Arts & Entertainment

Stanwood-Camano Fair and Parade

"The 3 Best Days of Summer" comprise the Stanwood-Camano Fair this weekend, July 31 - Aug. 2, including the parade on Saturday and live music by Hell's Belles and Whiskey Creek, The Atomic Punks, Tiller's Folly, Boys of Greenwood Glen, Hot Shot Tap Dancers and Seattle Firefighters Pipes & Drums, along with a carnival, and extensive displays of garden products, arts and crafts, and animals, too.

For information see www.stanwoodcamanofair. org or call 360- 629-4121.

Books & Brew

The Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation is planning a unique fundraiser, "Books & Brew" with a discussion of what books go with the brews at Skookum Brewery, from 2 to 4 p.m. Aug. 2 on 17th Dr. NE, west of I-5. Attendees will be asked to donate to the foundation. RSVP by July 29 to Doreen Boy 360-651-7074 or email to dboy@ sno-isle.org.

Strutzfest at Darrington Music Park

Strutzfest rock-n-roll festival at Darrington Music Park runs July 31 and Aug. 1 at 42501 SR 530 in Darrington. In memory of Mike Turner and Joe Shikany, the fun includes Hell's Belles, Whiskey Creek, Randy Hansen, El Loco, Tumble Weed, Cherry Cherry, The Davanos, The Beatniks, Magic Bus, Blue Tatoo, Heartless, Shyanne and Strutz. Camping on the grounds, and a beer garden provided by Conway Pub & Eatery.

Art shows

• Gallery by the Bay presents "Art on the Town" with 25 artists from the Puget Sound area at 8700 271st NW, in Stanwood.

• Matzke Fine Arts presents "Glass, Metal & Stone" at 2345 Blanche Way, on Camano Island through Sept. 6. For information see www.matzkefineart.com or call 360-387-2759.

• Women Painters of Washington are featured in "Passages" at Gallery in the Columbia Center Bldg at 701 Fifth Ave, Suite 310, in Seattle 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Mon. - Fri. Aug. 4 - Oct. 30. For information see www.womenpainters. com or call 206- 624-0543.

• The Anne Martin Mc- Cool Gallery offers an indoor art show during Anacortes Arts Festival at 711 Commercial Ave. in Anacortes. The 9th Anniversary Art Show opens during the First Friday Gallery Walk and the Anacortes Arts Festival from 6: to 9 p.m. Fri., Aug. 7. For information see the Web sites at www.mcoolart.com, www.anacortesartsfestival. com or call 360-293-3577.

Painting La Conner

Dozens of notable northwest artists who are members of the prestigious Puget Sound Group of Northwest Painters, will descend upon the fields, streets and waterways to paint picturesque La Conner Aug. 1 and 2.

Organic Quick Draw

Members of the Arlington Arts Council will be painting at Garden Treasures, on SR530, a mile east of I-5 at exit 208, Sat. Aug. 1 from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. with a "quick draw" from 2- 4 p.m.

Blue Angels at

Museum of Flight

The world-famous U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration team once again star in the KeyBank Air Show presented by Boeing during Seafair in Seattle this week. Blue Angels family activities will be featured at the Museum of Flight with extended hours Thurs., July 30 through Sat., Aug. 1 from 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. at 9404 E. Marginal Way S., Seattle (I- 5 exit 158). For information call 206-764-5720 or visit www.museumofflight.org.

Car show and flea market

Camano Island

The Collector's Car Show and Flea Market, runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sat., Aug. 8, at the Camano Senior and Community Center, 606 Arrowhead Rd., on Camano Island. Features the South End String Band and Walt's Pork Butt BBQ as well as a beer garden by the Diamond Knott Brewery. Register your cars, rent flea market space at the center, at www.camanocenter.org or call 387-0222.

Summer Meltdown

The Summer Meltdown is a grassroots music festival hosted by Terra Roots in collaboration with the Seattle band, Flowmotion, Aug. 14- 16 at the Darrington Music Park at the foot of Whitehorse Mountain. Music includes rock, soul, Afro-beat, roots, jazz and funk. For information see www.summermeltdown. com.

Outdoor concerts

• The Tulalip Amphitheatre brings to town the Beach Boys on Aug. 9, Melissa Etheridge on Aug. 17, and Al Green on Aug. 27. Tickets are available at Ticketmaster or at the Tulalip Casino.

• Music in Terrace Park at Arlington offers free concerts every Thursday evening in August, with country music by Bucking Horse on Aug. 5, roots (Celtic, bluegrass and folk) music by Tiller's Folly on Aug. 12, Beatles tribute band The Creme Tangerine on Aug. 19, and a ZZ Top tribute band, El Loco, on Aug. 27. Presented by the city of Arlington, admission is free. The music starts at 6:30 p.m.

• Snohomish County Parks and Recreation offers music in Willis Tucker Community Park, 6705 Puget Park Drive, in Snohomish on Sundays through Aug. 23. Admission is free. For information go to www. snocoparks.org.

• Free concerts at the county plaza from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. on Wednesdays through Aug. 12 at Rockefeller Avenue and Wall Street in Everett, presented by the Snohomish County Arts Commission. The Native American Celebration is Aug. 5. See www.snohomishcountyarts. org

• Live entertainment is offered in the food court of Seattle Outlet Mall from 2:30-4:30 p.m. Sundays, through August. Aug. 2 Joe Perlman; Aug. 9 Enrique Henao, classical guitarist; Aug. 16 Steve Wacker & Brad Warren on guitars Aug 23 Shakeh, contemporary.

Asian music at Peace

Arch State Park

Celebrating Asian cultures of the Pacific Northwest, Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission's Folk Arts in the Parks Program at Peace Arch State Park in Blaine begins 2 p.m. Sundays. Aug. 2 Morning Star Korean Cultural Center; Aug. 9 Fujima Dance Ensemble and Miyagi Kai; Aug. 23 Filipiniana Arts and Culture, Aug. 31 Dragon Art Studio

Music at Skagit Casino

Skagit Valley Casino Resort presents music and comedy at various venues. Most run from 5:30-8:30 p.m. The schedule includes Falcon & Mark Aug. 13; Fritz & The Freeloaders Aug. 14; Jon Reep and Adam Ferrara Aug. 21 and 22; Jennifer Scott Trio Aug. 27; Trish Hatley Aug. 28; Purchase tickets online at Ticketmaster.com, or call 800-745-3000 or get them with no service charge at The Skagit Casino Cashier Cage. The casino is at I-5 exit 236 in Bow. For information call 877-275-2448.

Boat shows

• The Seattle Boat Show at Shilshole Bay Marina Aug. 6-9 returns after a four-year hiatus to remodel the marina. The show features nearly 200 boats, including the S.S. Minnow from Gilligan's Island. Tickets are on sale at www. SeattleBoatShow.com.

• The La Conner Yacht & Car Show runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 15 at La Conner Marina South Basin, Third Street and South Basin Road. Start the day with a pancake breakfast at the Swinomish Yacht Club served up by the La Conner Sea Scouts from 7:30 - 10 a.m. Children's activities are provided by the La Conner Boys & Girls Club. www.laconnerchamber. com or call 888-642- 9284.

Porterhouse Brewfest

A benefit for the historic Lincoln Theatre, the seventh annual Porterhouse Brewfest is set for Sat., Aug. 15 in downtown Mount Vernon, and features three of Washington State's hottest blues bands, over 25 premium micro breweries and gourmet food from local eateries. Tickets are available online at brownpapertickets.com and at the Lincoln from noon-5 p.m. Monday-Friday Ticket office at 712 S. First St., or call 360-336-8955.

Fresh Paint on

Everett's marina

A festival of artists at work, Fresh Paint is presented by the Arts Council of Snohomish County, Aug. 15 and 16, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Everett Marina, 1700 W. Marine View Dr. in Everett with 100 artists and an outdoor Hot Shop. For information go to www.freshpaintfestival. com.

Museums

• A north county resident, Joe Rossano's "Mirrored Murrelets" is displayed at the Mezzanine Plaza Reflecting Pool through December at the Museum of Glass in Tacoma. www.museumofglass. org or call 253-284- 4750 or 866-4MUSEUM.

• Elusive Elements at MoNA features four Northwest artists who work with the fleeting nature of the elements, earth, air, fire, and water with large-scale works and installations at the Museum of Northwest Art, in La Conner through Oct. 4 along with selections from MoNA's permanent collection on "Dreaming."

Theater

• The 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle presents another world premier, "Catch Me if You Can," through Aug. 23 at 1308 5th Ave., in downtown Seattle. Tickets are available at the 5th Avenue Theater Box Office, or at Ticketmaster. 206-625- 1418; www.5thavenue.org

• ACT kicks up the heat with a sassy Ring Cycle-inspired musical "Das Barbecü by Jim Luigs and Scott Warrender and directed by Stephen Terrell July 31 - Sept. 6 at ACT Theatre, 700 Union St. in Seattle. For tickets call 206-292-7676 or go to the Web site at www. acttheatre.org.

• Anacortes Community Theater presents "Bus Stop," a comedy by William Inge, directed by Judy Hendrix, July 31 - Aug. 22. Tickets at 360-293-6829.

• Ursa Major presents "How to Be Cool," an original comedy about music, monkeys, and the Culture of Cool, by playwright and director John Longenbaugh who has also written "Scotch and Donuts," and "Bible Stories for Agnostics." Evan Whitfield and Anna Richardson star, the show starts 7 p.m. Thurs.- Sat. through Aug. 8 at Open Circle Theatre, 2222 Second Ave. in Seattle. Tickets at the door or through brownpaperticket. com.

Trent Tomlinson

at BPAC

An up and coming country music star, Trent Tomlinson will perform in the Byrnes Performing Arts Center in Arlington 7:30 p.m. Fri., Sept. 18. Presented by the Arlington Arts Council with assistance from the city of Arlington's Lodging Tax Grant, tickets are available online at www.byrnesperformingarts. org or at Flowers by George in downtown Arlington.

Pearl Jam, Ben Harper

at Key Arena

Pearl Jam, Ben Harper and Relentless7 will perform in the Key Arena in Seattle- Sept. 21 and 22. Tickets are available at all Ticketmaster outlets, or charge by phone at 800-745-3000.