Springtime activities abound in King County Parks - Your Big Backyard

Celebrate the Pacific Northwest’s natural beauty and late spring’s warming weather by participating in some of the many upcoming activities at King County Parks.

Whether it’s attending an open-air concert at Marymoor Park, participating in a trail run at the 3,000-acre Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park, or volunteering at a habitat restoration event, King County offers lots of fun activities for the whole family.

Here’s a partial list of what’s happening in the coming weeks at King County Parks – Your Big Backyard:

Marymoor Park

Through June 1

Cirque du Soleil presents Corteo

Bring the whole family out for a night under the Grand Chapiteau. Corteo brings together the passion of the actor with the grace and power of the acrobat to plunge the audience into a theatrical world of fun, comedy and spontaneity situated in a mysterious space between heaven and earth. Show times and tickets are available at http://www.cirquedusoleil.com; Parking is $15.

Series starts June 5

Concerts at Marymoor

Listen to some of your favorite artists at Marymoor Park – one of the most-popular open-air venues around. The concert series gets under way June 5 with a performance by Erykah Badu and The Roots. Upcoming concerts include 107.7 The End’s Summer Camp II on June 14, and KISS 106.1 Big Freakin’ Deal on June 28. $5 parking fee. For all the details, including additional concerts and ticket information, visit http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/marymoor/concerts-marymoor.html.

May 12-Sept. 12

Monday, Wednesday and Friday night racing at the Marymoor Velodrome

Enjoy an exciting bicycle race at the Velodrome, presented by Group Health. Races are Monday and Friday nights beginning May 12 and Wednesdays starting May 28. Spectator admission is free. Racing starts at 7 p.m. on Mondays and Fridays and 7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays. For more information, visit http://velodrome.org/cms/.

Cougar Mountain Regional Wildland Park

May 17 and June 14

Cougar Mountain Running Series

Compete in the sixth-annual Cougar Mountain trail running series, which returns May 17 with a five-mile race, then continues June 14 with a seven-mile race. Additional races will follow in July and August. The registration and start will be at the Sky Country trailhead. Cost is $25 per race ($30 for day-of-race registration). For all the details, visit http://www.seattlerunningcompany.com/Events/Cougar/cougarmtn1.html.

Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center

May 31-June 1

Washington State Special Olympics Swimming Championships

Four hundred Special Olympic athletes will compete in numerous events at the Weyerhaeuser King County Aquatic Center in Federal Way. The annual state championships also include track and field, cycling, power lifting and soccer, which are slated for Fort Lewis in Pierce County. Spectator admission is. For more information on Special Olympics, call 206-362-4949.

Enumclaw Expo Center

July 18-20

King County 4-H/FFA Agricultural Fair

It’s not summer in King County without a trip to Enumclaw for the King County 4-H/FFA Agricultural Fair – the oldest county fair west of the Mississippi. There’s plenty to see, do and eat at the fair, July 18-20 at the Enumclaw Expo Center. With a theme of “Grow It, Show It, Know It,” this year’s fair will feature agricultural displays on topics such as sustainable farming, recycling and alternative fuels. There’s great fair food, including hamburgers, hotdogs, ice cream and scones. Admission and parking are free. For more information, visit http://www.metrokc.gov/parks/fair/.

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.metrokc.gov/parks/.