Well, you very likely found out if the kids’ rain jackets still fit this week. By now, you can go out and get one because every store you walk into is full of “School Clothes” designed for fall weather. In the last few days, I have had conversations with friends about back to school shopping and, this one gives me a little stomach ache, “school supply shopping.” There is always a thing or two I can’t seem to find and I am pretty sure Ticonderoga is loosely translated to “summer’s over.” The good news is there is a lot of fun summer events happening in Edmonds over the next week, stuff that doesn’t require soon-to-be-lost binders.

I checked the forecast and the rain we saw this week shouldn’t affect any of these events. It’s especially good news for FREE Outdoor Movie Friday, July 25. “The Croods” (PG) will be played on a giant inflatable screen at the Frances Anderson Center Playfield, 700 Main St., starting at dusk (around 9 p.m.). You can bring a blanket or lawn chair and refreshments will be sold. For more information you can call Edmonds Parks & Recreation at 425-771-0230.

The Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 4^th Ave. N., has another camp starting Monday, July 28. I confirmed that there is still space in the Book-It Repertory Theatre, “Investigate, Adapt, Act.” Gillian Jones, Education & Outreach Manager at ECA told me, “Last year’s camp was a big success, with kids ages 7-11 taking a story book, turning it into a script, and performing it as an ensemble for family and friends at the end of the week.” The camp, starting Monday, July 28, runs from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday and costs $200 per student. To register, visit www.ec4arts.org or contact Gillian Jones, Education & Outreach Manager at gillian@ec4arts.org or 425-275-9483.

Next Tuesday, July 29 has two free, local, outdoor events and I’ve double checked not only is there no rain in the forecast, it should be sunny with a high around 80. Starting at Noon at The Hazel Miller Plaza, 5^th and Maple, The Harmonica Pocket will play “swinging and sweet kid-pop.” Check out highlights from last week’s concert, Ian Dobson’s Steel Drum Party, HERE! You can find more information on the kid friendly concert series on The City of Edmonds Website or by calling 425-771-0230.

From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., you can head to the Frances Anderson Center Field, 700 Main Street, for “Edmonds Night Out.” This event, held by the Edmonds Police Foundation, is “a day to lock your doors, turn on your porch lights and bring your neighbors to celebrate our community’s many valuable programs and services.” This free event is about public safety awareness and “family fun” as you can meet Edmonds police and fire officials, the K-9 unit, and SWAT Unit. They will also have emergency vehicles that you can check out “up close” like the SWAT Unit’s Bus and a fire truck. You can find more information on the event HERE.

– By Jennifer Marx

Jen Marx, an Edmonds Mom of two young boys, is a traffic reporter by dawn and writer and PBJ maker by day. She is always looking for a fun place to take the kids that makes them tired enough to go to bed on time. You can find her trying to make sense of begging kids to ” just eat the mac n cheese” at SnackMomSyndrome.com. If you have a kid-friendly event you’d like to share, email her at play@myedmondsnews.com.