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Happy Friday, Kent!
Put on your best costume and join us for a FREE spook-tacular night of trick-or-treating TONIGHT at Kent Station from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Kids can collect goodies from participating businesses, then head down Ramsay Way for an awesome Trunk or Treat. Don’t forget to vote for your favorite decorated trunk and grab a bite to eat while you’re there!
After Haunted Boolevard, scoot over to accesso ShoWare Center to cheer on the Seattle Thunderbirds as they take on the Saskatoon Blades.
Have a happy and safe Halloween!
Dana Ralph, Kent Mayor
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Don't forget, daylight saving time ends Saturday night and we're falling back! Sunday morning at 2 a.m. clocks are turned backward 1 hour to 1 a.m. local standard time instead.
Anyone else looking forward to an extra hour of sleep?
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November is National Native American Heritage Month, a time to recognize and celebrate Indigenous cultures, histories, traditions, art, and achievements.
Their contributions to our city, state, and nation are immeasurable. Join us in celebrating and supporting our Native neighbors.
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I also wanted to wish everyone who celebrates, a Feliz Día De Los Muertos.
Also known as Day of the Dead, this Mexican holiday is a joyful time that helps people remember the deceased and celebrate their memory.
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 Every November, our incredible Kent staff hold a canned food drive to support local agencies that help our neighbors in need. This year, we’re inviting you to join in!
If you’d like to participate, you can drop off non-perishable, non-expired food items at Kent City Hall (220 4th Ave S) anytime Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m., from November 3 through December 2.
Our community partners have shared a few of the items they need most, check the list below to see how you can help.
Can’t make it downtown? No problem! We’ve included links to the two agencies we’re supporting this year so you can give directly or learn more about the important work they do every day.
Kent Food Bank: https://www.kentfoodbank.org/
Project Access: https://www.project-access.org/
*Both agencies support Kent families.
Food Bank Wish List: peanut butter & peanut butter alternatives, canned proteins, canned beans, canned fruit and veggies, canned baby formula & food, chili & stew, canned soup.
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Have you voted yet? Your vote is your voice, so make it count! Take some time, learn about what each candidate supports, and vote!
The deadline for in-person voting in the General Election is Tuesday, November 4 at 8 p.m.
You can check your status at VoteWA.gov.
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 I am so excited to celebrate the upcoming holiday season, and here in Kent, we have a month of holiday happenings planned throughout the city for you to enjoy.
From our annual tree lighting festival and the Christmas Rush 5k/10k run, to Santa photos and holiday shows, there is something for everyone in the family.
The Winterfest Tree Lighting & Parade will be held Saturday, December 6. Join us at Town Square Plaza for music, Santa, holiday vendors and local food trucks, community booths, and our annual tree lighting! Stay up-to-date on all of the details right here!
Thanks to the Kent Lions Club and the Kent Downtown Partnership.
Some reminders as the rain pours in:
🚘 Turn your headlights on.
❌ Don't use cruise control.
🛑 Increase stopping distance.
👀 Eyes on the road. No distractions.
🌊 Watch for water over roadways.
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Thank you, Riverbend Bar and Grill for hosting the next Hops and Cops on Wednesday, November 5th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Join Chief Padilla and Kent PD staff members. We love this event and the great conversations. Hope to see you there! **Must be 21+ older.
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It's Fall Curbside Clean-up Time!
With Kent's annual Spring and Fall Curbside Clean-up programs, you can get rid of your extra yard waste and garbage for free!
Just place your extra garbage and yard waste at the curb on your regular yard waste pick-up day November 3-7. You can see more details on our website.
The Friends of the Kent Libraries are holding their annual book sale.
You can purchase used books, DVDs, and CDs from Fiction, Non-Fiction, Children's, and Young Adult, Cookbooks, and more.
All proceeds support library programs and events in Kent Libraries.
📅 Saturday, November 8
🕚 11:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
📍Kent Library (212 2nd Avenue N)
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Every child deserves a place to learn, grow, and feel supported, and the YMCA continues to make that possible for families across our region.
Their Early Education Centers provide environments where children can thrive, and now YMCA membership is included with enrollment, giving families even more opportunities to stay healthy and connected. Learn more here!
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Spotlight Series
The Boulding Family’s musical celebration of the holiday season is a treasured tradition in Kent. Once again, Pam and Philip Boulding are joined by their children, grandchildren, and guests for an afternoon of enchanting Yuletide music. The Bouldings perform on Celtic harps, hammered dulcimers, whistles, strings, percussion, and harp-like instruments from around the world. Guests add Irish step dancing, drumming, and storytelling for a festive and memorable performance.
Tickets: $35 general, $32 senior, $25 youth
For tickets, and to view the full 2025-2026 Spotlight Series line-up, visited us online: KentWA.gov/SpotlightSeries.
The Kent Parks ShoWalk program returns to the accesso ShoWare Center on November 4!
This free indoor walking program offers a warm, safe place to walk during the cold, dark months of Fall and Winter. Learn more and check out program dates online!
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Bring your littles to get their wiggles out at Indoor Park!
Indoor Park is a great way to make the most of these cold, dark mornings. Come and play at the Kent Commons Community Center on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday mornings from 9:30-11 a.m. No registration is required!
Program is open to all kids aged 10 months to 4.5 years of age. Cost is $2 per visit for the first child and $1 for each additional child.
NEW this year, our Parks team is holding themed days to amp up the fun at this beloved drop-in program. Mark your calendar for some of the upcoming themes and bring your little by!
📅 November 26 – Pajama Day: No need to change, roll out of bed and come have some fun in your jammies.
📅 December 18 – Teddy Bear Parade: Bring your favorite teddy bear!
For questions or more information, call the Kent Commons Community Center at 253-856-5100.
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 The 2024 Kent Parks Holiday Craft Market will take place at the Kent Senior Activity Center next week.
It’s such a great way to kick off the holiday season and support local artists and craftspeople.
📅 Thursday, November 7
⌚ 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
📅 Saturday, November 8
⌚ 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Event is FREE and open to everyone!
Our Parks team is preparing to kick off the Eastridge Park Redevelopment project!
This community park is just shy of 10-acres and due for some upgrades. Originally part of the King County parks system, Eastridge Park was transferred to the City of Kent in 1996 as part of the Meridian annexation with the original equipment being last updated in 1997.
We are looking to replace the old, outdated playground equipment and improve the site’s amenities next Spring, and we need YOUR help!
Hop online to EngageKentParks.com to take a short survey and provide your feedback to our Park Planning & Development crew. Survey closes TONIGHT! Take the survey online today.
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 Join us for our last Green Kent work party of 2025!
We are ending our Green Kent event season with a planting party at Earthworks/Mill Creek Canyon, restoring the area with native shrubs and trees.
All ages are welcome to help keep our parks and natural areas healthy and thriving!
📅 Saturday, November 15
⌚9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
📍Mill Creek Canyon Earthworks Park
Sign up to volunteer here!
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 Registration for all Fall programming is underway. From NEW preschool and youth classes and FREE after school programming, to clubs and outdoor adventures for adults 50+ and everything in between, there is something for everyone in the family!
Register for YOUR new fun online now at MyKentParks.com
Registration can also be completed in person at the Kent Commons Community Center or Kent Senior Activity Center, via phone (Kent Commons – 253-856-5100, Senior Center – 253-856-5150), or via mail or fax.
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 Save the date for our annual Christmas Rush!
Christmas Rush offers a great opportunity to gather family and friends and get active while having some holiday fun.
This year's race will be held on Saturday, December 13 at Hogan Park at Russell Road. The 10k race kicks off at 9:50am and the 5k will begin at 10am. Awards are given for overall winners and the top 5 in each age group.
Shirt order deadline is Thursday, November 13. Cost to register is $35 per person if registering with a shirt, or $20 per person (no shirt). Participants 13 and under run for FREE courtesy of Taylor Farms! Sign up here!
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Our Kent Police Department Community Education team does incredible work keeping us informed.
Their October newsletter is full of helpful tips, upcoming events, and ways to stay connected with the officers who serve our city every day.
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 Our Kent Police staff have put together a new program that will serve as a resource for both our community and our officers.
The Take Me Home program is a national program, designed to help with the safe return of loved ones who may have difficulty communicating or may need special assistance during an emergency situation. This program is for individuals with autism, Down syndrome, developmental or cognitive disabilities, or those that suffer from dementia, Alzheimer's or more.
Families/caregivers can complete an online registration form that includes a picture and identifying information for their person. This information is uploaded in a secure data base that only the Kent Police Department can access.
When officers encounter an individual, they access this database for information that could help them identify emergency contact information, address and much more. Thank you to the Renton Police Department, who has had the program for many years, for the guidance on putting this together.
Copper theft is a serious issue that affects everyone in the Kent community. Intentional cable cuts cause significant disruptions to network services.
If you see something, say something. Report suspicious activity to law enforcement by calling 911.
Customers can always check for outages or address common service issues at xfinity.com/status or the Xfinity app. Video produced by Comcast.
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We all know how quickly pets can escape through an open door or gate no matter how hard we try to keep them safe.
A RASKC pet license helps by providing identification protecting pets 24/7 should they get lost. It also helps fund our pet adoption center and field services in your community.
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Just a reminder, check on your storm drains in your neighborhood and clear leaves if you notice blockage. That will help prevent any localized flooding in your area!
It’s also a good time to get your windshield wipers, tires, and emergency kits looked at as we head into wetter and colder weather.
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 Discover how one simple ingredient transforms cooking into a powerful medium for cross-cultural understanding, economic empowerment, and heritage preservation.
Led by world-class chef Christina Arokiasamy this presentation will provide a unique opportunity to explore the authentic flavors, techniques, and histories behind global cuisines. From Latin America, Southeast Asia, India to Persian dishes, we unveil the secrets of spice blending, traditional sauces, and ancestral cooking methods that define each cuisine.
Click here to register for free!
For language assistance, or reasonable accommodation, please visit KentWA.gov/languageaccess or call 253-856-5716
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The commission reviews and establishes salaries for the mayor and members of the city council. The salary authority includes all compensation that may be paid to or received by council members and the mayor, whether or not it is identified as salary.
Members must be a registered voter and resident of the City of Kent.
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 Join Tracy, Kevin, Mark and Kyle as they update you on the important, fun, and interesting things happening in the City of Kent.
New episodes every 2 weeks!
Listen now on:
🔊 Apple Podcasts apple.co/3J2UMkd
🔊 Spotify spoti.fi/3GNCeli
🔊 Amazon Music amzn.to/3jjaOvU
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 The KentWorks app lets you access information and improve your neighborhood and community by reporting non-emergency issues.
You can request a service, report a problem and find information about the City of Kent all from your mobile device in just a few taps!
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