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The January Edition - 21 Tacoma Events!

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It’s time for us to wish you happiness at the start of a new year. And we do! We wish you happiness, new or continued. As you venture into 2019, if there’s a part of you saying “I want to do something new,” maybe you’ll find it here. Or, it could be you just want to keep-on keeping-on. That’s good too! This list invites you to take a day, or maybe a few weeks, or just an hour or two to step into the Tacoma community. Who knows what you’ll find.

1. New Year’s Day Polar Bear Plunge at Point Defiance Marina

Tuesday, January 1st
10:30 am - 12:30 pm
5912 N Waterfront Dr, Tacoma

  • Free

  • 10:30 am registration, 11:30 am Cub Plunge (ages 10 and under), 12:30 pm Polar Bear Plunge

  • Heated tent, changing tents, hot drinks, and snacks for plungers

  • Lifeguards and SCUBA rescue swimmers on duty

  • $5 Polar Plunge t-shirts (these could go quickly!)

Image from Yoga Wild

Image from Yoga Wild

2. New Year’s Day First Tuesdays at Fawcett Hall with Yoga Wild

Tuesday, January 1st
7:30 - 8:45 pm
Alma Mater, 1322 Fawcett Ave, Tacoma

  • $20 Supporter, $15 Sustainer, $10 Community, choose your payment level and reserve your space here

  • Evening yoga flow with live acoustic music by Big Sky Mind

  • Beginners are welcome

  • Bring water and a yoga mat if you can (there will be some extras)

3. Paint to Learn! at Tacoma Art Museum

Image from Paint to Learn!

Image from Paint to Learn!

Thursday, January 3rd
6 - 7 pm
1701 Pacific Ave, Tacoma

  • Free

  • For children 2 - 6 years old with a caregiver

  • Paint and develop math readiness skills to help kids be Kindergarten math ready

  • Shapes, numbers, measurements, and creativity!

  • 3rd Thursdays, January - June

4. Butchering and Curing Workshop at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum

Saturday, January 5th
10 am - 4 pm
5400 North Pearl Street # 11, Point Defiance Park, Tacoma

  • $100, Ages 16 and up - buy tickets here

  • Observation and learning with occasional hands-on opportunities

  • Instructors from Farmstead Meatsmith on Vashon Island

  • Heritage skills workshop using traditional 19th century techniques with no waste

  • Nitrate-free, whole muscle curing

  • Bring a sack lunch and your own recording device

5. Gig Harbor Night Market at 7 Seas Brewing Co.

Saturday, January 5th
5 - 10 pm
3006 Judson St, Ste 110, Gig Harbor

  • Free admission - all ages friendly

  • 1st Saturdays - mark your calendars

  • Local artists and vendors galore

  • Music, food, drink, and local brews!

  • Hosted by the outstandingly popular Tacoma Night Market, and Gig Harbor Night Market

Images from Washington Trafficking Prevention. We can personally attest to these being valuable and engaging events! Learn how you can respond to end trafficking.

Images from Washington Trafficking Prevention. We can personally attest to these being valuable and engaging events! Learn how you can respond to end trafficking.

6. Engaging Businesses & Community in Ending Human Trafficking with Washington Trafficking Prevention

Tuesday, January 8th
5:30 - 7:30 pm
The Salvation Army, 1110 S Puget Sound Ave, Tacoma

  • Free Community Conversation with non-profit Washington Trafficking Prevention

  • Doors open at 5:30 pm, program begins at 6 pm

  • Bring friends, bring ideas, and learn how you can make a difference in ending human trafficking

  • All professions, all backgrounds, all people welcome!

  • Refreshments provided

7. Family Nature Walk at Swan Creek Park

Saturday, January 12th
10 am - 11 am
2820 Pioneer Way E, Tacoma

  • Free

  • Space is limited so call (253) 591-6439 to sign-up or pre-register online

  • Walk through Swan Creek Park led by a naturalist from the Tacoma Nature Center

  • Not recommended for strollers or people under 3 years old


8. Family Saturdays at the History Museum: Coast Salish Culture

Saturday, January 12th
1 - 3 pm
1911 Pacific Ave, Tacoma

  • Included with price of admission - $14 for adults, $11 for ages 6 - 17, Free for ages 5 and under, or $40 for family of up to 2 adults and 4 children under 18, Free for members

  • Activities designed for kids ages 4 to 12 - all are welcome

  • Learn about Coast Salish culture and artifacts like bentwood boxes and drums

  • Make something of your own!

9. Tacoma Night Market at Alma Mater

Saturday, January 12th
5 - 10 pm
1322 Fawcett Ave

  • Free

  • Art, vendors, community, live music, and DJ

  • Food and drink available from special vendors as well as from Honey and Matriarch on site

  • If you haven’t been to a Tacoma Night Market yet, it’s time to go!

Image from Tacoma Arts Live

Image from Tacoma Arts Live

10. Portland Cello Project: Radiohead’s OK Computer at the Rialto Theater

Saturday, January 12th
7:30 - 9 pm
310 S 9th St, Tacoma

  • $29, $39, $49 - tickets available from Tacoma Arts Live

  • A huge ensemble of cellos, rhythm, wind instruments, and vocals in arrangements of Radiohead’s extraordinary OK Computer album

  • Portland Cello Project has been performing and transforming this show for 5 years!

11. Ease Anxiety: A Six-Week Series by Yoga Wild

Image from Yoga Wild

Image from Yoga Wild

Begins Monday, January 14th
5:45 - 7 pm
Tacoma Nature Center, 1919 S Tyler St, Tacoma

  • $60 Supporter, $50 Sustainer, $40 Community, choose your payment level and reserve your space here

  • 6 week series to guide participants into self care techniques

  • Yoga poses, breathing, meditation - learn to calm your body

  • No yoga experience necessary

12. Women’s Small Group Network + Connect Series

Monday, January 28th - March 20th
12:30 - 1:30 pm
Allison Bishins Consulting
Align Catalyst, 1901 Jefferson Ave, Tacoma

  • $100 Early Bird Price! Get your tickets here

  • Small group networking series for self-identifying women to build confidence, connections, and relationships - limited to 18 participants

  • Culminates in a Badass Ladies Party in March!

13. Queer Career Social at the Tacoma Rainbow Center

Wednesday, January 16th
6 - 7:30 pm
2215 Pacific Ave, Tacoma

  • FREE and open to the LGBTQ community - Register here

  • Resume workshop by Tacoma Community College, queer friendly business bulletin, info on who’s hiring

  • Clothing Closet - Bring and/or take professional/interview attire

14. Point Defiance Beach Cleanup

Saturday, January 19th
9 am - 12 pm
Point Defiance Marina Complex, 5912 N Waterfront Dr, Tacoma

  • Free volunteering opportunity

  • Register here and call (253) 404-3960 for more information

  • Volunteer with others to keep the beach at Point Defiance clean and healthy

  • Bring work gloves if you’d like and dress for the weather

  • Garbage bags, pick up sticks, rubber gloves and coffee and hot cocoa provided

  • Kids welcome accompanied by an adult

  • Every third Saturday!

IMG_3226.JPG

15. Family Nature Walk at Wapato Park

Saturday, January 19th
10 am - 11 am
6500 S. Sheridan Ave, Tacoma

  • Free

  • Space is limited so call (253) 591-6439 to sign-up or pre-register online

  • Explore Wapato Park led by a naturalist from the Tacoma Nature Center

  • Not recommended for strollers or people under 3 years old

16. Warehouse Sale at Alma Mater

Image from Satori Boutique

Image from Satori Boutique

Saturday, January 19th
9 am - 4 pm
1322 Fawcett Ave, Tacoma

17. Benaroya Wing Opening Free Community Festival at the Tacoma Art Museum

Image from Tacoma Art Museum

Image from Tacoma Art Museum

Saturday, January 19th
10 am - 4 pm
1701 Pacific Avenue, Tacoma

  • Free

  • Make a fused glass tile or try your hand at printmaking

  • Live music, poetry, dance, and a lecture on the history of glass art in the Pacific Northwest

  • Click here for a detailed schedule of events

18. Tacoma Tool Library Fix-it Fair at Second Use

Saturday, January 19th
1 - 4 pm
2328 Fawcett Ave, 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

  • This is a monthly event that changes location each month to keep it accessible

  • What kind of items? Jewelry, crockery, small appliances, clothing, toys, furniture

  • Browse Second Use’s wide inventory of building materials, hardware, appliances, and fixtures

  • Bring donations of clothing, appliances, and unwanted items in good shape for Chaya Boutique and Big Brother Big Sister

19. ”We’re Better Together” The 31st Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration by the City of Tacoma

Monday, January 21st
10 am - 1 pm
Greater Tacoma Convention Center, 1500 Commerce, Tacoma

  • Free

  • 10 - 11 am Outreach Fair

  • 11 am - 1 pm Celebratory Program with speeches, song, dance, and Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Service Award ceremony

  • Free holiday street parking - more information here

Image from Tacoma Arts Live

Image from Tacoma Arts Live

20. Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration at the Washington State History Museum

Monday, January 21st
10 am - 5 pm
Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Ave, Tacoma

21. Family Nature Walk at Oak Tree Park

Saturday, January 26th
10 am - 11 am
S. 74th St. & S. Cedar St, Tacoma

  • Free

  • Space is limited so call (253) 591-6439 to sign-up or pre-register online

  • Walk through Oak Tree Park, an area preserving the Garry oak habitat that used to cover much of this part of Tacoma, led by a naturalist from the Tacoma Nature Center

  • Not recommended for strollers or people under 3 years old

That’s it for now, and it seems like just about enough to do for one month. We’ll be back in February with a new list of events, activities, celebrations, and ways to get together all over Tacoma. In the meantime, maybe we’ll see you around!

Want to keep in touch about Tacoma community events and Tacoma living?

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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.