Enjoy a fun and festive 4th of July in Kent

There’s no better place for a mid-week Independence Day celebration than Kent!

Kent has some great options for celebrating the Fourth of July, or just enjoying a well-deserved day off. Spend the afternoon and night at one of the splashiest Independence Day celebrations in the region. Shop, sip and SUP at an urban shopping, dining and entertainment center. Or take the occasion to explore miles of biking and walking trails in and around Kent.

Celebrate large at the Fourth of July Splash (Noon-10:30 p.m.). Looking for the ultimate regional celebration? From Noon to night, Kent’s annual Fourth of July Splashat Lake Meridian Park offers a full slate of family fun, including bounce houses, giant Jenga, food booths, old-fashioned games, pie-eating contest, live entertainment, Seattle Thunderbirds hockey puck shoot and more.

Don’t leave early. The fireworks finale will light up the sky over Lake Meridian starting at 10 p.m.

NOTE: Parking at Lake Meridian Park for the Fourth of July Splash is by permit only. Catch a convenient shuttle at three locations:

Shop, then drop in for a bite or adult beverage. You may have the day off, but Kent Station is open for business July 4. Kent Station has more than 50 retail stores, several restaurants and a multiplex movie theatre. Once you get your fill of summer sales, fill up at one of Kent Station’s dining destinations. The Fourth is the ideal occasion for some al fresco dining. Pull up a patio chair at Agave Cocina and Cantina, Red’s Wine Bar and Craft Beer or Duke’s Seafood & Chowder.

Hit the trail. Here in the Pacific Northwest, we think of the Fourth of July as the official start of summer. Spend the day outdoors celebrating that bright (and sometimes elusive) orb in the sky. Kent has miles of paved trails and connections to many more. Explore on foot or bike via the Kent Valley Loop, Interurban and Green River trails. Be sure to check out some of the great refueling stops not far off the trail. Depending on what you’re craving,  Airways Tap Room, Shake & Go (18012 68th Ave. S., # 104), Cold Stone Creamery and Wild Wheat Bakery Café & Restaurant are excellent options.

That’s just a sampling of things to do in Kent on the Fourth, and all summer long. Happy celebrating!

Scott Schaefer

Founder/Publisher/Editor. Three-time National Emmy Award winning Writer (“Bill Nye the Science Guy”), Director, Producer, Journalist and more...