It’s May in Tacoma (and everywhere else, last I checked). The arrival of May comes to me with memories of dashing to my next-door neighbors’ doors with a covert gift of flowers, bundled into bunches of whatever grew in the garden that day—lilacs, bluebells, and forget-me-nots always. My parents taught us to do that, to pick our flowers, and sneak to Phyllis’s house, and then to Connie’s, lay a bouquet by the front door, ring the bell, and run like crazy. May children—and adults—do this until the earth ceases to exist.
We’re pretty into giving people flowers, as you can see. I’m writing about this because this post—like the April, March, February, and January posts—is all about community connection. And you don’t have to wait for an event, a ticketed gathering, or an invitation to create connection. You can just do it. You can just leave something nice on your neighbor’s porch, or send something in the mail to a person on your mind, or strike up a chat with someone when you’re walking by. Some people think that kind of behavior is weird, when an unknown person (a stranger!) engages them in conversation, but I don’t. I don’t think it’s weird. I think it’s required if we’re going to make it without becoming collectively mentally ill.
Maybe all you signed up for when you clicked the link that brought you here was a list of fun things to do to get outside your house/skull/rut/routine, and that’s fine. Here, you can have it: 12+ events to get you started. It’s free; it’s for you! We hope you find something that calls your name—Hey, You! Come do this thing! We hope you spark a connection you didn’t feel before to this place called Tacoma that we call home.
Connect to Tacoma with Events & Gatherings
Image from Tacoma Historic Preservation
1. Historic Preservation Month - Mysterious Tacoma
Starting May 1st
Online and In-Person
Multiple Locations
Events Galore
This month-long event gets started right away on May 1st, so don’t delay! Visit the Historic Preservation Month page to get in on it. This is not a stuffy, boring, old-news kind of event either. It’s full of engaging opportunities like:
Mystery Mini-Series by Pretty Gritty Tours (Part 1: Murder at the Washington Building)
Puyallup Tribe Walking Tour
Cabin Kids Art Challenge and craft kits
There’s even a Maltese Falcon scavenger hunt
Basically, it’s a lot of local fun. Yes. You should do this. Follow Tacoma Historic Preservation to stay in the loop.
Image from Tacoma-Pierce County Bike Month
2. Tacoma-Pierce County Bike Month
Starting May 1st
Virtual Events & Social Rides
Multiple Locations
Cycling Extravaganza!
Wait, I thought it was Historical Preservation Month. Yes! It’s both! Grab your helmet, get details from The City of Tacoma’s event page, and enjoy the ride. This month is all about celebrating cycling as transportation and recreation. Again, this is a month-long event with opportunities starting right away. Look for things like:
Bike Everywhere Challenge, May 1-31 with Pierce Trips
Bike to the Downtown Farmers Market, Thursday, May 6 with Downtown: On the Go!
An array of events with 2nd Cycle like:
Bike and Seek: Saturday, May 8
Womxn, Trans, Femme, and Non-Binary Pipeline Bike Ride: Saturday, May 22
Bike ANYWHERE Day: Saturday, May 29
Find all the updates and events on Facebook (@mobility253) and on Instagram and Twitter (@tacomamobility).
Image from PNW Yarn Crawl
3. PNW Yarn Crawl: Welcome to Hollywool
May 1st - 15th
Multiple Yarn Shop Locations
In-Person & Online
From Tacoma to Allyn, from Poulsbo to Olympia, from Fife to Auburn, yarn shops all over the region invite you to get your passport and join the fiber arts fun with special patterns and prizes. With the Hollywool theme, or local Tacoma Fibers, Etc is embracing their Scottish roots by featuring garments you might find in the popular Outlander series. Follow PNW Yarn Crawl on Facebook for details.
Image from Tacoma Sustainability
4. Tacoma Tool Library: Your New DIY Best Friend!
Saturday, May 1st
10:30 am - 12 pm
Via Zoom
Register for this free online workshop to introduce you to the tool library, what they offer, how it works, and how you can get involved. We know this might have caught you by surprise, starting right off here at the beginning of the month. So, if you missed this event, just start following Tacoma Tool Library’s Facebook or Instagram page to get a good heads-up on the next one.
Images from TPC-Habitat
5. Women Build: Intro to Tile
Wednesday, May 5th
4:30 - 5:30 pm
All are welcome at this online, interactive tutorial on how to measure and cut ceramic tile and set with Thinset. Make sure to register ahead for this event in Tacoma/Pierce County Habitat for Humanity’s ongoing Women Build series.
And if you’re feeling really enthusiastic, you can become a Women Build Member ($10/month, $120/year) and get priority access to Women Build construction opportunities and other events. Oh, and there’s a cool Women Build t-shirt too.
Images from Lakewold Gardens
6. Mayfest at Lakewold Gardens
Friday, May 7th - Sunday, May 9th
Lakewold Gardens
12317 Gravelly Lake Drive, Lakewood
Celebrate Mother’s Day, or just celebrate a spring weekend in the Pacific Northwest and the love of a good garden. Each day of the festival is a bit different; take a look at the schedule to decide when you’d like to go. Mayfest is a ticketed event, so make sure to visit the event page to secure your spot, especially if you have your eye on the Mother’s Day Dessert and Mimosas package. What else happens at Mayfest?
Docent Tours Gardens and History
Featured Artists in the Shop
Rhododendron Scavenger Hunt
Pop-up Flower Stand
withNature2020 Giant Mural Construction
Mother's Day Packaged Dessert and Mimosas
Live Harp Music by Twyla Eddins (10am -2pm)
Voice of the Trees - Walking Flute Concert with Rona Yellow Robe
Image from Tacoma Refugee Choir
7. The Return of Live Singing: Tacoma Refugee Choir Drive-In Concert
Saturday, May 15th
6:30 - 8:30 pm
LeMay America’s Car Museum-Haub Family Field
The Tacoma Refugee Choir—one of Tacoma’s beloved community choirs—is incredibly eager to sing together with you again! Drive-in early for some food trucks. Join a car horn symphony. Sing along from your car. Enjoy the choral music and special guests too. This event is beautiful for many reasons (singing, community love, the entire welcoming ethos of the organization) including its ticketing structure: pay $0, $20, or $40 per car. It’s really up to you and what you can afford. If you want to be part of it, be part of it!
Image from Creative Colloquy
8. Creative Colloquy The Writer’s Workshop Series: Writing Interactive, Vivid Settings
Saturday, May 15th
6:30 - 8 pm
Online
Calling Tacoma and Pacific Northwest writers working to hone your craft and ready to participate in a generous literary community! Creative Colloquy’s ongoing Writer’s Workshop Series returns month after month with an array of instructors, guides, encouragers, and nuanced topics. This month, the focus is setting, specifically, creating settings that are interactive and vivid. Led this month by Tyrean Martinson. It’s only $5, so if you’re feeling drawn toward this topic or just want to start getting to know this community, don’t hesitate.
Image from Tacoma Public Library
9. Tacoma Public Library’s Pet Parade
Saturday, May 21st
7 - 8:30 pm
Online via Zoom
Join people all over Tacoma who love their pets/furry friends/four-legged family/winged-family/scaled family. See and get to know the creatures other people live with, care for, and learn from every day. Tell stories about what makes your loved animal friend special, funny, or strange! Event designed for 5th graders to people 100 years old and more - register here. P.S. Special bonus if your pet wears a costume!
Image from Tacoma Sunday Market
10. Tacoma Sunday Market
Sundays, starting May 23rd
10 am - 3 pm
3700 S Park Ave, Tacoma
You might know this as the Lincoln District Vintage Walk, but this grassroots, community driven market is going by Tacoma Sunday Market starting on May 23rd. And you will want to be there. Visit the market, then wander the Lincoln District and show this distinct and beloved South End neighborhood some—well—love! What’s at the market?
Vintage
Antiques
Produce & Flowers
Art & Handmade Goods
A Food Truck Lot
People! Real ones! Out and about!
Connect to Tacoma with Ongoing Opportunities
Image from The Grand Cinema
11. The Grand Cinema is Open!
Inhale, exhale. Smell that popcorn? It must be an olfactory message from the universe summoning you to The Grand Cinema because movies are happening, films are screening, reels are spinning (or whatever the digital equivalent of that is), and yes, the butter is melted, the popcorn is salted, the seats are lonely, there are so many stories to be told, characters to know, lands to visit, perspectives to explore, beauty to behold.
And yes, in this as in everything, please be conscientious in your choices as you decide which activities are safe for you.
Connect to Tacoma by Volunteering, Donating & Accessing Support
Image from Windermere Abode
12. Sandwiches & Supplies for Neighbors in Need
Fridays
4:30 pm
Windermere Abode
2200 N 30th St, Tacoma
We know we’ve shared this many times before, but sharing food and other necessities continues to be vital in Tacoma. Meet for a physically distanced drop-off in Old Town in the parking lot behind Windermere Abode. Bring your wrapped sandwiches, packaged snacks, and fresh fruit, or other supplies (see the list below). A member of our Abode community will deliver directly to the Tacoma Rescue Mission. Thanks for all your help!
What helps?
fleece & wool blankets
sandwiches, fruit, wrapped snacks
toothbrush & toothpaste
alcohol free mouth wash
deodorant
razors & shave gel/cream
body wash (no bars of soap please)
lotion
wet wipes
Keep in touch about Tacoma life, community, events, homes, and a bit about us.
