Take part in a long-distance trail run as part of the SCOTT Cougar Mountain Trail Run Series, or catch some of the scheduled high-speed track racing at Marymoor Velodrome. Check out the series schedule of the Marymoor Park Concerts presented by Swedish Redmond, and choose from acclaimed veteran bands or newer, up-and-coming acts.
There’s also the First Tech Movies@Marymoor presented by Overlake Medical Clinics, with popular movies showing under the stars through the end of the month.
For quieter pursuits, take a hike! Trails crisscross thousands of acres of parks, open spaces and natural areas, and an outing into the forested enclaves of Grand Ridge, Cougar Mountain, or Island Center Forest on Vashon, and elsewhere can offer relief from the midsummer heat.
A friendly reminder: Trails and parks can get busy on sunny summer weekends, so remember to keep pets on a leash, clean up after your pooch, and keep your bike’s speed in check.
Here is a sample of what’s going on in the 200-plus parks, and 28,000 acres of open space – be sure to visit the King County Parkswebsite for even more possibilities.
Wednesday, Aug. 5 and Aug. 12 – Seating opens at 7 p.m., movie begins at dusk
First Tech Movies@Marymoor presented by Overlake Medical Clinics
“Top Gun” (Aug. 5)
“Grease” (Aug. 12)
The popular outdoor cinema series resumes tonight, Aug. 5, at King County’s Marymoor Park with a sweaty Tom Cruise battling evil and faceless Communist fighter pilots, playing volleyball in slow motion, more sweating, and finally wooing Kelly McGillis in “Top Gun.”
On Aug. 12, it’s time for some high school angst in the form of highly choreographed singing and dancing with “Grease,” starring Olivia Newton John (good girl) and John Travolta (bad boy). Filmed back in 1978 on a modest budget of $6 million, “Grease” has become the highest-grossing movie musical of all time, with total box office receipts hovering somewhere around the $400 million mark.
Movies are dog friendly and include live entertainment, trivia, food trucks and a free glow necklace for the first 200 attendees, compliments of Overlake Medical Clinics.
All events are on grass and “bring-your-own-seating.” Event entry is $5 per person. Kids 5 years of age and under are free. Seating opens at 7 p.m., and movies start at dusk. Parking is $5 per vehicle. The series is produced by Epic Events, the Pacific Northwest leader in outdoor movie entertainment.
Thursday, Aug. 6 – 5:30 p.m.
Marymoor Park Concerts presented by Swedish Redmond
Slightly Stoopid with special guests Dirty Heads and Stick Figure
So-Cal reggae, ska, pop alchemists Slightly Stoopid have been a touring staple for nearly two decades now, and they’ve perfected a laidback, summertime sound. The band has just released their eighth studio album, “Meanwhile….Back at the Lab.” Opening acts Dirty Heads and Stick Figure also hail from southern California and bring the same chill vibe.
Saturday, Aug. 8 – 7:30 p.m.
Marymoor Park Concerts presented by Swedish Redmond
Alabama Shakes with Chicano Batman
Few bands in recent memory have captured the amount of critical praise and popularity as Alabama Shakes did with their 2012 debut album, “Boys and Girls.” Led singer and guitarist Brittany Howard is a force of nature onstage, with a voice that lands somewhere between Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, and possibly Led Zeppelin’s Robert Plant. The band released their second album, “Sound and Color,” earlier this year. Opening act Chicano Batman recently played the Coachella Music Festival.
Sunday, Aug. 9 – 7 p.m.
Marymoor Park Concerts presented by Swedish Redmond and Monqui
Of Monsters and Men with Pure Bathing Culture
Indie-folk quintet Of Monsters and Men launched their career by winning the 2010 “battle of the bands” competition in their native Iceland, no small feat, given that this tiny island nation with a population half that of Seattle’s boasts an amazing diversity of highly acclaimed groups, including Sigur Ros, GusGus, and Bjork. Led by singer and guitarist Nanna Bryndís Hilmarsdóttir, Of Monsters and Men released their debut album, “My Head is an Animal” in 2011, and followed it up with an international tour that gave them all the exposure needed to propel them to the top of the charts in several countries. The band is currently touring in support of their just-released second album, “Beneath the Skin.” Portland duo Pure Bathing Culture opens the show, and will no doubt play tracks from their soon-to-be-released second album, “Pray for Rain.”
Monday, Aug. 10 – 6:30 p.m.
Marymoor Park Concerts presented by Swedish Redmond
Walk The Moon with Milky Chance
There will be no plodding, shoegazy guitar riffs in this high-energy show. Walk The Moon specializes in bright, upbeat songs with infectious choruses that all but define a midsummer’s night party. This Cincinnati-based indie rock band has garnered a strong following with their three studio albums, including 2014’s “Talking is Hard,” which features “Shut up and Dance” – a single that has reached the top of the pop charts in numerous countries. Opening act Milky Chance is a folk/reggae trio from Germany that has garnered positive attention for their album, “Sadnecessary.”
Tuesday, Aug. 11 – 6:30 p.m.
Marymoor Park Concerts presented by Swedish Redmond
Wilco with Jenny Lewis
The highly acclaimed and inventive Wilco returns to Marymoor Park in support of their just-released ninth studio album, “Star Wars.” The band’s hard-to-categorize sound ranges from country twang and Americana to more free-form jams – particularly between singer/guitarist Jeff Tweedy, and guitar virtuoso Nels Cline, who is consistently cited as one of the best rock/jazz guitarists of his generation. Opening for Wilco at Marymoor is indie/alt-country performer Jenny Lewis, who has also had a successful TV, film and voice career.
Friday, Aug. 14 – 7 p.m.
Marymoor Park Concerts presented by Swedish Redmond
Sometime Last Night Tour featuring R5 with Jacob Whitesides and Ryland
Break out the heavy duty earplugs for this one…not because the music will be too loud, but R5 fans are likely to be screaming their tween heads off for this Radio Disney staple. What does “R5” stand for? Easy: Four siblings whose first names all begin with “R” (the Lynch brothers Ross, Riker and Rocky, plus sister Rydel), and longtime friend Ellington Ratliff. The band is touring in support of their second studio album, “Sometime Last Night,” which was just released in July.
Saturday, Aug. 15 – 1 p.m.
107.7 THE END Presents Part of the Marymoor Park Concerts presented by Swedish Redmond
Summer Camp 2015 with Matt and Kim, Robert DeLong, Glass Animals, Chet Faker, Saint Motel, Joywave, Meg Myers, and In The Valley Below
Pop an extra multivitamin before going to bed (early!) the night before, and make sure you stay hydrated…it’s time for 107.7 THE END’s Summer Camp – a full day of high-energy music that’s headlined by Matt and Kim, whose fifth studio album was released earlier this year and made it into the top five of the U.S. rock charts. Expect a day’s worth of danceable indie/electronica.
Marymoor Velodrome
Friday, Aug. 14 to Sunday, Aug. 16 – registration from 5:30-6:30 p.m., session begins at 7 p.m.
Friday Night Racing – Championship Edition
Fred C. Rehberger Memorial 2015 Northwest Regional Track Cycling Championships
If you’ve always wanted to take in a track race at the Marymoor Velodrome, Aug. 14-16 is the time to go. It’s an exciting and fun event to watch, with races for a variety of ages and skill levels – and there’s a beer garden. Top track riders from across the Pacific Northwest will be at Marymoor – the region’s only outdoor velodrome – to compete in the championships that are named in honor of longtime cycling enthusiast and Marymoor Velodrome supporter, Fred Rehberger, who died in 2012 from injuries he sustained after being struck by a vehicle while he was riding his bicycle to work.
Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park
SCOTT Cougar Mountain Trail Run Series
Saturday, Aug. 8, 8:30 a.m. (8:40 a.m. for 5K) – Five kilometers, 14.5 miles and 26.2 miles
The 13th-annual trail run series resumes Aug. 8 with a choice of races spanning five kilometers, 14.5 miles or 26.2 miles (that’s right – a marathon’s worth of scenery!) 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’ 28,000-acre network of parks and open space. Race details, including registration, are available online.
Steve Cox Memorial Park
Saturday, Aug. 22 – 6:30 p.m., movie begins at 8:30 p.m.
Movie Under the Stars
King County hosts its first “Movie Under the Stars” night at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, with a screening of “El Padrecito.” The movie will be shown in Spanish with English subtitles. Bring your family for a fun night that will feature music, karaoke, dancing, games and food vendors.
