in 1885.

• Historic Downtown Walking Tours, corner of Second Avenue North and Meeker Street, 10-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-2 p.m. Each walk is limited to the first 25 people.

• Hydroplane and Raceboat Museum, 5917 S. 196th St., 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Special free admission. The museum is one of the country’s primary resources for historical information on hydroplane racing.

• 28th Annual Classic Ford Show and Mustang Roundup, 1157 Central Ave. N., 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Free spectator admission and awards for 40-plus classes of cars.

• Soos Creek Botanical Garden and Heritage Center, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., 29308 132nd Ave. SE, Auburn. Celebrating Kent’s 125th anniversary with historical displays, music and an art walk. For more information, visit www.sooscreekbotanicalgarden.org.

Sunday brings:

• Historic Cemeteries Bus Tour, 1:30-4:30 p.m. A docent will accompany guests on this informative tour of Kent’s historic cemeteries. While the tour is free, registration is required at kentwa.gov/Bustourregistration2015 for transportation planning.

For more details, call 253-854-4330 or visit kentwa.gov/ExperienceHistoricalKent.