☕ Good morning! It's Thursday August 13th
The Caribbean Queens Festival brings "Carnival in the Streets" to Downtown Tacoma this Sunday with food, music, and a parade. Plus, this weekend features Lakewood’s SummerFEST, the Pierce County Fair, Milton Days, the Washington State Card Show, and outdoor movies.
Here is your quick guide.
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Caribbean Queens Festival
Music, food, dancing, and a community parade in Downtown Tacoma
Caribean Queens Festival 2026
Downtown Tacoma’s Theater Square hosts the Caribbean Queens Festival this Sunday, August 16. With this year's theme, "Carnival in the Streets," the free, family-friendly event brings Caribbean culture, flavor, and rhythm to the South Sound.
Here is what to expect throughout the day:
Food & Drink: A dedicated Caribbean Food Village featuring traditional dishes and local food vendors.
Live Entertainment: Steelpan, drumming, live cultural dance, and DJ sets playing all day.
Community Parade: A colorful, carnival-style costume parade filling the streets around Theater Square.
Vendor Market: Local artisans, makers, and small business pop-ups.
Good to Know: Free entry and open to all ages. The festival runs from 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM at Theater Square (915 Broadway).
📰 Community
Tacoma: New Wellness Studio "Plunge + Restore" Opens Downtown
Downtown Tacoma welcomes Plunge + Restore at 1101 Fawcett Ave. (Suite 111), a new wellness studio specializing in cold plunges, saunas, and yoga. Owned by mindfulness instructor Toni Fuqua, the facility features two cold plunge baths, two saunas, and an open space for yoga and meditation. Drop-in rates are $28, with monthly memberships ranging from $85 to $150.
🎟 Events
Thursday 13
Pierce County Fair 2026 | Hours vary
Location: Frontier Park (21718 Meridian Ave E), Graham
Date: Thursday, August 13 – Sunday, August 16
Price: $0 – $15 (Carnival wristbands $37 – $45; Parking $11) (tickets)
Description: Annual county fair featuring carnival rides, agricultural exhibits, live entertainment, food, and family activities themed "Pirates of the FaiRibbean."
Fox Island Fishing Pier: Low Tide Tour | 11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Location: Fox Island Fishing Pier, Fox Island
Price: Free ($2 suggested donation / $5 per family)
Description: A guided beach walk with Harbor WildWatch exploring intertidal marine life and ocean conservation.
Free Thursday Neighborhood Nights | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Tacoma Art Museum
Price: Free
Description: Free weekly evening admission with late-night access to exhibitions, hands-on artmaking at TAM Studio, community programs, and café offerings.
West Coast Swing Classes | 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Tacoma Dance Studio (1127 Broadway)
Price: $10 – $15
Description: Weekly beginner dance class taught by Steven Chith, covering core West Coast Swing skills with no partner required.
Thursday Game Night at Dickey's BBQ | 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Location: Dickey's Barbecue Pit, Tacoma
Price: Free entry (food & drinks available for purchase)
Description: A casual weekly tabletop board game night hosted by a local group, welcoming all experience levels to bring or join in on games.
Harborcade Monthly Women’s Pinball Tournament | 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm
Location: Locust Cider Gig Harbor, Gig Harbor
Price: $5 (Sign-ups start at 6:00 pm)
Description: IFPA-sanctioned monthly women's pinball tournament featuring prizes, giveaways, and competitive arcade play.
Friday 14
Milton Days | Fri 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm / Sat 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Location: Milton Community Park, Milton
Date: Friday, August 14th – Saturday, August 15th, 2026
Price: Free
Description: A city celebration with a Friday "Magic, Masks & Heroes" kick-off, Saturday morning parade down Milton Way, car show, pickleball tournament, vendor market, food trucks, and live entertainment.
Outdoor Cinema: GOAT | Starts at Dusk (Preshow at 6:00 pm)
Location: Bradley Lake Park, Puyallup
Price: Free
Description: An outdoor screening of GOAT with food trucks, music, and concessions. Bring non-perishable food or hygiene items to donate to the Puyallup Food Bank.
Motors & Movies: F1 The Movie | Gates open at 6:30 pm (Movie at sundown)
Location: LeMay – America’s Car Museum, Tacoma
Price: Free
Description: An outdoor screening of F1® The Movie on the museum plaza, with snacks, beverages, and space for lawn chairs and blankets. First-come parking.
Cosmic Legacy: Tribute to Queen Planetarium Show | 7:15 pm
Location: Pierce College Science Dome, Lakewood
Price: $15 (tickets)
Description: A 45-minute immersive planetarium show pairing visual projections with iconic hits by Queen.
Saturday 15
Yoga in the Park | 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Location: Gig Harbor Civic Center, Gig Harbor
Price: Free
Description: A weekly, all-ages outdoor yoga session held on the grass at Civic Center Park suitable for all experience levels.
Lakewood’s SummerFEST 2026 | 11:00 am – 10:00 pm
Location: Fort Steilacoom Park, Lakewood
Price: Free admission & parking
Description: An annual community festival with live music, fire dancers, food trucks, beer gardens, tethered hot air balloon rides, a car show, a pop-up skate park, and family activities.
Sip Sumner: Urban Cowboy | 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Reuben A. Knoblauch Heritage Park, Sumner
Price: $35 – $45
Description: A Western-themed wine walk through downtown Sumner featuring local wine, beer, and cider tastings, free line dancing lessons, and a photo booth.
Sunday 16
Discovering Defiance: Drop-in Hikes | 9:00 am
Location: Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, Tacoma
Price: Free
Description: A guided, weekly 3-mile walk led by a Park Guide starting from the picnic shelter, featuring adaptable routes across Point Defiance's forested and coastal trails.
🎸 Music
Events marked with ($) are paid events
Thursday 13
Mind Your Head | McMenamins - Spanish Ballroom, Tacoma | 7:00 pm ($)
Moving In Slow with Raegan Leilani and Deshawn Rivers | Jazzbones, Tacoma | 8:00 pm ($)
Four Corners Fest | Real Art Tacoma | 4:00 pm - 11:00 pm ($)
Steven Biscarret | The Redd Dog, Puyallup | 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm (free)
Octopus Ballet | Curran Apple Orchard, University Place | 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm (free)
R&B Night | Zesty Steakhouse, Lakewood | 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm (free)
Groove Nation | Pioneer Park, Puyallup | 6:30 pm (free)
Rock N Roll Magic | Cockrell Cider Farm, Puyallup | 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm (free)
Open Mic with Chuck Cuzzetto | Kimball Coffeehouse, Gig Harbor | 5:00 pm (free)
Friday 14
Rumours (Fleetwood Mac Tribute) | McMenamins - Spanish Ballroom, Tacoma | 8:00 pm ($)
Straight Up! An 80s vs 90s Dance Party | Jazzbones, Tacoma | 9:00 pm ($)
Alter Expressions, Mosquito, Namazu, Panatela | Real Art Tacoma | 6:30 pm - 11:00 pm ($)
Samcori | Prohibition Cellars, Tacoma | 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm (free)
Famil-Ya RnB Band | Zesty Steakhouse, Lakewood | 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm (free)
Saturday 15
TikTok 2010s Recession Pop Dance Night | McMenamins - Spanish Ballroom, Tacoma | 8:00 pm ($)
Synergy R&B Vibearoke | Jazzbones, Tacoma | 10:00 pm ($)
RAT HVAC Benefit Show: Souls Worn Thin, Bizzy Beaver, The End Remains, Of Lioness, Hostile Machines | Real Art Tacoma | 6:30 pm - 11:00 pm ($)
Island Reminyse Band | Zesty Steakhouse, Lakewood | 8:00 pm (free)
Heather Jones & The Groovemasters | Rock the Dock Pub and Grill, Tacoma | 8:00 pm (free)
Aliment O’Niell Band | The Spar Tavern, Tacoma | 7:00 pm (free)
Yachtley Crew | EQC, Tacoma | 8:00 pm ($)
Sunday 16
Live It OutLoud - Final Show 2026 | McMenamins - Spanish Ballroom, Tacoma | 12:00 pm ($)
Great Sword, Veins Like Scripture, These Knuckles Break Before They Bleed, Grave Birth, FTS | Real Art Tacoma | 5:00 pm - 9:00 pm ($)
Jam Night | Zesty Steakhouse, Lakewood | 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm (free)
🍺 Food & Drinks
Brunch on Broadway | Steel Creek, Tacoma | Thursday 13 | 11:00 am – 3:00 pm
Sip Sumner: Urban Cowboy | Reuben A. Knoblauch Heritage Park, Sumner | Saturday 15 | 4:00 pm – 7:00 pm (tickets)
🎤 Karaoke & Trivias
Thursday 13
Trivia & Karaoke Night | Airport Tavern, Tacoma | 6:00 pm
Trivia Night | The Beer Vault, Gig Harbor | 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
World Class Karaoke | Bob’s Java Jive, Tacoma | 9:00 pm - 1:40 am
The SandBAR Karaoke Night | The SandBAR, Tacoma | 8:00 pm
Family-Friendly Pixar Trivia | Puget Sound Pizza, Tacoma | 6:00 pm
Bingo Nights | Evergreen State Brewing, Tacoma | 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Tarot Night at The Mule | The Mule Tavern, Tacoma | 6:00 pm - 10:00 pm
Karaoke Thursdays | Mikey's Public House, Tacoma | 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Friday 14
Pirate Karaoke | Rock the Dock Pub and Grill, Tacoma | 8:00 pm
World Class Karaoke | Bob’s Java Jive, Tacoma | 9:00 pm - 1:40 am
Drag Bingo | Locust Cider, Gig Harbor | 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
⚾ Sports
Tacoma Rainiers
Thursday 13: Reno Aces at Tacoma Rainiers 7:05 pm (Thirsty Thursday)
Friday 14: Reno Aces at Tacoma Rainiers 7:05 pm (Paint the Park Purple)
Saturday 15: Reno Aces at Tacoma Rainiers 6:05 pm (Cerveza Saturday)
Sunday 16: Reno Aces at Tacoma Rainiers 1:35 pm (Pink at the Park)
🧑🌾 Markets
Tacoma Farmers Market | 9th & Broadway | Thursdays 10 am - 2 pm
Waterfront Farmers Market | Skansie Brothers Park | Thursdays 1 - 6 pm
DuPont Farmers Market | Clocktower Park | Thursdays 3 - 7 pm
Tacoma Proctor Farmers' Market | Corner of N. 27th St. &, N Proctor St, Tacoma | Saturdays 9 am - 2 pm
The Village Farmers Market | Frontier Park | Sundays 10 am - 3 pm
☀ Weather
🖖 Before we go
Washington State Card Show in Puyallup
Washington State Card Show
The Washington State Card Show hits the Puyallup Fair and Events Center this Saturday, August 15, with vendors from across the region dealing sports cards, Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, and autographed memorabilia.
Hours & Admission
Early Bird: 9 am, $10
General Admission: 10 am, $5
Kids 12 and under: Free
Cash or card at the door. Enter through the Gold Gate for free parking.
Thank you for reading, and I'll see you next Thursday.