You don't need to be a mountaineer to enjoy the outdoors in the Seattle area. Summertime brings a wealth of outdoor arts events with plays, concerts and festivals running almost nonstop from May through August.

Some events, like Folklife and Bumbershoot, are well-known, but there are other, smaller happenings that can be just as fun.

Even if you don't like reading Shakespeare, give the outdoor performances a try. Watching a play is much more fun than reading it, and even if you get bored, there's not much to lose as many of the events are free. There are a number of companies sponsoring these plays, giving theatergoers a variety of shows to choose from.

Starting in July, Greenstage will perform The Two Gentlemen of Verona and Richard III. Check www.greenstage.org for dates and park locations.

Wooden O Theatre Productions will stage The Merchant of Venice and The Merry Wives of Windsor beginning in July. Go to www.woodeno.org for dates and park locations.

Theatre Shmeater is staging the world premier of The Reluctant Dragon at Volunteer Park. Visit www.schmeater.org for details.

The Fremont Outdoor Cinema shows movies outside every Saturday night beginning with Fiend Without a Face on June 23. This year they will not only show movies, but have teamed up with the Historic University Theatre to bring Twisted Flicks to the park. See campy movies like Cat Women On the Moon with no sound and improv actors dubbing in the lines.

If you would rather see movies, the Fremont Outdoor Cinema shows movies outside every Saturday night beginning with Fiend Without a Face June 23.

This year the cinema will not only show movies, but have teamed up with the Historic University Theatre to bring Twisted Flicks to the park. See campy movies like Cat Women On the Moon with no sound and improv actors dubbing in the lines.

Or choose more classic fare like The Princess Bride or This is Spinal Tap. A complete listing can be found at www.fremontoutdoormovies.com.

The Chinatown/International District Summer Festival runs July 14-15 and will feature Asian cuisine, live concerts, martial-arts demonstrations and a karaoke stage for those who like to sing or like to laugh at people singing. Hours:Saturday, 11 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sunday, 11 a.m. – 6 p.m.

The Seattle Chamber Music Society sponsors outdoor concerts throughout the summer at the Lakeside School and the Overlake School. There is a wide variety of composers featured, and the players include local and visiting artists.

There will be Tchaikovsky, Ravel, Brahms, Dvorak and a new work by Israeli composer Ronn Yedidia. Tickets are $16 for students, but get them quickly because the concerts sometimes exceed full capacity.

Of course, don't forget to stop by Folklife at Seattle Center May 25-28 where the admission is free and the atmosphere ranges from raucous to mellow, depending on where you are standing.

Reach columnist Sarah Greenleaf at news@thedaily.washington.edu.