☕ Good morning! It's Thursday, July 16.
Huge weekend ahead. Gig Harbor’s 40th Art Festival and Tacoma Porchfest are officially here. Inside, we’ve mapped out the best outdoor movies, local food crawls, Rainiers baseball, live music, and weekend markets across Pierce County.
Here is your quick guide.
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Peninsula Art League's 40th Summer Art Festival
The Peninsula Art League's 40th Summer Art Festival takes over Sehmel Homestead Park in Gig Harbor this weekend — July 18 (10 am–6 pm) and July 19 (10 am–5 pm).
It's a free, classic summer outing with 100+ artist booths, live music, food trucks, free kids' activities, a Literary Corner for local authors, and the league's Summer Member Art Show at the Vern Pavilion. More info here.
📰 Community
Tacoma Porchfest Returns This Weekend (July 18–19)
Stroll the neighborhood and discover local bands performing live on front porches! This free, walkable music festival runs for two days across Central Tacoma, spanning both sides of 6th Ave. Free to attend—just bring your walking shoes and meet the neighbors.
🎟 Tacoma Events
Thursday 16
Free Third Thursday & Downtown Artwalk | 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Downtown Tacoma Museum District
Description: Free museum admission across Tacoma for Third Thursday. Washington State History Museum (3–8 pm), Foss Waterway Seaport (4–8 pm), Tacoma Art Museum and Museum of Glass (5–8 pm), plus open downtown art galleries.
The SandBAR Karaoke Night | 8:00 pm
Location: The SandBAR & Grill
Price: Free admission
Description: An upbeat, weekly karaoke night hosted by DJ Jimi starting at 8:00 pm.
Friday 17
Summer Job Fair | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Location: Tacoma Community House (1314 South L Street)
Price: Free
Description: A community employment fair designed to connect job seekers with local hiring employers. Ideal for individuals looking to re-enter the workforce, change careers, or explore new seasonal and permanent job opportunities.
Take a Spin | 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Location: LeMay - America’s Car Museum
Price: Included with general museum admission
Description: Take a ride in a classic vehicle from the museum's collection — one ride included with admission, free for members.
Repair in the Park: A Fix-It Picnic & Mending Circle | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Wright Park, Tacoma
Price: Free (RSVP requested)
Description: A community mending circle and picnic focused on clothing repair and sustainable fashion. Bring a blanket and a garment that needs fixing — demos, a flair station, and kids' storytime included.
Parkland Food Crawl: Velvet's Big Easy | 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Velvet's Big Easy (124 146th St S)
Date: Friday, July 17th, 2026
Price: Free admission
Description: A community kickoff party for the Parkland Food Crawl at Velvet's Big Easy. Grab your official passport, enjoy food samples and activities, and start visiting local restaurants, cafés, and food trucks throughout July and August for a chance to win local prizes.
Friday Night Frights: The Exorcist | 10:00 pm
Location: Blue Mouse Theatre (2611 N Proctor St), Tacoma
Price: Admission varies (Typically $10 – $12)
Description: The 1973 horror classic The Exorcist back on the big screen. A late-night screening with a live crowd. Viewer discretion advised.
Saturday 18
Brigade Encampment | 11:00 am – 5:00 pm
Location: Fort Nisqually Living History Museum
Price: $22.86 (tickets)
Date: Saturday, July 18th & Sunday, July 19th
Description: A living history weekend set in 1855, with period skills, artisan demos, strength contests, live music, and Punch and Judy shows. Sunday features a tribute to Hawaiian laborers by the Pacific Ohana Foundation. Food trucks on site.
3rd Annual Serving with Dignity Pickleball Tournament | 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
Location: The Drop Pickleball Club (2360 Fawcett Ave)
Price: Registration fee is $65
Description: The 3rd annual community pickleball tournament benefitting the Tacoma Rescue Mission. Matches run from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Ritmo Y Lucha: A Wrestling Rock Show | 7:00 pm
Location: Airport Tavern Music Hall
Price: $43.61 (tickets)
Description: Live music meets lucha libre, with masked warriors from Lucha Libre Volcánica and sets from Tacoma favorites TezaTalks and Hierba. Doors at 7:00 pm, show at 8:00 pm.
Neon Cowboy Glow Party | 9:00 pm
Location: Steel Creek
Price: Standard cover charge applies
Description: A country honky-tonk turned black-light glow party, with free glow accessories at the door and a Neon Cowboy costume contest at 9:00 pm. First place takes $300, runner-up gets $200. Neon and cowboy attire encouraged.
🎟 Outisde Tacoma
Friday 17
OCB Brews & Beats | 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Off Camber Brewing (6506 114th Ave Ct E), Puyallup
Price: Free admission
Description: A laid-back, family-friendly outdoor summer music event hosted at Off Camber's garage-style taproom. Drop by to enjoy locally crafted beers on tap and a performance from a local artist as part of their seasonal live music series.
Outdoor Movie Night: Togo | Preshow at 7:00 pm (Movie starts at dusk)
Location: Sprinker Recreation Center
Price: Free
Description: An outdoor screening of Togo with preshow activities and games starting at 7:00 pm. Kona Ice and Simply Kettle popcorn on-site, or bring your own picnic. Blankets and lawn chairs welcome.
Outdoor Cinema: Zootopia 2 | Begins at Dusk
Location: Puyallup Recreation Center
Price: Free
Description: A free community outdoor screening of Zootopia 2. Attendees should bring their own blankets and chairs for seating. Please note that the event will be canceled in the case of inclement weather.
Ladies Night Out: Mid-Summer Garden Party | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Ocean5, Gig Harbor
Price: Tickets start at $89.33 (21+ only)
Description: A glamorous, garden-inspired evening featuring interactive stations. Tickets include access to a fresh flower bloom bar, a charcuterie flower pot station, a macaron treat bar, a photo booth, and an Aperol Spritz mixology experience.
Saturday 17
Summer Sips & Stroll | 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Uptown Gig Harbor (4701 Point Fosdick Drive), Gig Harbor
Price: Tickets range from $15 for designated drivers to $55 day-of
Description: A walkable sip-and-shop through Uptown businesses with 60+ regional wines, beers, ciders, spirits, and meads paired with bites. Admission includes 8 tasting tokens, a commemorative glass, and live music seating.
Olalla Lavender Festival | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Location: Various Gathering Places (including Olalla Grange at 7554 SE Fragaria Rd), Olalla
Price: $10 Weekend General Admission (Children under 16 are free)
Description: A self-guided weekend celebration across lavender farms, local makers, food trucks, and workshops. Follow curated trails covering food, wellness, art, and farming, with live music centered at the Olalla Grange.
🎸 Music
Events marked with ($) are paid events
Thursday 16
ZZ Nation | McMenamins - Elk Temple - Tacoma | 7:00 pm ($)
Seether Griever, Heel Klick, Running From Nothing, A Quiet Life, Athazagora | Real Art Tacoma | 6:30 pm ($)
Slim Wizzy | Pioneer Park - Puyallup | 6:30 pm (free)
Chancey Williams | Steel Creek - Tacoma | 5:00 pm ($)
Billy Shew Band | Cockrell Cider Farm - Puyallup | 5:00 pm (free)
Open mic with Lawrence Lambert | Kimball Coffeehouse - Gig Harbor | 6:00 pm (free)
Friday 17
Groove Lab | McMenamins - Elk Temple - Tacoma | 7:00 pm ($)
Disposable Zeros- A Tribute To Metallica with Sugar Of A Down - A Tribute to SOAD | Jazzbones - Tacoma | 8:00 pm ($)
It’s an R&B Party | Airport Tavern - Tacoma | 9:00 pm ($)
Dub Lounge International | Reuben A. Knoblauch Heritage Park - Sumner | 6:30 pm (free)
The Band Perry | Steel Creek - Tacoma | 5:00 pm ($)
WAR - 50th Anniversary Greatest Hits | EQC - Tacoma | 8:00 pm ($)
Erina McLaren | Prohibition Cellars - Tacoma | 6:00 pm ($)
Tim Hall Band | Zesty Steakhouse - Lakewood | 8:00 pm (free)
The Riverside Concert | Farm 12 - Puyallup | 6:00 pm ($)
Saturday 18
Slide Guitarist Roy Rogers - A Rare SOLO Performance | McMenamins - Elk Temple - Tacoma | 7:00 pm ($)
Yo Mtv VS 106th and Park | Jazzbones - Tacoma | 9:30 pm ($)
Pine Box, Penis Envy, Fauvism, Willing Hand, Eyas/Luna | Real Art Tacoma | 6:30 pm ($)
Heather Jones & The Groovemasters | Rock the Dock Pub and Grill - Tacoma | 8:00 pm (free)
Tyler McGinnis | The SandBAR - Tacoma | 8:00 pm (free)
NW Chill | The Beer Vault - Gig Harbor | 5:00 pm (free)
Corps Brass Band | Clocktower Park - Dupont | 6:30 pm (free)
Sunday 19
Critical Mass Big Band and Sugartime Trio | McMenamins - Elk Temple - Tacoma | 4:00 pm ($)
KUMA, Handheld Simpleton | Real Art Tacoma | 7:00 pm ($)
⚽ Sports
Tacoma Rainiers
Friday 17: Okla. City Comets at Tacoma Rainiers 7:05 pm (Friday Night Fireworks)
Saturday 18: Okla. City Comets at Tacoma Rainiers 6:05 pm (The Coffee Oasis)
Tickets include admission to the game, a hot dog, chips, and a bottle of water, with all proceeds directly supporting local youth services provided by The Coffee Oasis.
Sunday 19: Okla. City Comets at Tacoma Rainiers 1:35 pm (Aces in the Outfield)
😆 Comedy
Pablo Francisco Live | Thursday 16 to Sunday 19 | 7:30 pm
Location: 6th Ave Comedy Club, Tacoma (3829 6th Ave)
Price: $31 to $42 (tickets)
Description: Comedy legend Pablo Francisco brings his high-energy stand-up performance to Tacoma. Known for his rapid-fire delivery, spot-on impersonations, and classic characters, his career includes standout runs on Mad TV and specials like Bits and Pieces and They Put It Out There.
🧑🌾 Local 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
Tacoma Night Market: Artist Roundtable at the Mothership | 5407 S Washington St, Friday 17 - 8:00 pm
☀ Weather
🖖 Before we go
Old West Adventures at Fircrest Fun Days
Fircrest Fun Days takes over Fircrest Park this Friday and Saturday (July 17-18) with an Old West theme. Expect live concerts, a vendor market, food trucks, a beer garden, pie-baking contests, a watermelon eating contest, a Furry 4K Pet Walk, and a Kidz Zone. Free admission, with fireworks closing out Saturday night. Fun starts Friday at 5:00 pm.
Thank you for reading, and I'll see you next Thursday.