What's happening in Maple Valley
Maple Valley is hosting City of Maple Valley Pride in the Park on June 4, 2026, as part of a comprehensive statewide Pride Month celebration. The event is listed among dozens of LGBTQ+ gatherings happening across Washington throughout June, July, and August. For details and to RSVP, visit the city’s community events page.
The Maple Valley Arts Festival is seeking volunteers for event setup, artist assistance, hospitality, and other activities. Whether you can spare a few hours or multiple days, organizers welcome your help to support the arts and strengthen community connections. High school students can earn community service hours while participating in this beloved local event. Sign up through the volunteer link provided to join the team.
Maple Valley’s Arts Festival returns Saturday and Sunday, June 13 & 14, with free juried and saloon art exhibits, textile displays, and children’s and youth exhibits. The festival features live dance and music performances plus an MV Idol Jr. performance following the parade. Artists are invited to participate in this community celebration of local creativity.
The Maple Valley Creative Arts Council is calling for artists to apply for the Maple Valley Days Arts Festival, happening June 12–14, 2026, at Lake Wilderness Lodge. This juried event welcomes painters, photographers, sculptors, ceramicists, jewelers, and other artisans, with a new dedicated Textile Exhibition this year. Selected artists get displayed booths, sales opportunities, and two complimentary tickets to a VIP Opening Gala on Friday where awards will be announced. Applications are now open at mvcac.clubexpress.com, with space filling quickly.
Maple Valley Days kicks off this Friday at Lake Wilderness Park, featuring good food, diving dogs, carnival games, car shows, a World Cup watch party, and a soccer skills course starting at 4 p.m. This weekend offers perfect weather for outdoor fun as the school year wraps up, with multiple street fairs and festivals across the region celebrating summer.
The Maple Valley Historical Society is offering commemorative tiles for the Memory Walkway. Community members interested in purchasing a tile can contact the Historical Society directly for details and ordering information.
Tahoma High School seniors have several key dates ahead: Senior Awards at the PAC on May 28 at 6 p.m., Senior Sunset & Movie Night on June 6, and their last day June 11 with optional elementary grad walk and checkout at 12:20 p.m. Graduation rehearsal is June 15 at 9 a.m. at the THS gym, with commencement at 7 p.m. at ShoWare Center in Kent.
Tahoma High School’s PTA is seeking community support for the 2026 Grad Night celebration, a safe and sober event for graduating seniors. The class has about 60 days until graduation. Supporters can sponsor the event, donate items from an Amazon wishlist, make monetary donations, or participate in local fundraisers including 10% nights at House & Hazel in April and a 25% proceeds day at MOD Pizza on Friday, April 24, 2026. Sponsorships close May 1, 2026.
Tahoma School District has announced summer hours for its campuses. The district serves Maple Valley families, so this schedule affects local school buildings during the break. Check the district’s official announcement for specific opening times and any facility access details that might matter for summer programs or building use.
Sound Transit’s Board adopted a revised $57.5 billion ST3 plan on May 28, addressing a $34.5 billion shortfall from the 2016 voter-approved project. The plan prioritizes the regional spine from Tacoma to Everett, with the 16-mile Everett Link Extension (costing $9.5 billion) targeted to open between 2037 and 2041. Lynnwood’s David Parshall and Snohomish County leaders championed expanded regional connectivity beyond King County, while debates over Ballard Link timing and scope highlighted ongoing tensions about project delivery.
South County Fire District advanced a $420 million bond measure to the November ballot Tuesday. The commissioners voted unanimously to move forward with the proposal, which would fund new fire stations, station replacements, and seismic upgrades across the service area that includes Maple Valley.
Tahoma High School’s Class of 2016 is hosting a reunion on Saturday, July 11, 2026 at 4:00 PM in the school commons. All alumni from that graduating class are invited to reconnect and celebrate. Interested attendees can RSVP and find more details at www.tahoma2016.com or by contacting the organizer directly.
Sound Transit’s light rail system has become the nation’s most-used after the 2 Line’s Lake Washington crossing opened March 28, connecting Seattle and Bellevue. April ridership hit 4.8 million—a 44% jump from March—surpassing Los Angeles, Boston, and San Diego. The system now ranks eighth nationally in rail ridership overall, impressive for a metro area with the 15th largest U.S. population. Future expansions under ST3 aim to reach 600,000 daily riders by the 2040s.
King County’s Department of Community and Human Services (DCHS) is implementing new oversight protocols following a 2025 audit that flagged 19 of 36 youth program contracts for potential issues. The King County Office of the Ombuds released a report in May citing $446,000 in possible fund misuse, though no fraud has been confirmed. DCHS has adopted nine new policies, created provider trainings, established an anti-fraud protocol, and is hiring additional compliance staff to strengthen accountability over the $1.8 billion it distributes annually.
The King County Regional Homelessness Authority (KCRHA) faces serious scrutiny after an April forensic audit revealed a $45 million deficit with $13 million in unaccounted or overspent funds. Seattle and King County officials have set an August 1 deadline to decide whether to dissolve or reform the agency, which manages $65 million in federal grants serving 4,500 households. Service providers worry hasty dissolution could jeopardize federal funding and disrupt critical systems like intake and case management.
Washington Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide drought emergency in April due to unusually warm winter weather cutting snowpack to roughly half of normal levels. State officials warn of increased wildfire risk and urge residents to conserve water through early summer, though the Seattle-Tacoma area is not expected to face water supply issues. This marks the fourth statewide drought emergency since 2015.
Taylor Creek Church in Maple Valley offers an inspirational message about overcoming fear and worry through faith. The church, located at 21110 244th Ave. S.E., invites the community to Sunday School at 9:00 AM and Worship at 10:15 AM. For more information, call 425-432-0634 or visit taylorcreekchurch.org.
King County officials are warning residents about increased drowning hazards on local rivers this summer following December’s flooding. The advisory from the county executive’s office urges caution around rivers like the Green River, which flows through our area. After heavy flooding earlier this winter, river conditions remain unpredictable—a good reminder to keep an eye on kids and pets near the water this season.
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay and Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson are installing independent financial oversight within the King County Regional Homeless Authority following major financial mismanagement issues. The agency has mishandled $13 million in funding and faces a nearly $45 million deficit, with officials considering whether to dissolve it entirely. The troubles affect county taxpayers and homeless services across the region, including Maple Valley.
A ballot initiative (IL27-123) has been filed proposing to overhaul Sound Transit’s governance structure, replacing the current board of local elected officials with an 11-member directly elected board plus 7 members appointed for technical expertise. The initiative responds to Sound Transit’s decision last week to delay major ST3 projects approved by voters in 2016, with some projects now not opening until the 2050s. If the legislature doesn’t adopt it by December 31, 2026, the measure would go to voters in 2027, with the first election for the new board in November 2028.