Thank you to all the people who work on creating events to educate, benefit, and entertain the Tacoma community! We appreciate you.
Last June, way back in the year of 2018, we made a list of events happening around Tacoma that month. We didn’t realize we’d do it again in July, and then once more in August, over and over each month all the way through the year and across the divide into 2019. But here we are.
There are a few reasons we value making this list and continue creating it.
No matter how small the event, anyone who has worked on creating one (whether it’s a public festival, a makers market, a simple happy hour, a fundraiser, a dinner, a walking tour, you name it!) knows it takes a lot of effort and requires dedication and care. We hope our list can provide a modest amount of support and exposure for the events we include. That’s one reason we do it. We know it’s small, but we still value doing our part to lift up the people, causes, organizations, and ideas behind these events!
Creating the list also helps keep us aware of what’s going on in our community and gives us a chance to share some of that with our friends, clients, readers, and anyone who happens to find their way to the list.
A year in, we wanted to take a moment to thank all the people who work on creating these events for the rest of us to enjoy. They bring the community together, they educate us, give us a chance to serve, they connect us. That’s actually a pretty big deal. We look forward to getting out to some of these events in June; maybe we’ll see you along the way!
Image from Tacoma Historic Preservation
1. Historic Tour of South Tacoma Way
Saturday, June 1st
5 - 6:30 pm
Edison City Alehouse, 5602 S Lawrence St, Tacoma
Free
Meet up outside the Edison City Alehouse for a historic walking tour of the Edison Neighborhood given by Pretty Gritty Tours and Tacoma Historic Preservation
Bring a story, memory, or photograph of the neighborhood if you have one and would like to share
The walk ends at dinner time, so stick around the area and find a spot to eat!
Image from Tacoma Refugee Choir
2. Tacoma Refugee Choir Concert: United Drumbeat
Saturday, June 1st
7 pm
Urban Grace Church, 902 Market St, Tacoma
Free - donations welcome, just show up Saturday, or reserve a seat here
Tacoma Refugee Choir concerts get the audience up and moving and singing!
Guest artists and dancers featured alongside the choir
As the choir says “It’s hard not to love people when you sing together” - so don’t miss this!
Image from Tacoma Farmers Market
3. Tacoma Farmers Market - Opening Day at Point Ruston
Sunday, June 2nd
10 am - 3 pm
Point Ruston, 5005 Ruston Way, Tacoma
Free
Opening day of the weekly Sunday market at Point Ruston - now through September!
Shop for local produce, crafts, and more on the waterfront - stock up for Sunday dinner, or buy a ready to eat meal or snack from one of the market vendors
June is PRIDE Month!
Image from Tacoma Pride Festival
June is Pride Month, but Tacoma really gets going in July, because why stop after one month? Follow these pages to stay in the loop and support Tacoma’s LGBTQA community! This is just a small selection, maybe you can share more with us. And don’t forget Tacoma Pride Festival is next month, so you’ll see some special events highlighted in our July events list!
Give these pages a follow:
Tacoma Rainbow Center
Tacoma Pride Festival
Queer Tacoma
Queer City Sports Tacoma
Tacoma LGBTQ Book Club
Pride at Work Pierce County
We found lovely flowers and beautiful produce at the Eastside market last summer!
4. Tacoma Farmers Market - Eastside Market Opening Day
Tuesday, June 4th
3 pm m- 7 pm
3500 McKinley Ave E, Tacoma
Free
Opening day of the weekly Tuesday market on the Eastside - now through August!
Shop for local produce, crafts, baked goods, hot food, and hear live music all on McKinley Ave
Image from McMenamins Elks Temple
5. Elks Temple 90’s Dance Flashback
Friday, June 7th
9 pm - 1:30 am
Spanish Ballroom, 565 Broadway, Tacoma
$10 cash at the door - 21+
Dance till you drop - it’s ‘90s night in the Spanish Ballroom at McMenamins
‘90s music videos all night long!
Image from Allison Bishins Consulting
6. Radical Excellence: A Womxn-Forward Nurture + Connect Workshop
Saturday, June 8th
9 - 11 am
Tacoma Arts Community Center, 1102 Martin Luther King Jr Way, Tacoma
$35 - find your ticket here
Presented by Tacoma Women of Color Collective and Allison Bishins Consulting
Workshop to overcome imposter syndrome and inefficient overwork - speakers, questions, conversation
Light snacks included
Image from Urban Craft Uprising
7. Tacoma Spring Fest
Saturday, June 8th
11 am - 6 pm
Point Ruston, 5005 Ruston Way, Tacoma
Free
First-ever Tacoma Spring Fest hosted by Urban Craft Uprising
75+ booths with artists, makers, a face painter, and all manner of fun surprises to discover
5 food trucks with a variety of delicious food and treats from bbq style to Vietnamese food
Image from 2nd Cycle
8. Bike Stories: A Benefit for 2nd Cycle!
Saturday, June 8th
6 - 9 pm
Courthouse Square, 1102 A St, Tacoma
$35 admission - find your tickets here (they’re going quickly!)
Fundraising event to benefit 2nd Cycle Tacoma’s Community Cycle Center
Storytelling! Come here bike-themed stories ranging from 5 to 10 minutes - stories with meaning - stories from the biking community
Live auction, live music, drinks, snacks (like NW Lumpia!), and lots of stories
Image from Tacoma Ocean Fest
9. Tacoma Ocean Fest 2019
Sunday, June 9th
10 am - 5 pm
Foss Waterway Seaport, 705 Dock St, Tacoma
Free
An educational celebration on the waterfront for all ages - learn what threatens our oceans and how to protect them
Art, science, music, dance, aerial circus, film, poetry, eco-booths, hands-on learning, paddle tryouts, and food trucks
Image from Tacoma Community House
10. U.S. Citizenship Info Sessions at Tacoma Community House
Monday, June 10th (+other dates below)
4 - 6 pm
Tacoma Community House, 1314 S L St, Tacoma
Free informational session
Tacoma Community House’s team of Department of Justice Accredited Immigration Specialists and trained instructors will host Citizenship Classes in partnership with the Pierce County Library System to prepare people for the citizenship interview and civics exam required for citizenship
Attendance at a U.S. Citizenship Info Session is required before enrolling in Citizenship Classes
Info sessions repeat on Wednesdays, June 12th & 19th, and Tuesday, June 25th with further dates in July
Bring Photo ID/Driver License, Lawful Permanent Residency (Green) Card
Image from Tacoma Public Library
11. Tacoma Public Library - Summer Reading Club: A Universe of Stories Begins!
Saturday, June 15th
10 am - 6 pm
Tacoma Public Library - All Branches
Free
Summer Reading Club is for all ages!
Pick up your Summer Reading Club bingo card at an TPL branch - read and complete activities to fill-in 5 squares in a row on your bingo card
Show your bingo card at your local library branch for prizes and to be entered for the GRAND PRIZE
Books, eBooks, magazines, graphic novels, and audiobooks are all eligible, so read the ways you like best
Don’t miss launch events on Saturday, June 22nd
Image from La Paloma Marketplace
12. La Paloma Marketplace Opening Day
Saturday, June 15th
10 am - 3 pm
N 27th & Proctor, Tacoma
Free
Opening day of this weekly Saturday market across the street from the Proctor Farmers’ Market
Shop vintage vendors, crafters, junkers, local handmade booths, food stalls, and more!
This is a creative marketplace with a mission: "La Paloma Marketplace celebrates and welcomes people of all cultures, backgrounds, and abilities" - so get on out there and celebrate!
Come back every Saturday through September 14th
Image from Tacoma Night Market
13. Tacoma Night Market: June Edition
Saturday, June 15th
5 - 10 pm
Alma Mater, 1322 Fawcett Ave, Tacoma
Free and open to all ages
Art, vendors, community, live music, and DJ
Food and drink available from special vendors as well as from Honey and Matriarch on site
This is a monthly event and it’s been going strong for over a year now, so keep your eyes open for the July & August markets too!
14. Hilltop Pop-up Market
Sunday, June 16th
10 am - 2 pm
People’s Park, 1100 S 9th St, Tacoma
Free
Shop for handmade goods, art, and food, and take in live performances
This market features artists, businesses, and performers rooted in the Hilltop community and culture
Hosted by the Hilltop Action Coalition and Tacoma Housing - learn more at Activate Hilltop
Don’t miss the next Hilltop Pop-up Market coming up on July 21st!
15. History Happy Hour: Trivia Night
Wednesday, June 19th
6 - 8 pm
The Swiss Restaurant & Pub, 1904 Jefferson Ave, Tacoma
Free
All ages welcome
Test your Tacoma and WA State history knowledge and win prizes!
Hosted by: Washington State History Museum, the City of Tacoma’s Historic Preservation Office, Historic Tacoma, Fort Nisqually, Tacoma Public Library, and Tacoma Historical Society
Image from Tacoma Art Museum - Brown Betty
16. 2nd Annual Summer SOULstice
Thursday, June 20th
5 - 8 pm
Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Ave, Tacoma
Free
Celebrate the approach of summer solstice at this TAM event featuring artists from marginalized communities
Witness performances, visit interactive art stations, view the TAM’s current exhibit, and shop at the local makers market on site
Image from Yoga Wild
17. Yoga Wild’s Seasonal Workshop: Summer Edition
Friday, June 21st
6:30 - 8:30 pm
Yoga Wild Studio, 1102 A St, Suite 3, Tacoma
$20 - find your ticket here
Celebrate the solstice, the change of season, through movement and reflection
1st hour - journaling, discussion, options for daily rituals to encourage balance and ease
2nd hour - yoga postures to honor the sun (beginners welcome)
Image from Fix-it Fairs - Tacoma
18. June Fix-it Fair - Salishan
Saturday, June 22nd
1 - 4 pm
Salishan, 1724 E 44th St, Tacoma
Free
Volunteers are going to be ready to do their best to fix your item - Fix-it Fairs loves to know what you’re bringing ahead of time so volunteers can be prepared with the proper tools and supplies
Fix-it Fairs Tacoma are monthly events that change location each month to keep the fair accessible
What kind of items can be fixed? Jewelry, crockery, small appliances, clothing, toys, furniture - bring them in!
Items that Fix-it Fair can’t offer to fix: gas powered items, cellphones, glass or anything leaking fluid - sorry!
Image from City of Fircrest
19. Fircrest’s Strawberry Festival & Band Concert
Sunday, June 23rd
6 - 8 pm
Fircrest Park, 555 Contra Costa Ave, Fircrest
Free admission
$2 strawberry shortcakes!
Live music, dessert, and community fun in Fircrest Park with Fircrest Parks & Recreation
Images from Fort Nisqually Living History Museum
Friday, June 28th
6 - 9 pm
Fort Nisqually, 5400 North Pearl Street # 11 Point Defiance Park, Tacoma
$20 - get tickets here, ages 21+
This is a “make and take” event featuring 19th century crafts like scrimshaw, candle making, leatherwork, tinsmithing, and felting!
Food sampling, cash bar (free soda for designated drivers), live music
Explore Fort Nisqually and get into the spirit of 19th century times with the fort’s period enactors
Homespun Happy Hour comes back once more this summer, so stay tuned!
21. Dog-A-Thon: The Human Society’s 29th Annual Walk for Pets in Need
Images from the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County
Saturday, June 29th
9 am - 2 pm
Fort Steilacoom Park, 8714 87th Ave SW, Lakewood
Adults $25, Children (17 and under) $10 - register here
Help the Humane Society for Tacoma and Pierce County take care of the over 10 thousand animals they support each year
1-Mile scenic (and flat) dog-friendly walk around Waughop Lake, animal demonstrations, educational activities, informational booths, food vendors, and more!
Registered walkers receive Dog-A-Thon t-shirt and those who raise $25 or more get a doggie bandana too!
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