Special Events

Auburn Tourism: For special events in the Auburn area, visit the Web site: www.auburntourism.com.

The Puyallup Fair: 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, and 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays through Sept. 21. Features six free entertainment stages, exhibit buildings, midway rides, food, the PRCA Rodeo, animal shows and more. Admission: $8-$10; free for ages 5 and younger. Parking: $10-$12. Puyallup Fair and Events Center, 110 Ninth Ave. S.W., Puyallup. 253-854-1771 or www.thefair.com.

South Side Dance Force open house and barbecue: 1-3 p.m. Sept. 6. Come learn about dance program offerings and enjoy a free performance. South Side Dance Force, 704 W. Meeker St., Kent. 253-639-5829 or www.ssdanceforce.com.

“Freedom to Speak” panel discussion: 7 p.m. Sept. 17. Speakers will discuss the First Amendment as part of a Constitution Day celebration. Presented by Puget Sound Access. Cost: Free. Auburn Library, 1102 Auburn Way S., Auburn. 253-479-0200.

Arbonne Open House: 4-8 p.m. Sept. 25. Features display of Arbonne’s ’08 Holiday Line, along with games and prizes. Wine tasting and appetizers also available. WineStyles @ the Crossings, 35002 Pacific Highway S., Suite A-103, Federal Way. 206-653-0024 or ranae@myarbonne.com.

“S’more Than You Imagined”: 6-8 p.m. Oct. 11. Features s’mores, big band music and storytelling by a bonfire. Cost: Free. Game Farm Wilderness Park, 2401 Stuck River Road, Auburn. 253-931-3043 or www.auburnwa.gov.

Halloween Harvest Festival: 2-5 p.m. Oct. 25. Includes games, crafts, face painting, scary cookies and cauldrons of punch. Cost: Bring canned food for Auburn Food Bank. Washington Elementary School, 20 E St. N.E., Auburn. 253-931-3043 or www.auburnwa.gov.

43rd annual Veterans Day Parade & Observance: 11 a.m. Nov. 8. Parade includes military fly-over, marching bands, honor guards, military marching units and vehicles, floats, antique cars and more. Other Veterans Day events include American Legion breakfast, Remembrance Ceremony, Auburn Noon Lions Luncheon, open house at VFW, and Marching Band and Field Competition. Mile-long parade proceeds west on Main Street from E Street Southeast to B Street Northwest, Auburn.

Fundraisers

Danny Veron and Ted Vigil: 7-9 p.m. Sept. 11. Veron entertains as Elvis and Vigil as John Denver. Proceeds benefit the fight against cancer. Cost: $15. Auburn Eagles 2298, 702 M St. S.E. 253-833-2298.

Sleep Country USA Foster Kids School Supplies Drive: Through Sept. 14. Donors can bring school supplies – including pens, pencils, pocket calculators and backpacks – for foster children to any Sleep Country location. Locations: www.sleepcountry.com.

GriefWorks Fifth annual Benefit Breakfast: 7-8:30 a.m. Oct. 17. Learn about the Compassion Partners program, and how to help the grieving. Cost: Free; donations welcome. Registration required. Emerald Downs, 2300 Emerald Downs Drive, Auburn. 253-333-9420 or debbie@griefworks.org.

Classes

Financial seminars: 6 p.m. Tuesdays. Financial advisor Diane Mayer to lead free classes. Topics: Sept. 9, “Outlook and Opportunities: Understanding Volatile Markets”; Sept. 16, “Smart Choices in Retirement”; Sept. 23, “Take Stock in the Market”; Sept. 30, “Free Investing Workshop.” Registration requested. Edward Jones office, 25623 104th Ave. S.E., Kent. 877-638-1605.

“Creating a Retirement Paycheck”: 6 p.m. Sept. 11. Cost: Free; registration required. Indochine Seafood & Satay Restaurant, 31406 Pacific Highway S., Federal Way. 253-974-3959, ext. 14.

“Puget Sound Clean-Up”: 7-8:30 p.m. Sept. 17. Join the Sierra Club’s South King County Group for an update on the “Action Agenda” and its recommendations on preventing pollution and protecting and restoring habitat. Presenters include Puget Sound Partnership and Puget Sound Environmental Caucus. Cost: Free. Federal Way Regional Library, 34200 First Way S., Federal Way. 253-639-3862 or markjtn@earthlink.net.

Health/Fitness

Pilates and Yoga classes: Week of Sept. 8, classes begin. Registration open for fall class series. Morning, evening and weekend class times available. Call for details. Corestar Pilates, 205 E. Main St., Auburn. 206-914-0112 or www.corestarpilates.com.

“Give Blood, Get Gas” Blood Drive: Through Sept. 30. Donors who give blood this month for Cascade Regional Blood Services can enter a drawing for a $50 gas card. Call for appointments, or attend a local drive, including: 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sept. 6 at Lakeland Community at Top Foods, 1408 Lake Tapps Parkway E.; noon-5 p.m. Sept. 15 at Waste Management, 701 Second St. N.W., Auburn; 9 a.m.-noon Sept. 16 at Parametrix, 1002 15th St. S.W.; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Sept. 21 at Federal Way United Methodist Church, 29645 51st Ave. S., Auburn. 253-945-7974, ext. 202, or www.crbs.net.

Safe Steps fall/fire prevention event: 1:30-4 p.m. Sept. 23. Free seminar for seniors to reduce their risk of falling and minimize fire danger. Auburn Senior Activity Center, 808 Ninth St. S.E. 253-931-3016. Also: 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Sept. 25 at Rainier Vista Senior Apartments, 134 Third Ave. S.E., Pacific. 253-804-6186.

Libraries/Books

Auburn Library, 1102 Auburn Way S., Auburn. 253-931-3018. Library events include:

• ESL: 6 p.m. most Mondays and Wednesdays; 5:30 p.m. Sept. 8 and 10. Learn English grammar, reading, writing and conversation skills.

• Genealogy assistance: 1 p.m. most Wednesdays and Saturdays; also 7 p.m. Monday, Sept. 8.

• Manga & Anime Club: 4 p.m. Sept. 8. Open to teens.

• Auburn Library Book Discussion Group: 7 p.m. Sept. 9. Topic: “The Bonesetter’s Daughter” by Amy Tan.

• Anime Movie Screening—“Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind”: 2 p.m. Sept. 13. Open to teens.

• “How the End Begins—Two Poets on Power, Sexuality and Mortality”: 7 p.m. Sept. 15. Free poetry reading with Elizabeth Austen and Timothy Kelly.

• Study Zone: 4 p.m. Sept. 18 and 25. Students in grades K-12 can drop in for free homework help from volunteer tutors.

• Teen Advisory Board: 4 p.m. Sept. 22.

• Teen Book Club: 4:30 p.m. Sept. 23.

• SAT Prep Classes: 1 p.m. Saturdays, Sept. 27-Oct. 25. Open to high school sophomores, juniors and seniors. Must attend all five sessions. Cost: Free; registration required.

Reunions

Thomas Jefferson High School Class of 1988 Reunion: Sept. 13. Call for details. Emerald Downs, 2300 Emerald Downs Drive, Auburn. 425-644-1044 or www.reunionswithclass.com.

Auburn High School Class of 1978 Reunion: Oct. 3. Copper Falls Restaurant at Auburn Golf Course, 29630 Green River Road S.E., Auburn. 425-644-1044 or www.reunionswithclass.com.

Auditions

Federal Way Chorale fall open auditions: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sept. 6. Call to reserve audition time. Rehearsals start 7-9 p.m. Sept. 15. Thomas Jefferson High School, 4248 S. 288th St., Auburn. 253-250-3326 or www.fwchorale.com.

“Annie” auditions: 7-9 p.m. Sept. 23 and 25. Informal read-through auditions for adults interested in acting in Heavier Than Air Family Theater’s production of “Annie.” Must have strong singing, dancing and acting skills. Bring photo and lead sheet. Performing Arts Building at Green River Community College, 12401 S.E. 320th St., Auburn.

Boeing Employees Choir: 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesdays, rehearsals. Openings available in all sections. Not necessary to be an employee or family member to participate. Singers are welcome to attend rehearsals to sample the season’s repertoire before making a commitment. Call for details, directions. 425-385-2395 or www.boeingchoir.org.

Theater

“Romeo and Juliet”: 2 and 7 p.m. Sept. 6; 2 p.m. Sept. 7. Presented by ManeStage Theatre Company. Cost: $10. Sumner Performing Arts Center, 1707 Main St., Sumner. 253-447-7645 or www.manestagetheatre.com.

Francie Dillon: 2 p.m. Sept. 13. Dillon offers uplifting music and storytelling for kids and parents. Presented as part of the Avenue Kids series. Cost: $6. Auburn Avenue Theater, 10 Auburn Ave., Auburn. 253-931-3043.

Shangri-La Chinese Acrobats: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 20. Cost: $15-$17. Auburn Performing Arts Center, 700 E. Main St., Auburn. 253-931-3043 or www.auburnwa.gov/arts.

Comedy

Comedy at the Ave: 7:30 p.m. Sept. 19. Comics Debbie Wooten, Drew Barth and Larry Omaha to perform. Also: Oct. 23, comics Andre Paradise, Susan Rice and John Knight. Recommended for ages 18 and older. Cost: $15-$17. Auburn Avenue Theater, 10 Auburn Ave., Auburn. 253-931-3043.

Comedy and Magic Show: 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9-10. Features magic show, comedy, buffet and prize giveaways. Cost: $45, includes food. Auburn Avenue Theater, 10 Auburn Ave., Auburn. 206-697-3434 or www.showtymegroup.com.