From trail runs, live music and more, King County Parks is revving up for a full summer of great entertainment and recreation possibilities.
Here are just a few upcoming options for summertime fun – and be sure to visit the King County Parks website for even more ideas for getting out and exploring parks, trails and other features of your big backyard.
Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park
SCOTT Cougar Mountain Trail Run Series
June 13 – Five kilometers, Eight miles or 13 miles
The 13th-annual trail run series resumes June 13 with a choice of races spanning five kilometers, 8.2 miles or 14.5 miles along Cougar Mountain’s beautiful backcountry trail network. Join with family and friends on a run through cool forests and past historic artifacts that make Cougar Mountain such a treasured part of King County Parks’ 26,000-acre network of parks and open space. Race details, including registration, are available online.
June 14-15 – 8 p.m.
Marymoor Park Concerts presented by Swedish Redmond
A.R. Rahman
The Marymoor Park Concerts presented by Swedish Medical Center Redmond kicks off the 2015 summer concert series with two performances by the multiple Grammy and Academy Award-winning superstar, A.R. Rahman – the man who is credited with redefining modern Indian music. With album sales exceeding the 150 million mark and credits for critically acclaimed film scores for “Slumdog Millionaire,” “Hundred-Foot Journey” and “Million Dollar Arm,” Rahman’s musical catalogue is both deep and diverse.
June 19-21
2015 Washington Brewers Festival
What better way to celebrate Father’s Day weekend than spending a little time with Dad at the 2015 Washington Brewer’s Festival at Marymoor Park? Featuring more than 400 unique beers from more than 100 Washington state breweries, this year’s festival is bigger than ever, and includes great food, live music, a root beer garden and kids’ area, craft booths, activities and more. The event is 21 and over on Friday, June 19, and the whole family is welcome on Saturday and Sunday, June 20-21.
June 24 – 6:30 p.m.
Marymoor Park Concerts presented by Swedish Redmond
The Seattle Symphony Performing the Music of John Williams
Seen a movie in the past five decades? Then you’ve heard the music of John Williams. Probably several times. From the lurking terror of a predatory great white in “Jaws,” to the swashbuckling anti-hero antics of “Indiana Jones;” from the menacing power of Darth Vader in “Star Wars” to the whimsical fantasy of the “Harry Potter” series, John Williams is simply one of the greatest creators of movie scores since the creation of the genre.
June 27 – 7 p.m.
Marymoor Park Concerts presented by Swedish Redmond
Willie Nelson and Family, with Alison Krauss and Union Station featuring Jerry Douglas
After nearly 60 years in the business, Willie Nelson continues to perform his genre-defying blend of country/folk/Americana to adoring crowds. He’s credited with more than five dozen albums, appeared in nearly three dozen movies, and has been a mainstay in advocating for several grassroots causes (including the famous Farm Aid concerts). From quiet crossover crooning (“Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain,” “Stardust,” “Always on My Mind”) to rousing sing-alongs (“Mommas Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” “On The Road Again”), Nelson has one of the most distinct and recognizable voices in all of popular music.
Bluegrass legend Alison Krauss and Union Station are joining the Nelson tour for a second year in a row. With 27 Grammys to her credit, Krauss is currently tied with music icon Quincy Jones as the most-awarded living artist.
Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center
Get in shape for the summer by becoming a regular at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way, where you’ll find a full slate of open and family swims. Can’t swim? No problem! Lessons with certified teachers are available for all ages and skill levels. The Aquatic Center is a legacy venue from the 1990 Goodwill Games, and has hosted numerous club, state, collegiate, national and international competitions for nearly a quarter century.
Tolt-MacDonald Park
July 16-18
Timber! Outdoor Music Festival
Back for a third-consecutive summer, the wildly popular Timber! Outdoor Music Festival comes to beautiful Tolt-MacDonald Park in mid-July, and features another eclectic lineup of artists curated by the good people at Artist Home – the same group that puts on the critically acclaimed Doe Bay Festival. This year’s featured acts include headliners The Dead Milkmen (“Punk Rock Girl”), plus Beat Connection, LaLuz, and nearly two dozen other artists. Special performances and activities are on tap for the kids, too, making Timber! the perfect weekend music outing for the whole family.
