Summer is a great time to sit back, relax and enjoy the fabulous warm weather. It’s also a great time to make new friends, learn new things and get some exercise. Kirkland has a lot of great opportunities for summer camps, events, activities and more. I listed a few options below, but you can find more on the city of Kirkland website.
Farmers Markets
Kirkland has two great farmers markets. The Kirkland Wednesday Market, in Marina Park, has been going on for years and Kirkland citizens look forward to it every summer. The Market opened June 4 and takes place every Wednesday from 2-7 p.m. The Friday Market, another local Farmers Market, is at Juanita Beach Park. It started on June 6, and goes from 3-7 p.m. You’ll find lots of locally-grown fruits and vegetables, handcrafted items, kettle corn and other tasty treats, beautiful bouquets of flowers, and plenty of other delights at both Markets.
Sports Camps
If you love sports, there are lots of camps to check out. There are basketball camps, yoga camps, softball camps, golf camps, tennis camps, dance and gymnastics camps, swimming camps, and many others. You can learn more at www.KirklandParks.net. You can also check local athletic clubs like Columbia Athletic Club, or a Kirkland Community Center (North Kirkland Community Center and Peter Kirk Community Center) for more information.
Kirkland Teen Union Building (KTUB)
Kirkland Teen Union Building, also known as KTUB, has many activities that older kids can participate in over the summer. They offer a variety of summer camps and classes, many of which are free. For example, if you are a singer or musician, you could work with professional audio engineers to record your songs. If you are into crafty, DIY activities, the Everything Art Camp offers photography, upcycling, graffiti art, fabric design and culinary art. KTUB also provides a Career Readiness Workshop, and a Training Program designed to teach teens the skills required to work at a local food service establishment. Kids can make new friends in this accepting and supportive environment. KTUB provides lots of fun resources where teens can learn important skills. Whether it’s help for a job interview or a film-making class, KTUB has it all. Visit www.ktub.org for more information.
Fourth of July in downtown Kirkland
Kirkland goes all-out to celebrate the Fourth of July. There is a children’s parade that begins at 11:30 a.m. in Marina Park. Hat-making, face-painting and bike-decorating kick off the festivities at 10 a.m. The 15th annual community parade begins at noon, as residents gather to watch parade floats along Market Street and Central Way. At approximately 10:15 p.m. there is a firework display in Marina Park that can be seen from all of the downtown waterfront parks, including Heritage Park.
Kirkland offers so many great summer camps, classes and events. With all these options, it’s hard to choose, but one thing is for sure, I will definitely be at the parade. See you there!
Allison Hoff is an 11-year-old Kirkland resident.
