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Welcome to August - 21 Tacoma Events For You!

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Don't be sad that it's August. There's still time to do nothing, or get busy on a project, or head out to a street fair, or sit on the beach. August is good!

Don't be sad that it's August. There's still time to do nothing, or get busy on a project, or head out to a street fair, or sit on the beach. August is good!

In June we thought it would be fun to round-up some events about town and present them in one list for folks. We like that, so when July came around, we went for it again, Well, it's August and we're here one more time with a list of summery Tacoma events to get you out on the town, into the parks, send you back in time, and put you into the mix. If you saw our June and July lists and still didn't make it out to any of the gatherings, you're still doing okay. August is here with opportunities for salmon bakes, live music in the open air, beard competitions, beer tours, some of Tacoma's beloved street fairs, and crafts too! If you find yourself wanting to brush shoulders with the people of Tacoma this month, just come back to this list, find your place, and head out.

Our list starts with one-time/once-a-month/annual events and moves into a weekly events section. Summer lives on. 

1. Power Paddle to Puyallup 2018 - "Honoring Our Medicine"

Saturday July 28th - Saturday August 4th
(Canoe landing was on July 28th with 7 days of festivities to follow)
9 am - 12 am, see more about the schedule here 
Chief Leschi School: 5625 52nd St. E, Puyallup, WA
Song, dance, art, gifts, and food, open to the whole community!
Free

2. Jazz Under the Stars at PLU

Thursday, August 2nd: David Deacon-Joyner
Thursday, August 9th: Pete Christlieb and Linda Small (Tall and Small) 
August 9th is special because on this day only everyone's invited to the campus observatory for star gazing!
7 - 9 pm
Mary Baker Russell Outdoor Amphitheater at Pacific Lutheran University
Live jazz in the fresh air, never cancelled due to weather - just moves indoors
Free

3. Compass Rose Sidewalk Sale

Friday - Saturday, August 3rd - 4th
10 am - 5 pm
3815 N 26th St, Tacoma
Shop the Compass Rose Sidewalk for bargains and new markdowns
Free

4. Tacoma Night Market

Saturday, August 4th
5 - 10 pm
734 Pacific Ave
Food, music, local vendors
Free

Image from @tacomanightmarket

5. Crafts of the Past at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum

Saturday, August 4th
11 am - 5 pm
Fort Nisqually in Point Defiance Park
Observe and try blacksmithing, leather working, and gun engraving
Free with regular admission  

6. The Original Browns Point Salmon Bake

Saturday - Sunday, August 4th - 5th
12 - 8 pm
Browns Point Improvement Club
201 Ton A Wan Da Avenue NE, Tacoma
Fresh Alaskan Salmon at the oldest continually running salmon bake in WA - entertainment and lots of other food too
Free admission, food for purchase

"What do you say to those people, who look down their nose at you?" In Our Backyard continues with the second event this Saturday, August 4, 3 PM @ Charlotte's Blueberry Park. #tacoma_wa #tacomaarts #tacomacreates #tacomaartist #inourbackyardtacoma

31 Likes, 3 Comments - Tacoma Arts (@tacomaarts) on Instagram: ""What do you say to those people, who look down their nose at you?" In Our Backyard continues with..."

7. In Our Backyard: A Community Conversation on Homelessness

  • Saturday, August 4th - Charlotte's Blueberry Park, 3 pm

  • Tuesday, August 7th - Tacoma Community College, 6 pm

  • Sunday, August 12th - Portland Avenue Community Center, 1 pm

  • Thursday, August 16th - Tollefsen Plaza at Tacoma Art Museum, 5:30 pm

Community conversation, live theater performed by members of the homeless community, and video art installation
Free

Image from @tacomaarts

Our August tour schedule includes a few Sunday offerings this year, see our website link in bio to reserve your spot 🍻

41 Likes, 6 Comments - @tacoma_hops on Instagram: "Our August tour schedule includes a few Sunday offerings this year, see our website link in bio to..."

8. Beer Tour Sunday with Tacoma Hops

Sundays, August 5th, 12th, & 19th
2:30 pm
Taste the Town Tours - book with Tacoma Hops for locations and pricing
Image from @tacomahops 

9. Morning Magic at Alma Mater

Veggie painting at this morning's storytime #TacomaCreates #SummerStorytime #TacomaArt #kidscrafts #TacomaKids @tacomacreates

16 Likes, 1 Comments - Job Carr Cabin Museum (@jobcarrcabin) on Instagram: "Veggie painting at this morning's storytime #TacomaCreates #SummerStorytime #TacomaArt #kidscrafts..."

Sundays August 5th, 12th, & 19th
11 am - 2 pm
Sculpture garden patio at Alma Mater - 1322 Fawcett Ave, Tacoma
Live music put together by Joel Cuplin & friends
Free

10. Craft Saturdays Job Carr Cabin

Saturday, August 11th
12 - 4 pm
2350 N 30 St, Old Town Park 
Fun and simple crafts aimed at kids ages 3 - 9 and their families
Free

Image from @jobcarrcabin - follow them on Instagram for more summer events!

11. Brigade Encampment (& Beard Competition!) at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum

Saturday - Sunday, August 11th - 12th
11 am - 5 pm
Fort Nisqually in Point Defiance Park
Recreation of the historic 1855 visit of fur traders with obstacle course races, contests, historical characters, and hands-on demonstrations of period skills
$0-$15

  • Beard Competition Saturday ONLY from 3:30-5 pm with the Grit City Society of Beards

    • Categories: Trapper - Full Beard, Unstyled or Natural, Laborer, Full or Partial Beard, Freestyle (groomed or ungroomed) & a kids Beard Kit competition too 

🍻 Cheers to our friends at @tacomabeerweek! 🍻 #Repost @tacomabeerweek with @get_repost ・・・ TIX PRICES GO UP BY $10 JULY 25! Get yours today for $25 and enjoy 35+ Washington beers and ciders, plus food trucks and live music. #tacomabeerweek2018 #tacomabeer

17 Likes, 1 Comments - Broadway Center (@broadwaycenter) on Instagram: "🍻 Cheers to our friends at @tacomabeerweek! 🍻 #Repost @tacomabeerweek with @get_repost ・・・ TIX..."

12. 6th Annual Brew Five Three: Tacoma’s Beer & Music Festival

Saturday, August 11th
1 - 8 pm
Between 9th & 11th on Broadway in Downtown Tacoma
Presented by the Broadway Center for Performing Arts - Over 35 WA brews and ciders, music and food too! 21 and over only
$35 general, $25 military, $10 for designated driver tickets

Image from @broadwaycenter

13. McKinley Hill Street Fair

Saturday, August 18th
10 am - 5 pm
35th & McKinley, Tacoma (on the hill above the Tacoma Dome)
Artists, Food Trucks, Music, Free Carnival, 1200 Free Stuffed Backpacks, Graffiti Alley live mural painting, Beer Garden, Chalk Art Zone, health & dental exams (see even more on the Facebook page)
Free

14. Foss Waterway Summer Concert

Sunday, August 19th
12:30-4 pm
Thea Foss Waterway Amphitheater - 1821 Dock St, Tacoma
Local musicians (Anna Beck, Sister Madame, The Happy Sinners), Children's Museum play zone, chalk art contest, Bliss Small Batch Creamery ice cream

15. Homespun Happy Hour at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum

Friday, August 24th
6 - 9 pm
Fort Nisqually in Point Defiance Park
19th century craft event for the 21+ crowd. Leatherwork, Sewing, Beadwork and Basketry. Explore the fort, enjoy the cash bar, food truck, and music. 
$20 (includes "make and take" crafts)

Image from @fortnisquallymuseum 

16. Old Town History Walk - Old Town in the 20th Century

Saturday, August 25th
11 am - 12 pm (arrive 10 minutes early)
Start at the Job Carr Job Carr Cabin Museum at 2350 N 30 St, Old Town Park 
Learn about the last century in Tacoma's Old Town - rain or shine!
Free

Follow @jobcarrcabin for information on upcoming history walks.

Perfect for kids & kids at heart! Children's and family activities are scheduled all day during the street fair. Art* Books * Bikes * Outdoor Fun 📷:Tacoma Weekly #familyfun #kidsactivites #littles #kids #kidfriendly #tacoma

26 Likes, 1 Comments - Hilltop Street Fair (@tacomahilltopstreetfair) on Instagram: "Perfect for kids & kids at heart! Children's and family activities are scheduled all day during the..."

17. 5th Annual Hilltop Street Fair - Hilltop on the Move

Saturday, August 25th
11 am - 7 pm
9th - 13th & Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Tacoma
4 live music stages, 9th and 10th Horse Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers Museum, fashion show, car show, Central Latino Exhibit, food, arts & crafts, quilt show, film competition & festival, wellness & dental exams, and more!
Free

Image from @tacomahilltopstreetfair

Weekly Summer Events

☀️ @matriarchlounge @almamatertacoma @fosswaterwayseaport

32 Likes, 4 Comments - Yoga Wild (@beyogawild) on Instagram: "☀️ @matriarchlounge @almamatertacoma @fosswaterwayseaport"

18. Yoga Wild Drop-in Classes

Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Saturday
$5, $10, or "good vibes" 

Do your kids love mythical creatures? We have some fun books on tap for Friday's Big Foot Storytime! #BigFoot #Summerstories #KidLit #PictureBooks #Tacoma #TacomaKids #summerreading

14 Likes, 2 Comments - Job Carr Cabin Museum (@jobcarrcabin) on Instagram: "Do your kids love mythical creatures? We have some fun books on tap for Friday's Big Foot..."

Tuesdays & Thursdays
9:30 am at Baltimore Park - North End
11:15 am at Sunset Terrace Park - West End
6 pm at Foss Waterway Seaport - Waterfront

Wednesdays Sunset Flow Rooftop Yoga
7 pm at Alma Mater Tacoma - Downtown

Saturdays Rise & Shine Rooftop Yoga
7:30 am Alma Mater Tacoma - Downtown

Image from @beyogawild - follow them on Instagram!

19. Summer Storytime at Job Carr Cabin

Fridays, August 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th, & 31st
11 am  
2350 N 30 St, Old Town Park 
For children ages 3 - 9 and their families
Free/Pay As You Can

Image from @jobcarrcabin where you'll find all kinds of events and images for all things Old Town. 

20. Point Ruston Summer Concert Series 

Saturdays, August 4th, 14th, 11th, 18th, 25th (and every Saturday through September 2!)
5 - 7 pm
Grand Plaza at Point Ruston, 5005 Ruston Way
Fresh air, water views, live music, community fun!
Free

Image from @pointruston

Are you enjoying tonight's concert? #TacomaMusic #PicnicInThePark #oldtowntacoma

13 Likes, 1 Comments - Job Carr Cabin Museum (@jobcarrcabin) on Instagram: "Are you enjoying tonight's concert? #TacomaMusic #PicnicInThePark #oldtowntacoma"

21. Old Town Summer Concert Series at Old Town Park

Wednesdays August 1st, 8th, 15th, 22nd, & 29th
6:30 - 8:30 pm
2350 N 30 St, Old Town Park 
Live music in the open air - bring a blanket, bring snacks, bring a friend
Free

Image from @jobcarrcabin 

See you out there!

We'll be out an about in August, getting in on some of (but definitely not all!) the good things Tacoma and its people have to offer. We hope to see you around. 

You can also follow us on Instagram for Tacoma living, community events, and some real estate too.

There’s change in the air across Tacoma, the return of things once lost, the reopening of places once closed, the transformation of one restaurant into another, the creation of brand new places to gather, shop, eat, and drink. We’ve been
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Hi, I'm Michael Duggan, a licensed broker with Windermere Abode. I would love to help you through the home buying or selling process. Please contact me to set up a meeting and get things started.