Celebrate summer’s last weeks with outdoor concerts, camping, hiking at King County Parks

The bad news: There’s less than one month left in summer, which officially ends Sept. 22.

The good news: King County Parks – Your Big Backyard, has plenty of great activities and events to keep you busy until the very end of summer, and beyond. Here are details on some of those opportunities.

Marymoor Park

The Concerts at Marymoor

Purchase tickets at the Marymoor Office during business hours (9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday), call 206-205-3661, e-mail, marymoorpark@kingcounty.gov. A fee of $8 per ticket supports maintenance and operations of King County Parks. Tickets can also be purchased through ticketmaster.com.

Aug. 30 – 7 p.m.

Tickets are $49.50 and $80.50; $5 parking fee

Sheryl Crow with special guest James Blunt

Sheryl Crow has picked up nine Grammy awards during her career, which began when she was a back-up singer for Michael Jackson in the 1980s. She’s gone on to be a top-selling artist in her own right. Opening for Crow is James Blunt a British pop singer who has already seen international success in his young career.

Sept. 6 – 7 p.m.

Tickets are $39.50 and $59.50; $5 parking fee

The Backstreet Boys

With 13 Top 40 hits and record sales somewhere in the 100 million range, the Backstreet Boys redefined the clean-cut, “boy band” genre in the mid 1990s. The band is currently touring in support of “Unbreakable,” their critically acclaimed sixth album.

Sept. 7 – 6 p.m.

Tickets are $29.50; $5 parking fee

G Love and Special Sauce, the John Butler Trio and special guest Tristan Prettyman

A musical prodigy from Philadelphia, Garrett Dutton III (better known as G Love) has been performing since the age of 8, and has been writing his own songs since the ninth grade. These days, he plays acoustic guitar and harmonica with his band, Special Sauce, which plays “alternative hip-hop” in a bluesy fashion. Opening acts are the John Butler Trio, an Australian roots/jam band that just played the big Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago, and Tristan Prettyman, a 26-year-old singer/songwriter from southern California.

Sept. 12 - 6 p.m.

Tickets are $30; $5 parking fee

Michael Franti and Spearhead

Michael Franti started his musical career in the San Francisco Bay Area’s industrial punk scene of the mid-1980s, and has evolved his earlier, heavier sound into a reggae-funk-folk fusion. While his music has changed, Franti’s passion for social justice remains the same. Franti’s sixth studio album, “All Rebel Rockers,” is scheduled for release on Sept. 9.

Sept. 13 – 1 p.m.

Tickets are $39.50; $5 parking fee

1077 The End’s Endfest ’08, featuring Bad Religion, The Presidents of the United States of America, Atreyu, The Faint, Everlast, The Ting Tings

With a great mix of veteran talents, including Bad Religion and The Presidents of the United States of America, plus up-and-coming acts such as the Ting Tings, 1077 The End’s Endfest ’08 offers a sound for every music lover. Headliners Bad Religion are a pioneering punk band that got their start in 1980 and has seen their share of recording and touring success. The Seattle-born “Presidents” are known for their fun, quirky songs and great live performances, while Grammy-winning Everlast struck it big a decade ago with the hit, “Whitey Ford Sings the Blues.”

Hiking at Cougar Mountain and Taylor Mountain

Interested in going for a hike? Check out the 36 miles of trails at Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park – just minutes from the bustling Eastside and downtown Seattle. A great map that highlights some of the historical features of Cougar Mountain is available at http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/inventory/cougar.aspx

Another 20 miles of hiking trails plus old logging roads suitable for walking can be found at Taylor Mountain Forest, south of Issaquah near the community of Hobart. Lesser known than Cougar Mountain, Taylor Mountain Forest features streams and wetlands, plus plenty of wildlife. Check out the details at http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/naturalareas/taylor.aspx.

Late-summer camping

Enjoy the season’s beauty by camping in your RV, tent or one of six yurts at Tolt-MacDonald Park, at the confluence of the Snoqualmie and Tolt rivers, near Carnation. The park is truly a great destination in its own right, with excellent fishing on the Snoqualmie, great hiking trails and other local attractions. Check out all of the details at http://www.kingcounty.gov/recreation/parks/rentals/camping.aspx.

King County Parks - Your Big Backyard - offers more than 25,000 acres of parks and natural lands, including such regional treasures as Marymoor Park and Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, 175 miles of regional trails, plus pools and a world-class aquatic center. By cultivating strong relationships with non-profit, corporate and community partners, King County Parks enhances park amenities while reducing costs. Learn more at http://www.kingcounty.gov/parks/.