BY DOUG MACKEY for WEEKLY VOLCANO 8/1/25 |
Get ready to celebrate three decades of art, music, and community—because the annual Proctor Arts Fest is happening Saturday, August 2, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.! What started as a modest neighborhood fair in 1996 has blossomed into one of Tacoma’s most cherished summer traditions.
“Our goal has been to provide a free, easily accessible, celebratory community art experience for the people in the Tacoma area,” says Billy Frederick, a neighborhood business owner and event co-chair. “My late mother, Nancy, was one of the original co-founders of what was then known as the Proctor District Summer Arts Festival. After her passing in 2017, I thought that helping with the festival would be a good way to honor her—and to have fun.”
Renee Lacy, whose duties include coordinating vendors (upwards of 170 this year) and food trucks (nine, by my count), has been ingrained in the Proctor District community for over a decade. “In 2017, I was recruited to join PAF due to my love of the community,” she says. “I truly felt that being involved was an amazing way to integrate my nine-to-five job helping business owners while cultivating a creative wonderland for the community.”
Despite its mouthwatering food options and top-notch live entertainment, the festival’s heart has always been curating a variety of authentic arts experiences. “We ask [the vendors] that all art be individually created, not mass-produced,” says Frederick. “We are truly looking for the local artisans of the area to show off their amazing talents.” He then clarifies: “The actual rules are: All items for sale must be made by the artisan. Absolutely no factory-produced items, no imports, and no resale items are allowed.”
Are there any vendors this year the organizing team finds particularly exciting? “We like to think all of our vendors are exciting, whether it’s their first Proctor Arts Fest or their twentieth,” enthuses Lacy. “You’ll just have to spend the day walking through the booths, enjoying the art!”
The brainchild of the Proctor Business District Association, PAF has grown in both scope and scale. “At the beginning there were just a couple dozen vendors and the streets were not closed,” Renee recalls. “Last year we included North Adams Street between 27th and 25th Streets. This year we increased the festival with four additional food truck options as well as six more vendor booths.” Savory servings of barbecue, burgers, chicken and waffles, and Filipino, Mediterranean, and Mexican cuisines are in the offing. Snack on kettle corn, but save room for ice cream and Hawaiian shave ice for dessert.
Two stages will be providing family-friendly performances. The Main Stage, at the intersection of 26th and Proctor (booked again this year by local impresario Mike Mitchell), includes Tim Cox and the Secret Weapons (10 a.m.–12 p.m.); Hook Me Up, featuring vocalist Michael Brass (1–2:45 p.m.); and Roemen and the Whereabouts (3–5 p.m.). For the young ones, the Kids/Family Stage at 26th and Washington kicks things off at 11 a.m. with the Pacific Northwest Dance Foundation, followed by Dragon Theater Puppets (12–12:50 p.m.); Harmonica Pocket (1–1:50 p.m.); Daffy Dave (2–2:50 p.m.); with the PLU Steel Drum Band closing the show from 3–3:50 p.m.
“Each year is exciting for various reasons,” says Frederick. “There is always something new. This year is no exception! Along with a substantial number of returning vendors, we have added a large number of new vendors to the festival. This is great, as we can continue to encourage young artists to be seen and gain confidence in their art.”
Lacy, Frederick, and the army of volunteers who make PAF happen year after year share the same enthusiasm the vendors invariably bring to the event. “I believe that once people experience the festival and immerse themselves in the art and the culture of the Proctor District, they will become annual visitors,” Frederick asserts. “It is an experience that is truly one of a kind. Each of us on the committee feel honored to be a part of such a great Tacoma tradition.”
