☕ Good morning! It's Thursday, July 2nd.
America turns 250 this weekend, and the 253 is throwing down—massive fireworks at Tacoma's Summer Blast, the Rainiers' historic holiday home stand, neighborhood parades, sandlot baseball, and live local music.
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🇺🇸 4th of July Round-Up
Parades, backyard bash festivals, and where to catch the biggest fireworks shows
🗓️ Friday, July 3 (Early Celebrations)
Puyallup's Red, White & Kaboom: Washington State Fair grounds (Gold & Teal lots), 2:00–10:00 pm. Food trucks, live bands, a beer garden, kids' zone, and fireworks at 10:00 pm. $35 per car.
Edgewood's First Ever Fireworks: Edgewood Community Park kicks off its first city-sponsored fireworks show with food trucks and live music at 7:00 pm, fireworks at 10:00 pm.
Rainiers Baseball & Fireworks (Tacoma): For the first time in 30 years, the Rainiers are playing home on Independence Day weekend. Catch them vs. the Reno Aces on July 3 and 4 at 7:05 pm, with fireworks right after the final out.
🎆 Saturday, July 4
🏃♂️ Morning & Afternoon Community Festivals
Steilacoom's Grand Old Fourth: Start with the "Four on the Fourth" waterfront run at 9:00 am ($15), then catch the community parade at 1:00 pm, a street dance at 7:00 pm, and fireworks over the water at 10:30 pm.
DuPont Hometown Celebration: Pancake breakfast at Clocktower Park 8:00–11:00 am ($9 adults / $6 kids), parade at 10:00 am, park vendors until 2:00 pm, free movie night at the fire station at 7:30 pm, and fireworks at dusk.
Gig Harbor Kid & Pet Parade: A short parade 10:00–10:30 am ($10 per family), followed by live music, a kids' corner, and a pie-eating contest at Skansie Brothers Park until 2:00 pm.
⚓ Out on the Water (Tacoma)
Daytime Sightseeing Cruise: 1.5 hours on Commencement Bay with Doolin Rogers Charters, departing at 11:00 am and 2:00 pm. $35 per ticket; proceeds benefit the Youth Marine Foundation.
21+ Fireworks Cruise: Departs 9:00 pm ($125) with light bites and a bar, anchoring off Point Ruston for a front-row view.
🚀 Tacoma’s Summer Blast (The Big One)
Free and open to all, noon to 10:30 pm at Dune Peninsula and Cummings Park. Over 150 food and craft vendors, two live music stages, and a 20-minute fireworks show from a barge offshore at dusk (around 10:00 pm), visible from Dune Peninsula all the way to Jack Hyde Park. ADA viewing at the Cummings Park pier.
📰 Community
Tacoma Creates Approves $6.4M for 80 Local Organizations
The Tacoma Creates Advisory Board has approved $6.4 million in funding for its 2026-2027 cycle, supporting 80 local nonprofits dedicated to arts, culture, heritage, and science. Now in its seventh year, the program funds community programming, public events, and youth access initiatives through June 2027. Recipients include Hilltop Artists, Spaceworks, the Museum of Glass, and Second Cycle.
Overflo Potato Is Getting a Brick-and-Mortar
Street vendor favorite Overflo Potato is moving into the former Pizza Time Pub space at 2710 6th Ave. Known for super-loaded baked potatoes, the new spot will be a family-friendly restaurant with a full food focus — think stuffed starches, sweet potato desserts, and a few holdover pizzas. Soft launch in July, grand opening in August.
🎟 Other Tacoma Events
Thursday 2
The SandBAR Karaoke Night | 8:00 pm
Location: The SandBAR, Tacoma
Price: Free admission
Description: Thursday night karaoke at the Sand Bar and Grill. Grab some food, bring friends, and hit the stage.
Sunday 5
Independence Day Weekend Sandlot Baseball | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Location: Vassault Park
Price: Free
Description: A casual, coed adult pickup baseball game hosted by Grit City Sandlot. Low-competition, all-inclusive play following Dock Ellis rules — no called balls or strikes, no base stealing. Gloves, bats, and helmets available to borrow. 18+.
Botanical Garden Tour: Deserts & Baja | 10:00 am
Location: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium
Price: Included with zoo admission or membership
Description: A guided botanical tour of the zoo's collections, this month focusing on desert and Baja California plants. Learn how they conserve water and how zookeepers use plants for animal enrichment.
🎟 Outisde Tacoma
Friday 3
Shoestring Circus | Times Vary (90-min runtime)
Location: McMillin Farm (Under the big top tent), Puyallup
Date Range: From July 3 to July 26
Price: Tickets start around $30–$35 online ($55 for front row; ages 2 & under free on a lap)
Description: An all-new intimate vintage circus spectacle under the big top. Dreamland features jaw-dropping aerialists, tumbling acrobatics, and unexpected humor. Popcorn, cotton candy, and local artisan merch inside.
Western Washington Summer Dog Show Cluster | 7:30 am – 8:30 pm
Location: Washington State Fair Events Center (Showplex), Puyallup
Date Range: From July 3 to July 5
Price: Free admission (Paid parking daily in Blue, Purple, and Green lots)
Description: Watch nearly 2,000 dogs compete daily in Conformation, Obedience, and Rally events, plus puppy competitions and special showcases. Info tables on the east end of the Showplex.
Saturday 4
Milton 4th of July Celebration & Kids Bike Parade | 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Milton Community Park, Milton
Price: Free
Description: An old-fashioned 4th of July community gathering with bike decorating at 11:00 am, a kids' bike parade at noon, a live reading of the Declaration of Independence, pie contests, lawn games, a community mural, and free popsicles. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, and lunch.
Single Meet & Mingle | 3:00 pm
Location: Fort Steilacoom Park, Lakewood
Description: A relaxed, engaging outdoor gathering for single professionals looking to meet new people and build meaningful connections. The afternoon features interactive games, entertainment, music, and food in a welcoming, conversational environment.
Sunday 5
Fircrest Rod Run & Picnic | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: Fircrest Park, Fircrest
Price: Free for spectators | $20 vehicle entry fee at the gate
Description: The 38th annual show welcomes all special interest vehicles, first-come, first-served. Food trucks, music, prizes, and the famous Kiwanis breakfast and BBQ. Check-in at 7:00 am; dash plaques for the first 400 rides. Rain or shine.
Froggy in the Moonlight Paint Party | 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Locust Cider Gig Harbor, Gig Harbor
Price: $38.26 (tickets)
Description: A step-by-step guided painting class creating a frog on a lily pad under a full moon. No experience needed. Register by Friday, July 3.
Danny Vernon's Elvis Tribute | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: Fox Island Chapel on Echo Bay, Fox Island
Price: Free
Description: An acclaimed Elvis tribute from Danny Vernon, endorsed by Elvis Presley Enterprises, covering three decades of the King's career. Joined on stage by his wife Marcia for a high-energy night of music.
🎸 Music
Events marked with ($) are paid events
Thursday 2
Motion for Content | McMenamins Elk Temple - Tacoma | 7:00 pm ($)
I Cant Help Looking Down, Concrete Island, Screenshot, Jean Wilder | Real Art Tacoma | 6:30 pm ($)
Blue Lizard | Cockrell Cider Farm - Puyallup | 5:00 pm (free)
Friday 3
The Cloves | McMenamins Elk Temple - Tacoma | 6:00 pm ($)
Nameless (A Tribute To Ghost) + Falling Forever (A Tribute To Evanescence) + Pink 182 (A Tribute to Blink 182) | Jazzbones - Tacoma | 7:00 pm ($)
Russian Blue | Airport Tavern - Tacoma | 7:00 pm ($)
The Big Gay Punk Show | Real Art Tacoma | 6:00 pm ($)
Freedom Fest | The Valley Tacoma | 3:30 pm (free)
Saturday 4
4th of July Concert - Multiple Performers | Steilacoom Pub & Grill | 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Holy Locust + Hot Damn Scandal + Yes Ma'am | McMenamins Elk Temple - Tacoma | 6:00 pm ($)
1 Of Them Nights: 4th of July Edition with DJ Kure + DJ Shamwow | Jazzbones - Tacoma | 9:30 pm ($)
UnderCover | Rock the Dock Pub and Grill - Tacoma | 8:00 pm (free)
Sunday 5
We Are Who We Are | Real Art Tacoma | 7:00 pm ($)
Sunday Blues - Billy Stapleton's | The Spar Tavern - Tacoma | 7:00 pm (free)
Karen Miller, Prickly Paranoia, Rio Devore | Rock the Dock Pub - Tacoma | 8:00 pm (free)
⚽ Sports
Tacoma Rainiers
Thursday 2: Reno Aces at Tacoma Rainiers 7:05 pm (R Pride Night)
Friday 3: Reno Aces at Tacoma Rainiers 7:05 pm (Friday Night Fireworks)
Saturday 4: Reno Aces at Tacoma Rainiers 7:05 pm (Fireworks Extravaganza)
Sunday 5: Reno Aces at Tacoma Rainiers 1:35 pm (Rosé All Day)
🛒 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
University Place Farmers Market | Thursday 2 | 3 - 7 pm
253 Night Market | Glacier View Park, Eatonville | Thursday 2 | 4 - 9 pm
Puyallup Night Market | Pioneer Park Pavilion, Puyallup | Thursday 2 | 5 - 8:30 pm
Tacoma Night Market | 5407 S. Washington St. | Friday 3 | 5 - 8 pm
Tacoma Proctor Farmers' Market | Corner of N. 27th St. &, N Proctor St, Tacoma | Saturdays 9 am - 2 pm
Puyallup Farmers Market | Pioneer Park Pavilion | Saturday 4 | 9 am - 2 pm
The Village Farmers Market | Frontier Park | Sundays 10 am - 3 pm
Witchy Flea Market | Crescent Moon Gifts, Tacoma | Sunday 5 | 10 am - 4 pm
☀ Weather
🖖 Before we go
Friday Golden Hour at the Pacific Bonsai Museum
If you need a peaceful way to decompress after the work week, the Pacific Bonsai Museum in Federal Way is staying open late every Friday in July until 7:00 PM. It's a perfect chance to catch the trees in beautiful golden-hour light, stroll through the special Bonsai United exhibition, and just enjoy a slower, quiet evening.
To kick things off this Friday, July 3, they are hosting a free community Chair Yoga session with Three Trees Yoga from 4:00 to 5:00 PM. Admission to the museum and all evening activities are completely free, and no registration is required, just show up and enjoy the serenity.
Thank you for reading, and I'll see you next Thursday.