Neighborhood News
- Green Tacoma Day 10/11
- Saturday October 11, 9am -12pm at the Eastside Community Center & Verlo Playfield, you can join fellow community members to give back to city parks and green spaces during Green Tacoma Day. Activities include planting trees, removing invasive weeds, and providing a helping hand to our green spaces. Tools, gloves and instruction will be provided. Dress in layers and clothing you don’t mind getting dirty. Sign up at bit.ly/46V5i7z.
- Historic Tacoma Annual Meeting Invites Community to Attend 10/16
- Historic Tacoma invites the community to celebrate the preservation of the community’s history with a presentation by Dr. Bill Baarsma, former mayor of Tacoma and renowned local historian. Dr. Baarsma will discuss two significant preservation projects – St. Luke’s Memorial Church and St. Luke’s Parish Hall – and the key roles played by pioneers Charles Wright and Allen C. Mason. The event will also include a tour of the church and light refreshments.
- Trick or Streets Is Coming to Tacoma
- Inspired by an idea from a resident, and launched in partnership with Safe Streets, this new event will allow neighborhoods to sign up with Safe Streets to close their block to vehicle traffic for free so they can host Halloween, Dia de los Muertos, or fall-themed celebrations. Similar to National Night Out, it’s a chance to create fun, safe spaces for neighbors to connect and celebrate the season together. Learn more at www.safest.org/events/trick-or-streets.
- Pierce County Approves Funding for Mobile Treatment Program
- The Pierce County Council approved funding for a new Mobile Opioid Treatment Program that will bring life-saving medication and recovery services directly to communities across the county. The program will help remove barriers to treatment and provide care for people struggling with opioid use disorder. Funding will be used to purchase two mobile treatment vans that will be staffed by medical and behavioral health professionals, peer recovery specialists, and support personnel. Funding comes from federal grants and national opioid settlements.
Local Governance
- Pierce County Burn Ban Lifted
- Fire officials in Pierce County announced the full burn ban in unincorporated areas was lifted as of October 1, allowing residents once again to apply for permits to burn residential yard debris and land-clearing material. The move comes after months of dry-season restrictions – traditionally effective from June through late summer – to reduce wildfire risk. Fire permits must be secured from local fire districts, and rules around burn size, timing, and proximity to structures must be strictly followed.
- Mayor Woodards Issued Final State of the City Address
- During her address, Mayor Woodards reflected on recent accomplishments including the renovation of Tacoma’s Main Library branch, the unveiling of the new city website, and ongoing work at Maritime 253, the maritime skills center being opened by Tacoma Public Schools. She also discussed the city council’s rezoning to expand areas for new housing. Finally, she highlighted a new lateral incentive program addressing chronic understaffing at the Tacoma Police Department. With her tenure coming to a close, Anders Ibsen and John Hines are campaigning for her position in the November General Election.
- 34th Annual Consular Association Reception & Dinner October 23
- The Consular Association Reception is an annual event hosted by the World Affairs Council of Tacoma to honor members of the Washington Consular Association – individuals who serve their home countries’ interests and further global development across Washington. Hosted since 1988, this event celebrates the relationships that position Washington State as a leader in economic, trade, and cultural exchange. The CAR honors the ties that bind us and the individuals dedicated to this work. WACT is excited to announce the Honorable Gary Locke, former US Ambassador to China, US Secretary of Commerce, and Governor of Washington, as the keynote speaker. Thursday, October 23, 6-9pm at the Museum of Glass. Tickets: wactacoma.com
Arts & Entertainment
- “A Night at the Movies” Costume Concert October 25
- Saturday, October 25, the Tacoma Youth Symphony Association will present the 19th annual Costume Concert, where the orchestra plays favorites from the big screen. TYSA’s young musicians will bring famous movie soundtracks to life while dressed as beloved characters. The orchestra includes musicians from the youngest elementary students to those in their final years in high school and early college. Get your costumes ready and grab tickets at www.tysamusic.org.
- Zoolights Returns Nov 28 – Jan 4
- Zoolights transforms the Point Defiance zoo into a magical wonder of lights, using 1.5 million lights along the one-way walking path. For the first time, Zoolights will offer special dog-friendly nights, where the dog ticket will include entry for their adult human. Though regular tickets can be purchased at the door, dog tickets are limited and must be purchased online in advance. This year, you can add on an experience with the Groovy Goats, a private encounter with goats dressed up for the holidays. Zoolights runs nightly from 4:30pm – 10:00pm. Admission varies by date, with discounts for zoo members.
- Lakewood Playhouse Festival of New Voices Takes the Stage October 15-19
- The Lakewood Playhouse welcomes its company of playwrights, directors, stage managers, and production and festival team members for its first Festival of New Voices. New plays will be presented at the Playhouse from October 15-19. Details: www.lakewoodplayhouse.org.
- Tripod Presents: Tacoma Resources October 17
- Join the next Tripod Presents at the Center for Spiritual Living, 206 N “J” St, Tacoma, on October 17 from 7-8:30pm. The evening features presentations on Tacoma resources, including Sharayah Kinney on using Tacoma’s Tool Library, Jennifer English on Tacoma’s Spaceworks program, and Claudia Riedener, Tacoma artist, on her custom tile work. See their page: bit.ly/tripodwebsite.
- Open Studio Tour & Sale – Merlino Arts Center: Bee Naidus
- As an artist an writer of Jewish heritage and social justice advocate, Bee Naidus has found it important to speak out for the Palestinian people. She has been making work about their struggle for sovereignty since her grandparents sent her to Israel/Palestine in 1969. As a teenager, she was shocked by racism she witnessed and saddened to learn how brainwashed her relatives were. Much of her art has been living in closets and drawers, and she thought it was time to share the work so it lives among others. This will be a pay-what-you-can/wish sale, and proceeds will go to Project Hope for Palestine and World Central Kitchen.
Opportunities
- Clover Park Employment & Resource Fair 11/12 10am – 1pm
- Clover Park Technical College’s Career and Community Services department invites you to participate in the Employment & Resource Fair on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, from 10am to 1pm at the McGavick Conference Center (Building 23) in Lakewood, WA. This event is open to everyone in the community, providing an opportunity to connect with job seekers from a variety of technical fields, including IT, automotive, avionics, cosmetology, HVAC, nursing, and more. Students and alumni are eager to explore career opportunities, making this a strong platform for recruitment.
- 2026 Community Arts Funding Application Due 10/27
- The City of Tacoma is now accepting Community Arts Projects funding applications from eligible organizations and groups producing publicly accessible arts programming across all artistic disciplines within Tacoma city limits in 2026. Project funding can be used for a variety of arts-focused projects, including but not limited to artistic presentations, activities, events, workshops, experiences, festivals, performances, or other projects accessible to the general public. Funded projects must take place in Tacoma and be completed between January 1 and December 31, 2026. Apply at tacomaarts.submittable.com/submit.
Recreation
- South Sound Scooters Open House 11/15
- South Sound Scooters, the Puget Sound’s premier scooter dealership, has expanded its lineup with the addition of Genuine Scooters and Royal Alloy, making them accessible to a wider range of riders. With this expansion South Sound Scooters becomes the largest dedicated scooter dealership and service provider in the Northwest region. The community is invited to visit the showroom and attend the Open House on Saturday, November 15, from 12 – 3pm at South Sound Scooters, 1938 Market St, Tacoma.
- Join the Statewide Trout Derby Now
- The 2025 Trout Derby is on now at more than 100 stocked lakes and runs through October 31. This anniversary edition is the biggest yet, with over 100 participating businesses offering hundreds of donated prizes valued at more than $54,000. Visit bit.ly/4o2GFg0 to see the prize amounts.
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