Kent mayor lists summer events, urges National Night Out signups

Mayor Dana Ralph used the weekly update to recap recent community celebrations and to promote several upcoming summer events and signups.

Ralph thanked the Kent Black Action Commission for organizing a Juneteenth celebration at Morrill Meadows Park, noting participation by King County Executive Dow Constantine and local officials and praising the Buffalo Soldiers of Seattle for leading a procession.

She also described attending the Mela Mawan Deeyan at the ShoWare Center, an Indian celebration honoring mothers and daughters, and thanked event organizers. Ralph said she and city staff attended the Association of Washington Cities conference in Spokane, where she participated on a panel about misinformation and was elected to the Association board to represent South King County.

On community events, Ralph announced that signups for National Night Out are open for Aug. 4 and directed residents to kentwa.gov/nno for neighborhood registration and city-provided materials and staff visits. She promoted the Fourth of July Splash at Lake Meridian (5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.) featuring food, entertainment and the city's legal fireworks display and reminded residents that fireworks are illegal inside city limits. Ralph also outlined the summer concert series schedule starting July 9 with midday performances at West Fenwick and evening concerts at Kent Station and Morrill Meadows Park, and she announced Cornucopia Days downtown from July 10–12 with a parade on July 12, thanking the Lions Club for organizing.

Ralph closed by wishing residents a safe Independence Day and encouraging participation in the events she listed. No ticketing or admission details were provided in the update, and web links or city pages were given for some signups and schedules.