Here’s our weekly round-up of events from July 3 – 9 on Mercer Island:

Where’s Waldo? Community Event
July 1 – July 31st
At participating locations on Mercer Island

It’s the 30th anniversary for the world’s best-loved missing person, Waldo, and Island Books (along with other Mercer Island merchants) are celebrating! Throughout the month of July, look for businesses on Mercer Island with the “Shop Local–Find Waldo” sticker on their windows. Hidden somewhere within them, you’ll find a hidden Waldo or his friend Wenda. Get your passport stamped for proof. Three stamps earns you a button and a discount coupon; a stamp from every participating business enters you in a drawing for the grand prize at the end of the month! Local institutions on the Waldo hunting trail include: Island Books, Mercer Island Chamber of Commerce, Banner Bank, Mercer Island Orthodontics, and Yogabliss.
Learn more >>

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MIVAL’s 43rd Annual Junior Art Show 
June 29 – July 9, 9 am – 6 pm
Mercer Island Wells Fargo Bank, 3001 78th Ave SE

MIVAL is excited to once again recognize our young, creative and emerging artists. Awards and prizes are generously donated by Wells Fargo, MIVAL, and the Mercer Island community. Come view the incredible art pieces in the Wells Fargo Bank lobby during Summer Celebration!
Learn more >>

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Community Coffee Hour
Wednesday, July 5 & Friday, July 7, 9 – 10 am
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street

Join Mercer Island Parks & Recreation for Community Coffee Hour every Wednesday and Friday! This is a free program for kids, teens, adults, seniors, and families. Enjoy a hot cup of coffee in a fun and engaging atmosphere with people from the community.

For more information, call MICEC at 206-275-7909 or email at [email protected].

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Storybook Corner
Wednesday, July 5, 10:30 – 11 am
Island Books, 3014 78th Ave SE

Bring your little ones in to enjoy popular picture books read by our staff or special guests.
Learn more >>

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Kaleidoscope Play & Learn
Wednesday, July 5, 10:30 am – Noon
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

Have fun singing songs, telling stories, reading books, creating art, and playing. Kaleidoscope Play & Learn is in English. Ages 5 years and younger with caregiver. Sponsored by the Friends of the Mercer Island Library.

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Build Big, Big Small Science Workshop
Thursday, July 6, 10:30 am  – 2 pm
Mercer Island Library, 4400 88th Ave SE

Presented by KidsQuest Children’s Museum, this fun science workshop is for ages 5 to 7. How high can you build with sticks? How small can you build with blocks? Experiment with large and small materials to create different shapes and structures. Drop in anytime between 10:30 am – 2 pm!

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Tabletop Thursdays
Thursday, July 6, 4 – 7 pm
Mercer Island Community & Event Center, 8236 SE 24th Street

Drop by for an afternoon of board games, video games, playing pool or ping-pong, and hanging out. There’s a huge selection of games, and the staff is always up to taking on a new competitor. Games include: Codenames, Mission Red Planet, Settlers of Catan, Carcassonne, Ticket to Ride, Connect 4, Monopoly, and more. Free for ages 7 – 14.

For more information, call MICEC at 206-275-7909 or email at [email protected].

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Shakespeare in the Park: Much Ado About Nothing
Thursday, July 6 & Friday, July 7, 7 – 9 pm
Luther Burbank Park, 2040 84th Ave SE

Seattle Shakespeare Company will be performing in Luther Burbank Park for the next two weekends, FREE and open to the public! Bring a blanket or a chair and come watch an all-ages friendly performance of Much Ado About Nothing, Shakespeare’s screwball romantic comedy. Schemes are afoot to ruin everyone’s happiness through dire accusations — will love win out in the end?
Learn more >>

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First FRIDAY Art Walk
Friday, July 7
Come out for Mercer Island’s very first First Friday Art Walk! Previously held every month on the first Thursday, the galleries on Mercer Island will now be hosting their art walk events on the first Friday of the month. Mercer SOURCES, Clarke + Clarke, and SZ Gallery will be participating.

Clarke + Clarke Art + Artifacts
Hours: 11 am – 6 pm
7605 SE 27th St Suite 105
Learn more >>

Suzanne Zahr / SZ Gallery
Hours: 5 – 8 pm
2441 76th Ave SE, Suite 160
Learn more >> 

Mercer SOURCES
Hours: 5 – 9 pm
7605 SE 27th Street, Suite 107
Learn more >>

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Opening Reception for “Detritus” 
Friday, July 7, 5 – 8 pm
SZ Gallery, 2441 76th Ave SE, Ste 160

Part of the First Friday Art Walk, “Detritus” is a photography exhibit by State Senator Lisa Wellman. The theme of “Detritus” is disintegration, decay, and destruction, the natural path that all creation takes. Each photograph seeks to find beauty in places that are often overlooked.
Learn more >>

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Summer Celebration: Out of this World! 
Saturday, July 8 & Sunday, July 9, 10 am
Mercerdale Park, 77th SE & SE 32nd
Mercer Island’s biggest community festival is here!

The theme for the 27th Annual Summer Celebration Festival is “Out of this World!” Come out and see the huge parade, firework festivities, Shakespeare in the Park, and enjoy boat rides around the island at Luther Burbank Park. Additional activities include bouncy houses and train rides at the Children’s Fun Zone, Arts & Crafts Show, Food Fair, a Car Show, a a skateboarding event, a robotics competition, and so much more!