LOCAL KIDS GET A GOOD LAUGH at a performance of Shakespeare in the Park last year. The annual theater performances are put on free at Lake Tye Park, and are part of an affordable and abundant summer activity schedule available to families in the Sky Valley.

Summertime
fun heats up
Sky Valley offers lots of low-cost family fun this season

BY POLLY KEARY, EDITOR

Live theater free in the park. Low-cost sports camps for kids. Classic car shows. Parades. Picnics. Last week marked the first week of summer, and with the season comes a great deal of fun and affordable things to do around the Sky Valley. Here is a guide to things that are planned for kids, adults and families in the coming weeks, all at no cost or at reasonably low cost.

Monroe

Farmers’ Markets
Monroe has two farmers’ markets this year, where shoppers can by fresh, local produce, locally baked breads, and handcrafts such as soaps and candles, as well as locally grown flowers. Each Friday, Saturday and Sunday, a farmers’ market that is new this year takes place on Lewis Street, just across the river from town. The new fair is open Friday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. And Tuesday afternoons from 2 to 7 p.m. shoppers can come to the downtown farmers market on Main Street across from the 7-11, where there is music and activities for kids, including sidewalk chalk.

Movies Under the Moon and Shakespeare in the Park
Beginning July 24, every Friday evening will bring a free, fun family activity at Lake Tye Park on Fryelands Boulevard. Bring a picnic dinner and blankets to lay on and enjoy some quality family time at no cost. The first two Fridays will feature live performances of Shakespeare comedies performed by Monroe theater troupe Last Leaf Productions. Friday, July 24 at 7 p.m., the troupe will perform “The Taming of the Shrew,” and the following Friday, July 31, they will perform “The Merry Wives of Windsor.” Both are comedies dealing with the battle of the sexes.

The next four Fridays bring family friendly movies shown on an inflatable screen starting at 9 p.m. This year’s selections include Kung Fu Panda, Raiders of the Lost Ark, High School Musical 3 and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.Prior to each movie showing, a performance in tune with the theme of the movie will take place. For example, as the sky darkens before Kung Fu Panda, local martial artists will give a demonstration, and high school musicians will perform before High School Musical 3.

Skyhawks Sports Camps
Coming to Monroe again this year, through the Monroe Parks Department, is Skyhawks Sports Camp, offering kids ages 4-14 opportunities to explore a wide variety of sports. Each sports camp lasts several days and teaches kids athletic skill and teamwork, as well as how to celebrate uniqueness. This year, the city is offering families two options; full-day sports camp or more affordable half-day camps. Full day camps range in price from $145 to $215 per child for five days. Half-day camps also run five days, but only run from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. each day, and cost around $79 to $1.04 per child. Camps include baseball, basketball, beginning golf, cheerleading, soccer, multi-sports including soccer, baseball and basketball, Lego engineering and tennis. For more information, log onto www.skyhawks.com or call 1(800) 804-3509.

Night Out Against Crime
Night Out Against Crime returns to Monroe this year Tuesday, Aug. 9, at 7 p.m. at Lake Tye Park. The event will feature police dog demonstrations, public safety awareness, bouncy houses for kids, lots of fun activities and free snacks and beverages for all.

Old Main Street Car Show
This is a new event this year, brought by the Chamber of Commerce. “Some of the members got together and thought it would be a fun event for people, with a little bit of fundraising thrown in,” said Neil Watkins, Chamber of Commerce. The Classic Car show will include as many as 200 cars and will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. all day Sunday, Aug. 16.

Evergreen State Fair
The Evergreen State Fair kicks off Thursday, August 23 and continues through Monday, Sept. 7, with the Annual Fair Days Parade taking place Saturday, Aug. 29. The Evergreen State Fair will include performances from country star Blake Shelton, classic country group Diamond Rio and Seattle rock icons Queensryche, among others.

Sultan

Shindig
Sultan kicks off its annual summer season with Sultan Shindig and logging show, beginning Friday, July 10 and continuing through Sunday, July 12. The first two days will feature a car show, with the last day host to a motorcycle show for the first time this year. Musical performances include soul group Freddy Pink, classic rock and top 40 band Background Noise, and blues group Station House Blues. There is lots of shopping, eating and log show fun to be had all three days.

Gold Bar

Gold Dust Days
Gold Bar’s town festival, Gold Dust Days, takes place Friday, July 24 through July 26. The festival will include a civil war encampment, a classic car show, and live music.

Fronderosa Frolic
A celebration of ferns and other growing things takes place in Gold Bar at 40830 172nd St. SE in Gold Bar Aug. 8 and 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Called by some the “Woodstock of plant shows,” plant enthusiasts from around Pacific Northwest come to Gold Bar to trade plants, compare notes, and look for new specimens for the garden. About 20 vendors from around the Puget Sound will sell specialty plants. The ninth annual event takes place at Fancy Fronds Nursery in Gold Bar, just off Highway 2. Carpooling is recommended; there is limited parking on the private road.

Index

Index Fourth of July Celebration
There will be numerous free activities and deeply discounted river adventures provided by the Outdoor Adventure Center. Veterans and their families get 30% off their river adventure. There are relaxing raft floats on the river for kids as young as eight, youth water safety courses from certified instructors, bike rentals, a Class III-IV rafting adventure, Class I-III inflatable kayak trips, gold panning, and lots of free activities such as a museum tour, parade, face painting, evening fireworks display, walking tour, community playground, local hiking trails, and more.

Index Arts Festival
The fifth annual Index Arts Festival, a celebration of the talent of Index’s high number of artists and craftspeople as well as artists region-wide, takes place Saturday, Aug. 1 throughout the town. The event includes outdoor painting, live music, poetry readings, a crafts market, a food and beverage cabana and the work of 50 or more artists on display.

Skykomish

Skykomish Show and Shine
The seventh annual Skykmoish Show and Shine returns to Skykomish this year, with lots of food, displays and classic, hot rod and oddly named vehicles.

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