What's happening in Maple Valley
Maple Valley Days returns to Lake Wilderness Park June 10–12. The community celebration kicks off Friday, June 10 from 4–8 PM, continues Saturday, June 11 from 10 AM–8 PM, and wraps up Sunday, June 12 from 10 AM–5 PM. It’s a great weekend to get outdoors and celebrate our town with neighbors and friends.
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.
Mark your calendar for Maple Valley Farmers’ Market opening day on May 9, 2026, starting at 9 AM. You’ll have the chance to shop from over 100 local and independent farmers and small businesses. It’s a great way to support our community and stock up on fresh, local goods right here in Maple Valley.
King County released the first draft of the Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River Subarea Plan, which will guide development in the area through 2047. The public comment period runs April 15–May 18, with a virtual meeting Thursday, April 23 at 6 p.m., plus in-person office hours April 30 at Maple Valley Library. The plan addresses land use, housing, transportation, and environmental protection while aiming to preserve the region’s rural character and natural resources.
Tahoma High School is presenting the musical Water for Elephants April 30, May 1–2, and May 7–9, 2026. Tickets are available at www.tahomadrama.org. This is a great opportunity to support local student performers and enjoy a beloved story brought to life on stage right here in our community.
Greater Maple Valley/Cedar River Area Council met April 6 to chart strategy for reviewing a 20-year Subarea Plan that will shape community growth. The preliminary draft opens for public comment April 15 on publicinput.com/greatermaplevalley, with a virtual meeting April 23 and a final Area Council vote May 14. Residents can comment until May 18. The council also discussed a proposed Fire District Benefit Charge potentially heading to a vote in August.
Taylor Creek Church, located at 21110 244th Ave. S.E. in Maple Valley, is sharing a reflection on finding joy through faith. The church invites the community to Sunday School at 9 AM and Worship at 10:15 AM each Sunday. For more information, contact the church at 425-432-0634 or visit taylorcreekchurch.org.
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.
South County Fire Commissioners held a public hearing on a proposed $420 million capital bond for fire and EMS infrastructure. The measure would replace or renovate most fire stations in the region. Maple Valley residents are served by South County Fire, making this bond directly relevant to local emergency services and potential tax implications.
South King County residents, including those from Maple Valley, can attend a free Transit Town Hall on Wednesday, May 13 from 6:00–7:30 PM at Highline College in Des Moines. The event, hosted by Transportation Choices Coalition, will address Sound Transit’s $35 billion cost overruns and regional expansion plans, featuring King County Executive Girmay Zahilay and local leaders discussing projects like the Boeing Access Infill Station and Sounder rail expansion.
Tahoma School District has named Tim Talmadge as the new principal at Cedar River Elementary. The district also welcomed Jeff Byrnes and Tim Harris to the team. Cedar River Elementary serves Maple Valley families in the Tahoma School District, making this leadership change relevant to local parents and students.
King County is proposing a sewage rate increase of about $96 annually for residents to fund wastewater system upgrades. The hike would affect Maple Valley households served by the county’s treatment division. Details on the exact timing and approval process were not fully available in the source material.
Seattle and King County lawmakers are drafting legislation to dissolve the King County Regional Homelessness Authority after a forensic audit found $13 million in mismanaged taxpayer funds and a $45 million deficit. The audit revealed widespread accounting failures, poorly labeled accounts, and bulk expense entries that made tracking spending difficult. City Councilmember Maritza Rivera and County Councilmember Rod Dembowski announced the move Thursday, saying earlier corrective efforts failed to fix the problems.
The King County Sheriff’s Office released new guidance on how deputies respond to federal immigration enforcement activities, following a King County Executive order. This policy affects all King County communities including Maple Valley, clarifying local law enforcement’s role and procedures during ICE operations in our region.
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay recently toured the Wilburton Trestle project in Bellevue, a $43.5 million transformation of the Pacific Northwest’s longest wooden trestle into a scenic trail bridge for the 42-mile Eastrail. Crews are installing a 20-foot-wide trail surface, three viewing platforms, and modern safety upgrades on the 122-year-old, 1,000-foot-long structure, expected to open next year and connect South King County to the Eastside and Snohomish County via regional trails and Sound Transit stations.
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.
Tahoma Bears Dance is hosting a free dance clinic on Saturday, May 16th from 8:00 am to 2:30 pm. Participants will learn two routines, sidelines, receive one-on-one technique coaching, and get a glimpse of what it’s like competing with the team. Register through their bio link, or contact Coach OG at sodegard@tahomasd.us with questions.
King County Council unanimously approved a move to overhaul oversight of the county’s homelessness authority and is considering whether to terminate it entirely. The decision, made May 5, reflects growing scrutiny of how the region manages its homelessness response. While this doesn’t directly affect Maple Valley city operations, county-level policy changes on homelessness could influence local services and funding available to our community.
King County Council is increasing oversight of the Regional Homelessness Authority after millions in taxpayer dollars meant for homelessness services went unaccounted for. The move affects county residents, including Maple Valley, since the authority manages homelessness programs across the region. The council’s action aims to strengthen accountability for public funds dedicated to addressing homelessness in our community.
A free summer program has been announced for low-income school districts across six Washington counties, including King County where Maple Valley is located. More than 100 schools statewide will participate in the initiative. Maple Valley families in eligible districts should check with their school to learn more about how to access this resource for their students.