Neighborhood News
- Soundview Little League Represents Northwest at Little League World Series
- Tacoma’s Soundview Little League is representing the Northwest Region at the 2026 Little League Baseball World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. Soundview went 3-1 in the Northwest Region tournament to earn its trip to Williamsport. The World Series runs Aug. 19-30, giving South Sound baseball fans a hometown team to follow on the national stage.
- Bite of Black Business Returns to Wright Park
- Bite of Black Business takes over Wright Park from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, for a free back-to-school celebration centered on Black-owned businesses and economic empowerment. Expect food from Black-owned vendors, a marketplace of local entrepreneurs, wealth-building resources, live entertainment and family activities. Students can also pick up free backpacks and school supplies while supplies last.
- Narrows Brewing Fundraiser Supports Washington Artists
- Narrows Brewing is supporting Gates Open WA throughout August with a fundraiser benefiting artists and arts programs across the state. Customers who sample beer at either Narrows Brewing location will generate a $1 donation to the nonprofit. Customers may also contribute directly through donation boxes near the registers. The month-long fundraiser will culminate with an event from 4:30 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 26, at Narrows Brewing’s waterfront taproom, 9007 S. 19th St., Tacoma. The event will include prizes and a meet-and-greet with local artists. Gates Open WA is seeking gift cards, discounts, merchandise and other items from Tacoma businesses to use as prizes.
- Donated items will be used to introduce attendees to participating businesses. Founded by comedian Monica Nevi and her wife, Aryn Nevi, Gates Open WA provides grants and other support to artists throughout Washington. The organization awards one general arts grant and one comedy grant during each grant cycle. Businesses interested in donating may email gatesopenwa@gmail.com. Narrows Brewing’s second taproom is located at 2620 N. Proctor St. More information about the nonprofit is available at gatesopenwa.com.
- North Slope Historic Park Closed for Playground Rebuild
- North Slope Historic Park is closed while Parks Tacoma replaces its aging playground. Plans include new climbing and play equipment, swings, slides, accessibility improvements and other site work. Construction is expected to continue through the summer, with the park scheduled to reopen in the fall. The .23-acre neighborhood park is at North 8th and North K streets.
- New Women’s Boutique Opens in Gig Harbor Next Month
- Purpose Boutique, a Kitsap-based women’s clothing retailer, plans to open a Gig Harbor store next month in the former Starbucks space at Harbor Plaza on Point Fosdick Drive. The company has built charitable giving into its business model, donating a percentage of sales to nonprofits that fight sex trafficking and support families in crisis. Purpose Boutique already operates several stores in the region, including at Point Ruston.
- City-Wide Block Party Returns to Cheney Stadium
- The fifth annual City-Wide Block Party returns to Cheney Stadium from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22. Presented by True Vine Community Church, the free community celebration features family activities, community resources, live entertainment and a back-to-school giveaway.
- New overnight bus will link Lakewood, Tacoma, and Seattle
- Sound Transit’s new Route 597 overnight bus service connecting Lakewood, Tacoma Dome Station, and Seattl is scheduled to begin Saturday, Aug. 29. The late-night and early-morning service will help fill the period when Sounder trains and most other regional routes are not operating. The service is intended to help overnight workers and people returning from concerts, sporting events, restaurants, and nightlife. Riders should check final stop and departure information before traveling because schedule data may be updated as the launch date approaches. Sound Transit schedules and trip planning are available at www.soundtransit.org/ride-with-us/routes-schedules.
- Puyallup Canoe Families Complete the 2026 Paddle to Nisqually
- More than 100 canoe families took part in this year’s Tribal Canoe Journey, with the Nisqually Indian Tribe serving as host. The Puyallup Tribe sent four canoes: x̌ ʷiqʷadiʔ (Thunder Spirit), waxʷilut tubšadad (Wahelut Warrior), stəx ̌ ʷgʷiɫ (Stuck River Canoe) and swaq’səb (Lightning). The Puyallup canoe families were welcomed at dxʷłalilali on July 30 before completing the final leg to Sequalitchew Creek the following day.
- Bloodworks Northwest Calls for Donors Amid Emergency Shortage
- Bloodworks Northwest is calling for donors amid an emergency shortage of Type O blood and platelets across the region. The organization says donations are urgently needed to maintain the blood supply for local hospitals and is encouraging eligible donors to make appointments, including same-day appointments when available.
- First Creek Park and Pipeline Trail Open on Eastside
- Parks Tacoma has opened First Creek Park and the Pipeline Trail at 1721 E. 56th St. The project improves neighborhood trail access and adds fitness and play equipment, gathering areas and new open space on Tacoma’s Eastside. The park connects residents with a restored natural area along First Creek and expands opportunities for walking and bicycling.
- Dog Days of Summer Raises Money for Shelter Pets
- The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County continues its Dog Days of Summer fundraiser with several events around the county. Participating restaurants will donate a portion of sales during Dine Out for Pets on Monday, Aug. 24. Additional fundraisers include screenings of What’s the Story, Wishbone? at The Grand Cinema on Aug. 25, a Bliss Small Batch Creamery takeover in University Place on Aug. 26 and an all-ages benefit concert at Slice of Life Pizza on Aug. 28.
- Tacoma-Set Teen Classic Heads to Broadway
- The Tacoma-filmed 10 Things I Hate About You will become a Broadway musical Aug. 17, 2027. Stadium High School portrayed the film’s fictional Padua High. Carly Rae Jepsen and Ethan Gruska are writing the songs, while Lena Dunham and Jessica Huang are writing the book. Visit 10thingsbroadway.com for updates.
- Cat Rescue Highlights Need for Foster Homes
- Dozens of frightened and malnourished cats rescued from an abandoned sailboat near Owen Beach are receiving care through The Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County. Residents can help by donating, adopting or fostering. The shelter provides foster supplies and medical care. Visit thehumanesociety.org for information.
Local Governance
- Sheridan Avenue Improvements Celebrated With Ribbon Cutting
- Tacoma will celebrate improvements along Sheridan Avenue with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, near Wapato Park. The project added transportation and pedestrian improvements along the corridor to make it easier and safer to reach the park and surrounding neighborhood.
- Safe Homes for All Tenant Measure Heads to November Ballot
- Tacoma voters will decide the Safe Homes for All initiative in the Nov. 3 election. The measure would establish additional tenant protections, require landlord education and training, recognize tenants’ right to organize, create a public landlord database and establish rental licensing and enforcement provisions. The proposal also includes penalties for violations and protections against retaliation.
- Speed Cameras Start Warning Drivers Sept. 14
- Tacoma’s first two automated speed enforcement cameras are scheduled to go operational Sept. 14 as part of the city’s Vision Zero program. One will monitor the uphill direction of Norpoint Way NE, and the other will monitor southbound traffic on SR 509/Marine View Drive. The program will begin with a warning period before citations are issued, with additional camera locations planned as the program expands.
- Stage 2 Burn Ban Begins as Spanaway Lake Gets Toxic Algae Caution
- A Stage 2 burn ban took effect Aug. 17 in unincorporated Pierce County as dry vegetation and worsening conditions increased wildfire danger. Incorporated cities and individual fire districts set their own restrictions. Separately, Tacoma-Pierce County Health issued a toxic algae caution advisory for Spanaway Lake on Aug. 13. People and pets should avoid visible algae and should not swim, wade, waterski or fish in affected areas.
- WSDOT Wants Your Take on SR 7
- The Washington State Department of Transportation is seeking public input on potential improvements to State Route 7 between SR 507 and 99th Street South. An online open house is available through Sept. 1 and includes information about proposed safety, mobility and preservation improvements along the corridor.
- Pioneer Human Services Reports 6% Recidivism Rate in New Data
- Pioneer Human Services says new data from a sample of its clients show a 6% recidivism rate and a 74% diversion success rate. Pioneer defines diversion success in the report as participants having no new arrests for more than a year after receiving services. The nonprofit provides housing, employment, treatment and other reentry and diversion services across Washington, including in Pierce County.
- Pierce County Seeks Input on Future of Parks and Trails
- Pierce County is asking residents to review and comment on its draft Parks, Recreation and Open Space Plan. The document will guide development and investment in county parks, trails and natural areas for approximately the next 20 years. It includes a proposed capital improvement plan and a list of potential park and trail projects. The online open house and public survey remain available through Dec. 5 at piercecountywa.gov/PROS.
Arts & Entertainment
- The Lost Boys Brings Summerween to the Blue Mouse
- Blue Mouse Theatre heads to fictional Santa Carla at 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, for a Summerween screening of the 1987 vampire classic The Lost Boys. Costumes are encouraged, with vampire, surfer, Halloween and spooky summer looks welcome. Hosted by Anthony Dluzak and Dayna Hart, the event also raises money to help keep the Tacoma Halloween Parade free for the community.
- Fort Nisqually Opens After Hours for Family Fun Night
- Fort Nisqually Living History Museum stays open late from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, for an evening of 19th-century games, live music, food and family activities. Visitors can bring a picnic or purchase food from Dawg Eat Dawgs, and the evening includes the fort’s popular candy cannon. Tickets are available through Parks Tacoma.
- Mi Centro Launches Its First Mercadito
- Mi Centro hosts its first Mercadito from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at 1208 S. 10th St. The community market showcases local entrepreneurs and small businesses and includes vendors, food, music and a community yard sale, with an emphasis on supporting participants in Mi Centro’s Camino Al Éxito entrepreneurship program and Tacoma’s Latino and Indigenous communities.
- Symphony Tacoma Marks 80 Seasons
- Symphony Tacoma is preparing for its milestone 80th season. The 2026-27 season opens Oct. 17, and tickets are now going on sale for the orchestra’s upcoming performances. Eight decades of a hometown orchestra is worth marking on the calendar, even with opening night still a few weeks away.
- Metaphysical Mini Market Comes to South Tacoma
- The Northwest Metaphysical Mini Market brings makers, healers, readers and other vendors to 5244 S. Tacoma Way from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 23. Expect crystals, candles, readings, wellness offerings, tattoos, permanent jewelry and other metaphysical goods and services. This is a separate Sunday event from the larger Northwest Metaphysical Market downtown on Saturday.
- Fairy Trails Bring a Little Magic to DuPont
- DuPont Parks and Recreation turns the Sequalitchew Trail into a fairy-filled walk for families from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, Sept. 20. Magical characters will appear along the trail, followed by crafts, photos and treats. Costumes are encouraged. Admission is $10 per child through Sept. 10 and $15 afterward; children 2 and younger are free. Preregistration is required.
Opportunities
- Lakewood Playhouse Seeks Actors for Season 88
- Lakewood Playhouse is accepting video auditions for Where Blooming Flowers Meet the Sky and Luchadora! and is particularly seeking additional performers from Black and Latin American communities. Auditions are open to performers 16 and older, with video submissions due Aug. 27.
- Washington Youth Art Contest Honors Larry Itliong
- Washington students in grades K-12 are invited to submit original artwork celebrating Filipino American labor leader Larry Itliong, who played a major role in organizing farmworkers and the movement that eventually joined forces with Cesar Chavez and the National Farm Workers Association. Entries due Oct. 1.
- Washington Conservation Corps Recruiting AmeriCorps Members
- The Washington Conservation Corps has opened recruitment for its 2026-27 AmeriCorps service year. Members work on projects involving habitat restoration, recreation, environmental stewardship and disaster response throughout Washington. The service year runs from Oct. 5, 2026, through Sept. 15, 2027, and the Department of Ecology recommends applying early.
- Museum of Glass Opens 2027 Visiting Artist Applications
- Museum of Glass is accepting applications for its 2027 Visiting Artist Residency program through Nov. 1. Selected artists receive up to five days of access to the museum’s Hot Shop with support from the museum’s glassworking team. Artists from all disciplines may apply, and the Sheldon Levin Memorial Residency is reserved for a project connecting science and art.
- Free Webinar Helps Washington Entrepreneurs Get Started
- Washington’s Small Business Liaison Team is offering a free one-hour “Starting a Business in Washington” webinar at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, for people considering starting a business. The session covers planning, business registration, licensing and state regulatory requirements and introduces participants to agency representatives who work with small businesses.
- Parks Volunteer Days Need Hands
- Parks Tacoma has several volunteer opportunities coming up. Work parties are scheduled Aug. 22 at Ursich Park, the Rhododendron Garden and Wapato Park. The Grit City Litter Cleanup follows Aug. 29 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at Titlow Park. Tools and supplies are provided.
- Soulfull Festival Seeks Vendors, Performers, Volunteers and Sponsors
- Organizers of the upcoming Soulfull Festival are still inviting community members to get involved as vendors, performers, volunteers and sponsors. The annual downtown celebration centers Black food, music, art, entrepreneurship and community. The festival takes place Sept. 5 in downtown Tacoma.
- Tacoma Police Accepting Community Academy Applications
- The Tacoma Police Department is accepting applications for its fall Community Police Academy through Sept. 4. The free program gives residents an inside look at police operations, policies, training and specialized units while providing opportunities to speak with officers and department leaders. Classes will meet from Sept. 16 through Nov. 18. Applications and eligibility information are available through the Police Community Support Programs section of tacoma.gov.
- City Seeks Applicant for Retirement Board
- The City of Tacoma is accepting applications for one position on the Tacoma Employees’ Retirement System Board of Administration. The board oversees the retirement system and establishes policies governing its administration. Applications must be submitted by noon Monday, Aug. 31. Details about the position and an online application are available on the Committees, Boards and Commissions page at tacoma.gov.
Recreation
- STAR Center Packs Health Services and Summer Fun Into One Day
- STAR Center hosts free dental and vision resources from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, Aug. 21, followed by its Summer Bash beginning at 6:30 p.m. The evening includes games, face painting, food trucks, an obstacle course, inflatables and other family activities before Zootopia 2 begins at dusk. Bring blankets, lawn chairs and snacks for the movie.
- Curran Apple Orchard Turns Its Harvest Into Fresh Cider
- The annual Curran Apple Orchard Cider Squeeze runs from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22, at Curran Apple Orchard Park in University Place. Tree adopters and community members can help turn this year’s orchard harvest into fresh cider. The event is organized by CORE in partnership with the City of University Place. Participants should bring containers for their cider, and only apples harvested from the Curran orchard may be pressed.
- Kickball Takes Over Senator Rosa Franklin Park
- Parks Tacoma’s Park Spotlight series brings a free, instructor-led kickball session to Senator Rosa Franklin Park from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 22. The drop-in event is open to all ages, with no team or previous experience required.
- Tacoma Narrows Airport Opens Its Gates to the Public
- Pierce County opens Tacoma Narrows Airport to the public Saturday, Aug. 29, for a free day of airport activities, business displays, military recognition and STEM exhibits. Gates open at 9 a.m., followed by a welcome at 9:30 a.m. and activities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is not an air show, so there will be no aerobatic performances, although neighbors should expect increased aircraft activity and traffic around the airport.
- Pedal With Politicians Puts Riders Alongside Local Leaders
- Tacoma On the Go’s annual Pedal with Politicians ride returns from 5 to 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 31, starting at 2nd Cycle, 1205 MLK Jr. Way. Riders will join local elected officials for a conversational, no-drop ride focused on Tacoma’s bicycle infrastructure. Helmets are required, and participants should expect about four miles of riding with some hills.
- Columbia River Hatchery Funding Cut Puts SAFE Program at Risk
- The Bonneville Power Administration plans to end its share of funding for the Select Area Fisheries Enhancement program Sept. 30, leaving Washington and Oregon agencies facing an estimated $2.4 million funding gap. Oregon wildlife officials say more than 7 million hatchery salmon are immediately at risk if replacement funding is not found. The SAFE program supports commercial and recreational fisheries in the lower Columbia River while shifting harvest pressure away from protected wild stocks.
- Soulfull Festival Returns for Third Year in Downtown Tacoma
- Soulfull Festival returns from noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, for its third year indowntown Tacoma. The free celebration of Black food, music, art, entrepreneurship and community brings together food vendors, local businesses and performers for an afternoon and evening of soul, R&B, hip-hop, poetry, comedy and other live entertainment. Admission is free, and all ages are welcome.
- Point Defiance Zoo Sends Summer Out With a Splash
- Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium will mark Labor Day weekend with its End of Summer Blast from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 5-7. Visitors can watch animals splash, play and receive icy treats and other seasonal enrichment activities. The celebration is included with regular zoo admission or membership.
- Free Nature Programs Welcome Babies and Toddlers
- Parks Tacoma offers free weekday nature programs at Point Defiance Park. Babies on the Trail meets from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesdays, while Tots on the Trail offers toddler-led hikes from 10 a.m. to noon Fridays. Dates and schedule changes are available at parkstacoma.gov.
- Thirsty Dog Run Brings Paws to Titlow Park
- The 2.4-mile Thirsty Dog Run begins at 5 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 5, at Titlow Park, 8425 Sixth Ave. Dogs must remain leashed. Registration costs $20 without a souvenir cup or $35 with one through Aug. 24. Cup purchasers receive a root beer float. Register through Parks Tacoma.
- STAR Center Combines Health Fair, Seahawks and Movie
- STAR Center will host free family activities Friday, Aug. 21, at 3873 S. 66th St. A dental and vision resource fair runs from noon to 6 p.m., and former Seahawk Marcus Trufant will appear from 4 to 8:30 p.m. Games and food trucks begin at 6:30 p.m., followed by Zootopia 2 at dusk.
- Community Drumming Circle Ends With Potluck
- Crescent Moon Gifts will host a free two-hour drumming gathering at noon Saturday, Aug. 22, at 6901 Sixth Ave. Participants may bring a handheld drum or noisemaker and food to share at the potluck afterward. Space is limited, and advance reservations are recommended.
- Indonesia Day Celebrates Culture Through Food and Music
- The Asia Pacific Cultural Center will hold a free Indonesia Day festival beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 12, at 4851 S. Tacoma Way. The family event will feature Indonesian food, traditional music and dance, vendors, children’s crafts and prize drawings. Visit asiapacificculturalcenter.org for updates.
- Cars Light Up the Night at Show N Glow 2
- Show N Glow 2 will bring illuminated vehicles, an exhaust competition, food trucks, vendors and games to Griot’s Garage from 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12. Show cars, daily drivers, trucks and motorcycles are welcome. Spectator admission is free at 3333 S. 38th St.
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