The annual Kirkland Summerfest will take place this weekend in downtown Kirkland. The event includes activities for all ages and interests.
Organizers expect more than 10,000 people to attend the festivities this year as Kirkland’s Marina Park and downtown will be transformed for arts and entertainment.
On the lake
The Moss Bay Cardboard Boat Regatta will take place Saturday at 3 p.m. and the annual Duck Dash will be on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The boat regatta features teams racing homemade creations for the chance to win in one of four categories: first place in the race, best design, best costume and the most spectacular sinking. The Duck Dash is the Kirkland Rotary Club’s annual fundraiser where hundreds of adopted “rubber duckies” will be blown across the waters of Marina Park to see which one crosses the finish line first. A prize will be given to the owner of the duck that wins the race.
The T-37 Regatta is presented by Pacific Northwest Model Yacht Club and features remote controlled T-37 sailboats. T-37’s are 37-inch long wood hull sailing sloop. The event takes place at 11 a.m. on Saturday on the Marina Park waterfront along with the Seattle Flying Dragon Boats and Seattle SAKE Dragon Boats. Dragon boats are a team sport featuring 20 paddlers, a drummer and a steersperson.
New this year will be the dog costume contest. Pooches from the community will participate in a costume contest at noon on Sunday on the Lake Street Stage.
The Kirkland Fish Frolic art showcase will also be at Kirkland Summerfest. The Kirkland Fish Frolic along the Lake is a public art project that features 26 pieces of art, all created from a base fiberglass fish sculpture created by artist Don Rothwell. Various renowned local and regional artists were commissioned to embellish them in their own unique style. Each of these unique sculptures is available for purchase at a “buy it now” price of $5,000. At least six sculptures have already been purchased. Any sculptures still available late next month will be offered at a gala auction on Sept. 25 at the Woodmark Hotel in Kirkland. Proceeds from the auction will be shared by the decorating artist and Kirkland Summerfest.
Live music and entertainment
A live music beer and wine garden will also be set up all weekend on the north side of Marina Park.
The live music main stage schedule for today includes Creme Tangerine at 7 p.m. and Doctor Funk at 9 p.m.; Saturday will feature Marilyn and the G Strings at noon, Dub Lounge at 1 p.m., Danelle Hayes at 2 p.m., Music Box at 3:30 p.m., Surround Sound at 4:30 p.m., Swamp Dogs at 5:45 p.m., Funk E Fusion at 7 p.m., Big Luv at 8 p.m. and Mutha Knows Best at 9:30 p.m.; Sunday will include the Elliot Bay Music Group at 11:30 a.m., Border Town at 12:30 p.m., Tayla Lynn at 1:30 p.m., Kellee Bradley at 3:15 p.m., The Fabulous Roof Shakers at 4:10 p.m. and Cherry Cherry at 5:10 p.m.
The community stage will feature performers from Kirkland and Northwest Folklife. The Saturday schedule includes April Norkool at 11 a.m., Egyptian Cabaret Belly Dance at 11:35 a.m., Digipen Game Choir at 12:10 p.m., Kirkland Music Academy at 12:45 p.m., the Lake Washington Players at 1:20 p.m., Orville Murphy & Jerry Middaugh at 1:55 p.m., Merrill Gardens interpretive dance group at 2:25 p.m., Parnassus Project at 2:55 p.m., Scoil Rince Slieveloughane brass quintet at 2:55 p.m., Full House Productions youth theater at 4:05 p.m., A Capella Joy at 4:40 p.m., Jacquelina’s “Dances of Spain” at 5:15 p.m., The Silhouettes at 5:50 p.m., Samena Squares square dancing at 6:15 p.m. and Contra Dance at 7 p.m.
The community stage Sunday schedule includes Capoeira Angola Afro-Brazilian dance and acrobatics at 11 a.m., Grupo Folklorico Guadalajara Mexican folk dancing at 12:10 p.m., Carrigaline Celtic music at 1:20 p.m., Armstrong, Lawton and Katz old time music at 2:30 p.m., Joseph Giant indie roots music at 3:40 p.m. and Balkan Music & Dance at 4:50 p.m.
For the kids
Kids events include the Play More Kids Activities, which features rides on the Robo Surfer, a giant slide, the Summerfest Kids’ Course and the Summerfest Bouncy House. Radio Disney will also feature fun character visits. Kids activities also include balloon twisting, face painting and sparkle tattoos. Build the biggest sand castle yet on the Cadman sand pile and cruise the King County Library Bookmobile.
Touch-A-Truck will feature a fire truck, police car and a big bus from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Swerve Robotics Club and Western Allied Robotics (WAR) Combat Robots will present robot demonstrations throughout Saturday at the Lake and Central parking lot with audience participation. Swerve consists of students ages 6-19 whose main pursuit is robotics, which combines the excitement of sport with the rigors of science and technology. WAR is an organization of Pacific Northwest combat robot enthusiasts and is oriented towards radio-controlled combat robotics, similar to TV shows such as Battlebots and Robot Wars.
Join Ivivva at 11 a.m. on Sunday for a complimentary yoga class on the Marina Park Waterfront. The class is designed for kids ages 4-14. Mats will be provided.
The Young Artists Exhibition will take place at Marina Park from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday, featuring artists 18-years-old and younger. This year’s theme is “Summertime Fun!” Ribbons and prizes will be awarded in various age groups. The artwork will be judged on interpretation of the theme, originality, creativity and innovative use of materials. The event is supported in part by the Kirkland Cultural Arts Commission.
There will also be a live wood turning demonstration, hands-on fly fishing demonstration, art exhibits and tons of food.
Kirkland Summerfest is a Seafair sanctioned community event presented by Kirkland’s auto dealers.
It is produced by the Kirkland Downtown Association (KDA), a non-profit organization, whose goal is to promote a vibrant year-round downtown Kirkland by working with volunteers, merchants, neighbors and the city of Kirkland. All events produced by the KDA are supported solely through donations and sponsorship.
