The concerts run Tuesdays from July 12 through Aug. 9, and featured performers are:

• July 12: Dave Cooley (piano/vocal)
• July 19: Michael Gullo (jazz standards)
• July 26: Andy Burnett (singer/songwriter)
• Aug. 2: Todd Koeppen (rock/folk blues)
• Aug. 9: Eric Two Scoops (jazz/blues)

Discover Burien is a nonprofit organization that works on the economic development, promotion and marketing of Burien.

Burien Town Square Park is located at SW 152nd Street and 5th Place SW in downtown Burien.

For more information, call (206) 433-2882 or go online to www.discoverburien.com.

Burien’s annual Octoberfest is coming to Town Square Park beginning Thursday, Sept. 23rd through Sunday, Sept. 26th, and will include a beer and wine garden along with an abundance of activities for young and old.

Festival offerings will range from live rhythm and blues music to Burien’s only full carnival, a benefit walk to aid homeless women at Hospitality House (read details here), and 40-plus booths of food, arts and crafts.

The adrenaline rush and fun of the Davis Shows carnival rides gets Octoberfest underway on Thursday, Sept. 23rd, and to celebrate you can buy one armband good for unlimited rides all day and get a second armband free (for Thursday only). Armbands are just $23. The carnival’s rides and games continue through Sunday, Sept. 26th, and close each day when attendance gets too thin.

By Saturday, Sept. 25th, Octoberfest kicks into high gear with the addition of entertainment onstage, a beer and wine garden, and vendor booths. On the Octoberfest stage lineup are:

Saturday, Sept. 25:

• 2-6 p.m. – Choyce (classic rock and roll)
• 6-10 p.m. – The Just Us Band (R&B plus 1950s and 1960s rock)

Sunday, Sept. 26:

• Noon-2 p.m. – A noted jazz musician TBA
• 2-6 p.m. – The KJR All Americans (R&B plus 1960s and 1970s rock)

An outdoor beer and wine garden on the festival’s grounds will feature Octoberfest beers brewed by Elliott Bay Brewhouse & Pub to be savored while watching the entertainment onstage. All proceeds from the beer and wine garden, operated by Elliott Bay Brewhouse & Pub and the Mark Restaurant & Bar, will go to the non-profit Discover Burien Association, which works on the economic development and marketing of the city.

Browse the festival’s 40-plus booths for unique arts and crafts plus typical festival eatables such as roasted corn and hot dogs. Some vendors from the Burien Farmers Market will also be on hand.

On Saturday morning take an easy 2-mile stroll to help Hospitality House’s shelter for homeless women, located in Burien. Register for the ninth annual Walk for Women at 9 a.m. Sept. 25 for $25 at Southwest 152nd Street and Fifth Place Southwest at Burien Town Square. The walk starts at 10 a.m. Dogs on a leash are welcome. Afterward there will be a prize drawing for walkers who raise the most money through sponsorships. For sponsorship forms, go online to www.hospitalityhousesouthking.org.

The carnival runs from 3 p.m. to close Sept. 23 and Sept. 24, 11 a.m. to close Sept. 25 and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 26. Hours for the main festival are Sept. 25 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Octoberfest will occur at Burien Town Square Park at SW 152nd Street and 5th Place SW in downtown Burien.

For more information, call (206) 941-7199 or go online to www.discoverburien.com.

Discover Burien’s free Lunchtime Concerts in Burien Town Square Park continue every Tuesday from Noon – 2pm, through Aug. 10th.

The remaining concert lineup is:

• July 20 – Eric Two Scoops (jazzy blues)
• July 27 – Steve Olson (Christian music)
• Aug. 3 – Sebastian Clark (pop)
• Aug. 10 – Caleb (superhuman fusion)

Burien Town Square Park is located at SW 152nd and Fifth Place SW in downtown Burien.

For more information, call (206) 433-2882 or go online to www.discoverburien.com.

At the May 27th Farmers Market in Burien, we noticed work crews laboring away at the splash fountain located in Town Square Park. We snapped a few photos and contacted Michael Lafreniere, Director of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services to see if he could provide an update on when the new water feature will open to the public.

According to Lafreniere, the city intends to have the fountain fully complete and operational in time for the upcoming Wild Strawberry Festival on June 19 and 20. Definitely something a little extra to look forward to at this year’s big event in Town Square. Here’s hoping the weather cooperates to make splashing in the water a desirable option!

The tradition of the tianguis, or open air market, dates back in history to the Aztecs and focused on typical household goods as well as food and special treats. Burien’s version encompasses the traditional and adds modern touches such as electronics and an inflatable play area for the kids.

The threat of bad weather leading into the weekend kept some vendors away for opening day. Those that participated appeared to be doing thriving business as the day wore on and curious residents wandered by to check out the excitement.

Local shoppers familiar with the Farmers Market held on Thursdays will want to give El Tianguis a try. Indications are that while some vendors may overlap both markets, there will be distinctive differences between the two making them complimentary rather than competition.

El Tianguis will be held the next two Sundays, June 6 and June 13, before taking a break to make way for Burien’s Wild Strawberry Festival on June 19-20. Market hours are from 10AM to 4PM.

Photographer Michael Brunk attended the market and put together this slideshow featuring live music by Mariachi Monarcas. Be sure to check your volume before clicking!

Click to Play Michael Brunk’s Photo Slideshow

Michael Lafreniere, Director of Burien Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services reported Tuesday (July 14th) that three out of four of the “plinth” sculptures installed in Burien’s new Town Square Park just last month were vandalized and damaged over this past weekend.

These are the smaller, more whimsical metallic sculptures that are scattered around the park and mounted on cement pedestals.

Below are before and after photos:

BEFORE (“Hikers“):

AFTER:

BEFORE (“Bike“):

AFTER:

Elements of the sculptures appear to have been broken or sawed off.

The design, fabrication and installation of the sculptures had cost $30,000.

Burien Parks is asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the persons responsible for this crime, and cash rewards of up to $1,000 are paid for information leading to an arrest.

Anyone with information on this crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers immediately at (206) 343-2020 or toll free at 1-800-CRIME-13 and give the tip to police without giving his/her name.

This is the second act of vandalism in a Burien park within the last two weeks – as we reported previously, on June 28th vandals tagged the brand new picnic shelter at Seahurst Park.