☕ Good morning! It's Thursday August 6th
Art on the Ave takes over 10 city blocks of 6th Avenue this Sunday with 200+ vendors and five live music stages. Plus Glass Fest Northwest, Shakespeare in Wright Park, soapbox derby racing, and live music across Pierce County. Here's your guide.
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🧑🎨 Art on the Ave
Art, food, and five live music stages along 6th Avenue
Tacoma's signature street fair shuts down 6th Avenue (Alder to State St) this Sunday, August 9, from 12:00–7:00 pm. Free and all ages, with 200+ artists, food trucks, and local vendors across 10 city blocks.
Live Music & Stages
E9 Main Stage (6th & Pine, 21+ Beer Garden): Deal (12:00), Mid-Nite Bourbon (2:15), Sons of Ferdinand (3:30), Triple Nickel (4:45), Dunce (6:00).
Real Art Tacoma (State St): All-ages lineup with Stargazy Pie, Damage Trajectory, Scribbles, Nogginless, and more.
O'Malley's Stage (Prospect to Steele, 21+ Beer Garden): James Coates Duo (12:00), Blanco Bronco (1:15), Bleak Meadows (2:45), The Mural Project (4:00), The Deep Unreal (5:30).
Bleak Outlook Stage (Cedar St): Fan Club, Life Rips, and DJ ViVi.
Tacoma City Theaters (6th & Junett): Dockyard Roller Derby (12:00, 2:30, 4:00) and a Community Dance-Off (5:30).
Route 1 buses drop off right along the corridor.
📰 News
Tacoma: City Approves $1.25M Loan for Museum of Glass Expansion
Tacoma City Council approved a $1.25M loan for the Museum of Glass’s $22M expansion. The project will add the new 4,000-square-foot Lino Tagliapietra Legacy Gallery and upgrade existing gallery spaces.
Tacoma: Miró Tapas Closes in Downtown Tacoma
Spanish-inspired eatery Miró Tapas has closed its doors at 1502 Pacific Ave. after just nine months in business. Located on the ground floor near the Courtyard by Marriott, owner Robert Stocker confirmed the closure of the short-lived venue.
🎟 Events
Friday 7
Outdoor Quilt Show | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Location: Washington Elementary School, Tacoma
Price: Free
Description: A community quilt showcase by the Tacoma and South Sound Modern Quilt Guilds, with handcrafted quilts displayed along the playground fence in the Proctor District.
Gabi Moskowitz and Jim Newton in Conversation | 6:00 pm
Location: Spanish Ballroom at McMenamins Elks Temple (565 Broadway), Tacoma
Price: $15 advance / $20 at door (tickets)
Description: An in-depth conversation with authors Gabi Moskowitz and Jim Newton discussing Jerry Garcia, Grateful Dead culture, and their respective books.
Nisqually Live | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Fort Nisqually Living History Museum, Tacoma
Price: $30 online / $35 at door (21+ only) (tickets)
Description: A 21+ summer evening event featuring live bluegrass and folk music from the Oly Mountain Boys, crafts, food trucks, and a beer/wine garden.
Saturday 8
Glass Fest Northwest | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Location: Museum of Glass, Tacoma
Price: Free
Description: A summer plaza festival celebrating regional glass art with artist booths, live Hot Shop demonstrations, local food vendors, music, and free museum admission.
NW Poké Fest | 10:00 am – 6:00 pm
Location: 4221 Juniper Dr W, University Place
Price: Free
Description: All-ages Pokémon community festival featuring card vendors, trading, games, photo ops, and a charity fundraiser for Mary Bridge Children's Foundation.
Summer Plant Sales at The Conservatory | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory, Tacoma
Price: Free entry (plants available for purchase)
Description: A weekend plant sale at the Wright Park Gazebo with houseplants, annuals, hanging baskets, and perennials. Proceeds benefit the Conservatory.
SummerFest at Maris Farms | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Location: Maris Farms, Buckley
Price: $16 – $20 online (tickets)
Description: A summer farm festival featuring sunflower and zinnia fields, over 30 attractions, a new Butterfly House, a local makers' market, and a Princesses & Princes theme.
Fircrest Derby Days | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: Electron Way Raceway / Fircrest Park
Price: Free
Description: A family-friendly community soapbox derby event featuring race heats, live music, food trucks, and a root beer garden.
Gig Harbor's Rockin' R&B Festival | 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Gig Harbor Sportsman Club
Price: $33.85 (tickets)
Description: The final edition of this outdoor rock and blues festival, with local bands, artisan vendors, and a beer garden. 100% of proceeds benefit the PTSD Foundation.
Wooden O: Macbeth | 7:00 pm
Location: Wright Park, Tacoma
Price: Free
Description: An outdoor performance of Shakespeare’s classic tragedy produced by Seattle Shakespeare Company's Wooden O touring program.
Sunday 9
Paint & Sip at the Farm | 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Location: McMillin Farm Brewhouse, Puyallup
Price: Registration required (pricing varies by ticket)
Description: A guided painting workshop at McMillin Farm where participants create a honeycomb-themed canvas over local craft beer, cider, or wine.
🎸 Music
Events marked with ($) are paid events
Thursday 6
Dead Sometimes (Grateful Dead tribute) | McMenamins - Spanish Ballroom, Tacoma | 6:00 pm ($)
Crimewave 66 (Featuring Matt Freeman from Rancid) | Jazzbones, Tacoma | 9:00 pm ($)
Nick Shoulders | Airport Tavern, Tacoma | 7:00 pm ($)
Rock N Roll Magic | Curran Apple Orchard, University Place | 6:30 pm (free)
Radio 80’s (80’s Hits) | Pioneer Park, Puyallup | 6:30 pm (free)
Stephanie Anderson Band | Cockrell Cider Farm, Puyallup | 7:00 pm (free)
Walker Sherman | The Redd Dog, Puyallup | 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm (free)
The Profits | 4701 Point Fosdick Dr, Gig Harbor | 6:00 pm (free)
Abbagraphs (A Tribute to Abba) | Clocktower Park, Dupont | 6:30 pm (free)
Friday 7
Bob Schneider with Brittany Danielle | Jazzbones, Tacoma | 8:00 pm ($)
A Tribute To Bob Marley | Airport Tavern, Tacoma | 7:00 pm ($)
Rod Cook | Prohibition Cellars, Tacoma | 6:00 pm
Rock N Roll Magic Band | Zesty Steakhouse, Lakewood | 8:00 pm (free)
Joel Gibson Jr. | Cockrell Cider Farm, Puyallup | 7:00 pm (free)
Roemen & The Whereabouts | Kimball Coffeehouse, Gig Harbor | 7:00 pm (free)
Gavin Adcock | Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance, Tacoma | 4:30 pm ($)
Petty Nicks | Off Camber Brewing | 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm (free)
Saturday 8
TPC Jazz Band and Indigo Jazz | McMenamins - Spanish Ballroom, Tacoma | 7:00 pm ($)
NW Rappers Bash | Jazzbones, Tacoma | 7:00 pm ($)
Hi I'm Ghost, WODD | Airport Tavern, Tacoma | 7:00 pm ($)
Honeyed, Sun-Over Static, Pastel Faces, King Lincoln | Real Art Tacoma | 6:30 pm ($)
Southern Rootz Band | Zesty Steakhouse, Lakewood | 8:00 pm (free)
Undercover | Rock the Dock Pub and Grill, Tacoma | 8:00 pm (free)
Twang Junkies | The Spar Tavern, Tacoma | 7:00 pm (free)
Sunday 9
Tacoma Youth Symphony Summer Show | McMenamins - Spanish Ballroom, Tacoma | 2:00 pm (free)
Chris O’Leary | The Spar Tavern, Tacoma | 7:00 pm (free)
🎤 Karaoke, Trivia & More
Thursday 6
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 7
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
🧑🌾 Markets
Tacoma Farmers Market | 9th & Broadway, Thursdays, 10 am - 2 pm
Tacoma Night Market | The Mothership, Tacoma, Thursday 6, 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
University Place Farmers Market | Curtis High School Stadium, Thursday 6, 3:00 pm - 7:00 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
Pacific Northwest Night Market | Point Ruston Waterwalk, Tacoma, Saturday 8, 2:00 pm - 7:00 pm
The Village Farmers Market | Frontier Park, Sundays 10 am - 3 pm
Haunted Farmers Market | S 54th St & S Tacoma Way, Sunday 9, 11:00 am - 4:00 pm
☀ Weather
🖖 Before we go
Tacoma Concert Band Outdoor Series (Aug 5–8)
Free live music in the park all week from the Tacoma Concert Band, August 5–8 at 6:30 pm. Family-friendly outdoor performances with food from the Mustard & Mischief food truck. Bring a blanket or chairs.
Wed, Aug 5: Wright Park
Thu, Aug 6: Point Defiance Park (Pearl St. entrance near Cushman Memorial)
Fri, Aug 7: STAR Center
Sat, Aug 8: Wapato Park
Thank you for reading, and I'll see you next Thursday.