Nite Wave will perform from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9 at Kent Station. COURTESY PHOTO, Nite Wave

Nite Wave will perform from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 9 at Kent Station. COURTESY PHOTO, Nite Wave

Kent offers full summer of free outdoor concerts

Music starts in July on Wednesday afternoons and evenings and Thursday evenings

Get ready for a full summer of free outdoor concerts in town as the city of Kent presents its annual series of music on Wednesday afternoons and Thursday evenings while Kent Station presents its Wednesday evening performances.

Wednesday Picnic Performances Especially for Kids run noon to 1 p.m. July 12 to Aug. 9 at either West Fenwick Park or Chestnut Ridge Park. Playground activities, such as water games, carnival games and sports will be offered at the parks from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. by the Kent Parks Department.

Wednesday Family Date Nights are from 6 to 8 p.m. July 12 to Aug. 16 at the Kent Station shopping center.

Thursdays at the Lake are from 7 to 8:30 p.m. July 6 to Aug. 10 at Lake Meridian Park.

Wednesday Picnic Performances

Noon to 1 p.m.

Sponsored by Republic Services

• July 12 The Not-Its!

West Fenwick Park, 3808 Reith Road

Power-packed songs for kids and parents who love to rock

• July 19 Roberto the Magnificent

Chestnut Ridge Park, 9901 S. 203rd St.

Gravity-defying juggling and hilarious physical stunts

• July 26 Doktor Kaboom!

West Fenwick Park, 3808 Reith Road

Creatively blending theatre arts with the wonders of scientific exploration

• Aug. 9 123 Andrés

West Fenwick Park, 3808 Reith Road

Latin Grammy-winning music duo celebrates the Latinx experience and incorporates Spanish, English, and ASL

Wednesday Family Date Night at Kent Station

6 to 8 p.m.

Kent Station Plaza, 417 Ramsay Way

Presented by Kent Station

• July 12 The West Coast Feed

An electrifying nine-piece band that sounds like a Bruno Mars and Bruce Springsteen dance party

• July 19 Lady A

Blues-funk that has been compared to the likes of Tina Turner and Chaka Khan

• July 26 Clinton Fearon

Jamaican reggae master tours the world with original music and positive messages

• Aug. 2 Chance McKinney

Country lyrics and vocals mixed with metal guitars, pop structures, and industrial layers

• Aug. 9 Nite Wave

80s New Wave: From Prince and Depeche Mode to Duran Duran, INXS and more

• Aug. 16 The Cory Wilds Band

Mix of blues, rock, country and jazz

Thursdays at the Lake

7 to 8:30 p.m.

Lake Meridian Park, 14800 SE 272nd St.

• July 6 LeRoy Bell and His Only Friends

Acoustic soul and folky pop

• July 13 Blue Moon Marquee

Distinct style featuring blues, jazz, jump jive, folk, country, swing, and Indigenous soul

• July 20 Charly Lowry Trio

World, soul, country, folk, blues, rock, and roots music from an indigenous music powerhouse

• July 27 Amelia Day & The Cloves

Down-home folk from this Nashville/Sumner singer-songwriter and her PNW band.

• Aug. 3 Seffarine

Flamenco footwork, exotic instrumentation, and grooving basslines create an intersection of Spanish, Arabic, Andalusian, Persian classical and jazz

• Aug. 10 The Hillbenders “WhoGrass”

Rock ‘n’ roll meets bluegrass in this chronological journey of The Who’s legendary catalog through bluegrass instrumentation


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

Lady A will perform from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 19 at Kent Station. COURTESY PHOTO, Lady A

Lady A will perform from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, July 19 at Kent Station. COURTESY PHOTO, Lady A

More in Life

The Evergreen Elders Connection, or Nhóm Cao Niên Tình Xanh, meets twice a month at the Kent Senior Activity Center. Photo by Bailey Jo Josie/Sound Publishing
A day at the Kent Senior Activity Center

A regular Tuesday at the Kent Senior Activity Center is filled with… Continue reading

Participants enjoy the 2024 Winterfest in Kent. This year’s event is Saturday, Dec. 6. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent
Winterfest celebration in Kent set for Saturday, Dec. 6

Event includes parade, tree lighting, music, vendors and Santa

Sara Akmel, of Kent and Mill Creek Middle School, placed second in the National Civics Bee Washington State Championship June 21, 2025 at Olympia High School, hosted by the Association of Washington Business. COURTESY PHOTO, Brian Mittge/Association of Washington Business
National Civics Bee competition open to middle school students

Kent Chamber of Commerce seeks students to apply for contest that will send winner to Washington, D.C.

Kent-based Puget Sound Fire annual Toys for Joy program collected more than 6,000 toys and stocking suffers for about 1,500 children during its 2024 holiday drive. COURTESY FILE PHOTO, Puget Sound Fire
Kent-based Puget Sound Fire kicks off Toys for Joy program

Donations wanted to provide food and toys for those in need during the holiday season.

t
39th annual Celtic Yuletide Concert set for Dec. 7 in Kent

Boulding family presents musical celebration of the holiday season

On Nov. 6, “Too Tall” Winston of the Harlem Globetrotters visited students at East Hill Elementary School in Kent. The visit was coordinated by the accesso ShoWare Center, which is hosting the Globetrotters on Jan. 30, 2026, during their 100 Year Tour. The show includes the popular gravity-defying dunks and game-changing tricks, along with pre-game and post-game fun. Tickets can be purchased at accessoshowarecenter.com. COURTESY PHOTOS
Globetrotter ‘Too Tall’ Winston visits East Hill Elementary

On Nov. 6, “Too Tall” Winston of the Harlem Globetrotters visited students… Continue reading

t
Underrated horror films for Halloween night

Set as near as Seattle or far as rural Japan, these overlooked horror films are just the thing to watch this Halloweekend.

t
Six country singers to perform Dec. 3 in Kent at ShoWare Center

100.7 The Wolf’s Hometown Holiday concert returns

The 2024 Haunted Boo-levard at Kent Station. COURTESY PHOTO, City of Kent
Celebrate Halloween at Kent Station’s Haunted Boo-Levard

Safe trick-or-treating, festive fun and a brand-new attraction during Oct. 31 event

Kent-based Rainier Youth Choirs has open enrollment this month for the upcoming season. COURTESY PHOTO, Rainier Youth Choirs
Rainier Youth Choirs perform in South King County and beyond

In its 19th season, the 2-12th grade youth choir provides space and opportunities for singers, allowing them to perform their music and make friends.

t
Disney on Ice returns to Kent Oct. 22-26 at ShoWare Center

Eight performances set for Let’s Dance!

t
Street of Treats coming up in downtown Kent Oct. 25

Children, adults encouraged to dress in costumes for trick-or-treating at local businesses