100 days of summer around the Sound

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, May 26, 2026

By Andrea Brown and Janice Podsada |For the Herald

Summer in Snohomish and Island counties isn’t just a season — it’s a full calendar. From waterfront concerts and minor league baseball to ferry rides, festivals, farmers markets and kangaroos (yes, kangaroos), the months ahead are packed with reasons to get outside and stay out late. Whether you’re chasing live music, fireworks, pie, Pride celebrations or a quiet trail with a view, here’s a list to get you started. Check websites for updates, details and even more events.

HEAR A CONCERT

Music fills parks, fairgrounds and waterfronts all summer long.

Find music for every taste at Edmonds’ Sea Notes Series, June through August. The festival offers live jazz and other music genres every week at the Mary Lou Block Public Plaza. Edmonds-Woodway High School Jazz Combo and local songwriters are favorites.

Head to Edmond’s Summer Concerts in the Park, with music and more, in July and August at City Park and Hazel Miller Plaza.

Marysville’s Sounds of Summer concert series takes place Wednesdays at Comeford Park from July 15 to Aug. 15. The family-friendly shows often coincide with the city’s farmers market.

Music at the Marina kicks things off Thursdays at the Port of Everett in July and August, filling Port Gardner Landing with bands, food and a summer evening glow.

Spend lunch at Everett’s Music on the Plaza, noon on Wednesdays in July and August at the Snohomish County Campus.

In Monroe, Music in the Park takes over Lake Tye Park from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Fridays, July 11 to Aug. 15, with live bands, food trucks and a brewery garden atmosphere.

Just south of the county line, the Chateau Ste. Michelle Summer Concert Series in Woodinville runs May through September, hosting major national acts at the winery’s outdoor amphitheater.

SEE A GAME

Soccer

Everett will be part of the excitement surrounding the Seattle FIFA World Cup 2026, with the official fan zone at Boxcar Park along the city’s waterfront at the Port of Everett. The fan zone will feature big-screen broadcasts of live matches, live music, food trucks and family activities. Four Waterfront Watch Parties are scheduled for June 11, 12, 18 and 19 at Boxcar Park.

Baseball

The Everett AquaSox are riding high after winning the 2025 Northwest League Championship Series.

Bark in the Park welcomes four-legged fans June 16, July 21 and Aug. 25. Father’s Day festivities are June 21. Fireworks follow every Saturday home game beginning in May with additional patriotic shows July 3-4. BrewFest and an AquaSox Trading Card Giveaway are July 24.

TAKE A WALK

Platted in 1898, Evergreen Cemetery in Everett spans 100 acres and holds about 50,000 people, including Civil War veterans, governors, U.S. senators, a victim of the 1916 Everett Massacre and an ancestor of President Barack Obama. The pyramid-shaped Rucker Tomb honors a founding family and is a popular selfie stop.

The Centennial Trail runs 30 miles from Snohomish to north of Arlington along a former rail line, drawing more than 500,000 users a year. The Interurban Trail stretches from North Seattle through Shoreline, Edmonds, Mountlake Terrace, Lynnwood and Everett.

At American Legion Park in Everett, the Evergreen Arboretum & Gardens features 12 themed gardens and 23 sculptures, plus docent-led tours, classes and family events.

FERRIES & RAIL

Washington State Ferries has 10 routes and 20 terminals across Puget Sound and the Salish Sea.

Reservations are available for Anacortes–San Juan Islands and Coupeville–Port Townsend. Edmonds–Kingston and Mukilteo–Clinton are first‑come, first‑served, but you can buy tickets online.

Seniors sail for half price, riders 18 and under travel free and pets ride free as long as they stay contained. The WSDOT app is your best friend for schedules and wait times.

Link Light Rail now extends from Lynnwood to Redmond. Sound Transit’s new “Crosslake Connection” crosses Lake Washington on the I-90 floating bridge, and then stops at stations in Mercer Island, Bellevue and Redmond. For the most direct route take the Link 2 Line to Redmond. Otherwise, take the 1 Line to the International District/Chinatown Station in Seattle and transfer to the 2 Line. For trips to Sea-Tac Airport, take the 1 Line, which runs from Lynnwood to Federal Way.

For a quick trip, take the 1 Line to downtown Seattle to see the works of Tulalip photographer Matika Wilbur. Wilbur’s photos and the works of other artists are on display through July at the Tidelands Native Art Gallery.

PORT OF EVERETT

Summer on the Everett waterfront is basically one long invitation to stay out past your bedtime.

If Friday flicks are more your speed, Sail‑In Cinema returns Friday nights in July and August at Boxcar Park. It’s free, family‑friendly and the only place you can watch a movie with the harbor seals. Bring a blanket or a low‑backed chair and let dusk do the rest.

Jetty Island is a two‑mile stretch of sand that feels like someone teleported a beach from California. Jetty Island Days run July 8 to Sept. 6. It’s warm, shallow water and long sandy stretches with absolutely nothing to buy, plug in or charge. Pack like you’re going off the grid for the afternoon. Hop aboard the passenger ferry at the 10th Street boat launch. Tickets are $3 to $5, with ages 2 and under ride free.

Wander the boardwalk at the Everett Marina then grab some frozen yogurt at Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt or rent a kayak and paddle past the docks like you’re the star of a tourism video. Fisherman Jack’s, South Fork Bakery, NetShed, Rustic Cork Wine Bar & Bistro, Wood’s Coffee, Scuttlebutt Brewing and Lombardi’s are just some of the waterfront’s drinking and dining hot spots. Or stop by The Muse, a coffee shop by day and a speakeasy-inspired whiskey bar by night, or enjoy rooftop views at the new Tapped Public House.

Hop aboard the Jetty Island ferry for an Everett Harbor Tour. The port offers two flavors: the Historic Everett tour sets sail at 6 p.m. July 9 and 23, Aug. 6 and 20 and Sept. 3. Or climb aboard the Working Waterfront tour for a behind-the-scenes look at Everett’s cargo port at 6 p.m. July 8, 15 and 29, and Aug. 12 and 26. Tickets are $10, with ages 2 and under free.

Catch the Harbor Hopper a new pedestrian ferry service that runs between Everett and Langley. Two ferry trips will leave both Everett and Langley on most Thursdays and Saturdays from June 4 to Aug. 29. day. Tickets are $10 to $12 for a one-way fare or $16 to $20 for a round trip.

PORT OF EDMONDS

Visit the marina, stroll the boardwalk or walk along the beach at Marina Beach Park. The park’s off leash area is a hit with humans and hounds.

Local performers are highlighted at Porchfest Edmonds on July 12, with free music and creative expression in neighborhood yards, porches and business fronts!

Go whale watching on Puget Sound Express tours that depart from the Edmonds marina from February to December.

Amble along the sandy beach at Brackett’s Landing North, north of the Edmonds Ferry Dock, or don your scuba gear and explore the Edmonds Underwater Park.

Catch a ferry at the north end of the port for a 30-minute ride to Kingston to drink and dine. Bring the kids and the dog.

ART ATTACKS

Find great deals on original art and supplies at the Artists’ Garage Sale, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. May 30 on Hoyt Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Hewitt Avenue in Downtown Everett. This event offers art lovers, collectors and creatives a chance to score quality pieces at discounted prices.

Everett’s Schack Art Center, 2921 Hoyt Ave., keeps things fresh with free gallery shows that change every six to eight weeks. The Schack’s gift shop tempts with jewelry, glass, ceramics and prints by Pacific Northwest artists. The museum is closed on Monday.

Fresh Paint returns to downtown Everett Aug. 15-16, bringing artists, live music, glassblowing and the kind of bustle that makes you forget you were only planning to “stop by for a minute.”

Housed in a renovated, former grocery store near the Edmonds ferry dock, Cascadia Art Museum, 190 Sunset Ave. S., focuses on Northwest regional art from the late 19th century through 1970. The museum is open Wednesday through Sunday.

Imagine Children’s Museum’s hands-on exhibits and activities encourage kids and their families to experiment, think and create. The museum at 1502 Wall St., Everett, is open Tuesday through Sunday. Admission for adults and children, $22; kids under 2 are free. Half-price Tuesdays, general admission $11.

Monthly artwalks are held in cities including Edmonds, Snohomish and Everett.

FREE–FREE–FREE

You’ve visited all the customary tourist sites, now try something completely different. The Brightwater Wastewater Treatment Plant in Woodinville, 22505 Highway 9, offers free guided tours of the plant. Sign up early, the monthly tours fill up fast. Visitors must be at least 9 years old. Tour info here: tinyurl.com/yc62nwbf.

If wastewater isn’t your thing, check out Brightwater’s three-mile trail network, open dawn to dusk, or admire the art and environmental displays at the events center. Dogs on a leash are welcome.

General admission is free at Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum at Paine Field in Everett. Explore the collection of World War II and Cold War aircraft, tanks and V‑2 rocket. The museum, 3407 109th St. SW, is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m, Thursday through Saturday.

Funko in downtown Everett is free, photogenic and dangerously good at convincing you to buy a bobblehead. If you’re already there, wander a few blocks to the Everett Public Library.

Rev up for Cruzin’ to Colby, an annual tradition where a century of cars parade through downtown Everett over Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-25, in downtown Everett. See classic cars, live entertainment and shop the booths.

FESTIVALS & FAIRS

Sorticulture returns June 5–7, filling downtown Everett with garden art, plant specialists and more than 100 artists. The Edmonds Arts Festival follows June 19-21 with 160 artists, juried galleries and student work.

Try your hand at pickleball, strawberry shortcake eating or riding an adult trike at the Marysville Strawberry Festival, which is in full swing June 18-21, with a market, music, parade, marimba band, combat pro wrestling, carnival and car show.

In Lake Stevens, Aquafest is July 9-12, with a carnival, boat parade, live music, arts and crafts, food vendors and lakeside activities at North Cove Park.

Celebrate everything geek. The GeekFest West Game Expo brings cosplay, gaming tournaments and lots of entertainment to the Lynnwood Event Center, July 17-19. Three day pass, $97. Day passes for adult are $45 – $35. Day passes for kids 5-12 are $5 – $20, depending on the day.

Celebrate everything Snohomish at Kla Ha Ya Days, July 15-19. The 113-year-old festival takes its name from the Chinook word “Klahowya,” meaning “welcome.” Look for a carnival, hot air balloons, parade and pie-eating contest. The festival raises money for community organizations.

The Washington Midsummer Renaissance Fair is five weekends from July 18 to Aug. 16. The event, which promises to transport you to 16th century England, gets underway at 18601 Sky Meadows Lane, Snohomish.

The Silvana Community Fair pops up July 25 with livestock judging, food, crafts, a petting zoo and the legendary greased pole contest. Admission and parking are free.

The Edmonds Block Party takes place Aug. 7-8 at the Civic Center Playfield, with Nite Wave, belting out the new wave anthems from the ‘80s, The Little Lies, a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, Queen Mother’s tribute to Freddie Mercury and Hell’s Belles, the all-female AC/DC tribute band.

The Snohomish Block Party lands at Harvey Airfield in Snohomish Aug. 14-15, The two-day festival features high-energy tribute bands celebrating Fleetwood Mac, Tom Petty and Queen.

Don’t miss the Arlington Airport’s Hometown Fly-In and Community Airport Day, Aug. 21-23. Free events for pilots and aviation enthusiasts, overnight airplane camping, breakfast for pilots, music, food, face painting and aircraft displays. Free introductory flights for kids ages 8-17, but register early: arlingtonwa.gov/240/Airport-Events

The Evergreen State Fair runs Aug. 27 through Sept. 7 (closed Sept. 2) in Monroe, drawing 350,000 guests with rides, concerts, 4‑H contests and demolition derby energy.

WHIDBEY ISLAND

Eat, drink, shop and sit at Bayview Corner, a crossroads that seems more like its own village than an intersection between Langley and Freeland. Come for a crepe and stay all afternoon.

Rhododendrons put on a show that feels like nature’s version of fireworks at Meerkerk Gardens in Greenbank, open daily except during extreme weather. Admission is $10 for adults, free for ages under 13. Leashed dogs are welcome.

While out exploring, stop at Greenbank Farm for pie or detour to Fort Casey State Park to wander historic bunkers. Indulge in a meal at Orchard Kitchen in Langley, renowned for hyper‑local, seasonal dinners that feel like a secret you’re lucky to know about.

The Whidbey Ren Faire, with 10 acres of adventure, culture and magic, is May 23 and 24 at Beach View Farm in Oak Harbor.

The Island County Fair delivers small-town charm with big-time fun July 23-26, with rides, games, animals and music at the fairgrounds in Langley. The parade through town is 10 a.m. July 26. The three-day Little Big Fest returns to the fairgrounds Aug. 14–16 with music, art and family-friendly activities.

In addition to shops, galleries and eateries, the seaside town of Langley has a movie theater and a whale museum. A bell is at the ready to alert others when a whale is spotted off-shore.

Coupeville invites a stroll along its well-loved pier. Just beyond, Ebey’s Landing National Historical Reserve offers a 5.6-mile loop hike with sweeping bluff-top views.

For a dose of retro fun, head to Blue Fox Drive-In in Oak Harbor for double features, concessions, an arcade and go-karts

Fill up your picnic basket at the Grocery Outlet, which is expected to open this summer in Clinton, on the main highway minutes from the ferry.

Skip the ferry, drive around to the north end of Whidbey Island and enjoy the Deception Pass Bridge views that make everyone in the car go quiet for a second.

TREATS, EATS & KANGAROOS

Farmers markets run all summer, including Marysville on Wednesday, Snohomish on Thursdays, Edmonds on Saturdays and Everett on Sundays. The Mukilteo Farmers Market returns this year at Lighthouse Park, 609 Front St. from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. onWednesday from 3 to 7 p.m., June 3 through Aug. 26.

Go for the produce, stay for the flowers, leave with a jar of honey.

Snoqualmie Ice Cream in Snohomish and Edmonds scoops happiness in a cone.

Sultan Bakery remains the reigning champion of “I didn’t mean to order something this big but now I’m thrilled about it.” Coffee is $1.

If you’re craving something savory, hit up Ray’s Drive In in Everett or grab a sandwich at Snohomish Pie Company and what else, pie!

Luckie Farms in Lake Stevens offers hands‑on farm fun with animals to pet and room to run.

The Outback Kangaroo Farm in Arlington runs guided tours at 10 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., with admission ranging from $8-$10. It’s open through Oct. 30, closed Monday and Tuesday. If you’ve never watched a kangaroo hop past you like it owns the place, this is your moment.

CELEBRATE PRIDE

Pride season returns to Snohomish and Island counties with parades, markets, music and community celebrations in June.

In downtown Snohomish, festivities start June 6 with a Pride parade and market. A wine walk and community picnic is June 13. Lynnwood’s Pride celebration is June 6, with live performances, vendors and family-friendly activities at Lynnwood Civic Campus. Everett celebrates June 20 with its annual Pride Block Party, a street-festival atmosphere in the downtown core. Other Pride events include Edmonds, Monroe, Lake Stevens, Stanwood, Camano Island and Whidbey Island. Check local listings for details.

This story originally appeared in Sound & Summit magazine, The Daily Herald’s quarterly publication. Explore Snohomish and Island counties with each issue. Subscribe and receive four issues for $18. Call 425-339-3200 or go to soundsummitmagazine.com.