☕ Good morning! It's Thursday, September 17th.
The 10th Annual Korean Chuseok Festival brings traditional dance, street eats, and rice-cake making to South Tacoma Way this Saturday. Plus, this weekend features the Gig Harbor Open Studio Tour, paddle championships on the Narrows, WagonFest, and local Oktoberfest kickoffs.
Here is your quick guide.
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🇰🇷10th Annual Korean Chuseok Family Festival
Traditional dance, authentic street eats, and hands-on crafts in South Tacoma
The Asia Pacific Cultural Center hosts its 10th Annual Chuseok Festival this Saturday, September 19, from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Celebrating Korea’s autumn harvest holiday, the free, all-ages event brings traditional customs, interactive workshops, and classic dishes to South Tacoma Way.
Live Entertainment: Traditional dance and music, a K-Song singing and talent contest, and an interactive finale performance that brings the crowd into the show.
Food & Tastings: Fresh Korean food and snacks for sale, plus live demonstrations for making and tasting traditional Chuseok rice cakes (songpyeon).
Hands-On Activities: Free workshops for all ages, including lotus lantern crafting and Korean-inspired face painting.
Admission is completely free at the Asia Pacific Cultural Center (4851 S Tacoma Way).
📰 Community News
Tacoma: Brewery District Makers Market Seeking Holiday Vendors
Vendor applications are open for the upcoming holiday editions of the Brewery District Makers Market, hosted indoors at the 7 Seas Brewery taproom on Thursday, Nov. 19, and Thursday, Dec. 17 (5–9 p.m.).
Local artisans and makers can secure an 8x6 booth space ($80 fee, direct sales/MLMs excluded).
Tacoma: Incline Cider House Closing Brewery Blocks Taproom (Sept 26)
After seven years, Incline Cider House is closing its taproom in the Brewery Blocks when its lease ends this month.
Their final day of service will be Saturday, Sept. 26. While cider production will continue, the team is searching for a new Tacoma location.
Stop by before the 26th to raise a final glass.
🎟 Events
Thursday 17
Free Third Thursday & Downtown Artwalk | 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Washington State History Museum (1911 Pacific Ave) & Downtown Tacoma Arts District
Description: Free evening admission across downtown Tacoma for Third Thursday: Washington State History Museum (3–8 pm), Foss Waterway Seaport (4–8 pm), TAM, and Museum of Glass (5–8 pm).
Shaped by Sea and Story: Exploring Washington’s Maritime Identity | 5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: Washington State History Museum, Tacoma
Price: Free
Description: A "We the People" lecture series event featuring storytelling, performance, and conversation on how life along local waterways has shaped Washington's cultural identity and heritage.
Friday 18
Gig Harbor Open Studio Tour | 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Location: Various working studios across Gig Harbor, Fox Island, Key Peninsula, Olalla & Port Orchard (Maps at GigHarborOpenStudioTour.org)
Date: Friday, September 18th – Sunday, September 20th
Price: Free
Description: A self-guided tour opening 23 local studios featuring 57 juried artists across ceramics, glass, painting, jewelry, and woodworking, with live demos and art available for purchase.
2026 Narrows Challenge & USA SUP National Championships | Racing: 12:00 pm – 3:00 pm
Location: Skansie Brothers Park, Gig Harbor
Date: Friday, September 18th – Sunday, September 20th
Price: Free for spectators
Description: Elite open-water paddleboard, kayak, and outrigger canoe racing across Gig Harbor and the Tacoma Narrows, with high-speed sprints, distance courses, and a Saturday night harbor concert with a drone show.
"Unique Eats & Eateries of Tacoma" Book Launch & Open House | 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: The Essential Pantry, University Place
Price: Free admission
Description: Book launch party with author Peggy Cleveland featuring book signings, bites from local chefs, half-hourly book giveaways, and in-store discounts on pantry olive oils and vinegars.
Saturday 19
Cider Squeeze & Oregon Trail | 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Location: Meeker Mansion, Puyallup
Description: An annual pioneer-themed autumn festival featuring live cider pressing and tastings, historic mansion tours, a scavenger hunt, apple treats, and a hard cider garden.
WagonFest Seattle | 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
Location: LeMay – America’s Car Museum, Tacoma
Price: Free for spectators ($40 online vehicle registration)
Description: The Pacific Northwest’s premier gathering of station wagons and long-roof vehicles of all eras, makes, and builds, hosted on the museum plaza.
South Sound Showdown | 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Location: UrbanWork Rhodes Center, Tacoma
Price: $31.51–$90.48 (tickets)
Description: A community chili and cornbread cook-off and fundraiser produced by student interns from the Tacoma Rising Summer Business Accelerator, featuring restaurant tastings, People's Choice voting, a live DJ, beer garden, and silent auction.
5th Annual Henry R. Fenbert Lecture: How Beer Might Save Democracy | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Washington State History Museum, Tacoma
Price: Free
Description: WSU philosophy professor Michael Goldsby examines how face-to-face dialogue over a shared beverage builds empathy, common ground, and civic debate; the venue is fully mobility-accessible.
🎸 Music
🍺 Food & Drinks
Thursday 17
Oktoberfest at The Redd Dog (Puyallup) | 1:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Location: The Redd Dog, Puyallup
Price: Free admission
Description: A dog-friendly celebration featuring RDBC Festbier on tap, German pretzels and brats, music, and swag giveaways.
Oktoberfest at Redd Dog Brewing Co. (Tacoma) | 12:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location: Redd Dog Brewing Co, Tacoma
Price: $25 online (Includes entry, 21oz commemorative boot glass, first fill for 21+, and an Alpine hat) (tickets)
Description: A dog-friendly outdoor tent party featuring German-inspired beers, festive food fare, and music.
Friday 18
Oktoberfest Specials at McMenamins Elks Temple | All Day
Location: McMenamins Elks Temple, Tacoma
Date: Friday, September 18th – Saturday, October 3rd, 2026
Description: German-inspired culinary and drink specials running across two weeks, featuring currywurst, Bavarian chicken sandwiches, Oktoberfest sausage plates, Black Forest bundt cake, and house Helles lager pairings.
🎤 Karaoke & Trivias
Thursday 17
Bingo Nights | Evergreen State Brewing, Tacoma | 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
Karaoke Thursdays | Mikey's Public House, Tacoma | 6:00 pm - 8:30 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
Trivia Night | The Beer Vault, Gig Harbor | 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm
Trivia & Karaoke Night | Airport Tavern, Tacoma | 7:00 pm
Team Trivia | Farrelli’s Pizza, 6th Ave, Tacoma | 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Team Trivia | Farrelli’s Pizza, 5612 176th St E, Puyallup | 7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Karaoke at The Coaster | The Coaster, Puyallup | 7:00 pm - 10:30 pm
The SandBAR Karaoke Night | The SandBAR, Tacoma | 8:00 pm
Downtown PSP Karaoke | Puget Sound Pizza, Tacoma | 9:00 pm - 11:00pm
World Class Karaoke | Bob’s Java Jive, Tacoma | 9:00 pm - 1:40 am
Friday 18
Globe Tilt Trivia | Hidden Harbor Wine Library, Gig Harbor | 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm
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
PV Karaoke Night | Puerto Vallarta Restaurant, Milton | 9:00 pm - 11:59 pm
🧑🌾 Farmers’ Markets
☀ Weather
🖖 Before we go
The Grit City Gauntlet
Lace up your walking shoes for an epic tour of Tacoma! The Grit City Gauntlet takes off this Saturday, September 19, for a free, self-paced 22-mile urban walk showcasing some of the best corners of the city—from Wright Park and UPS to Point Defiance, Ruston Way, and Stadium High.
The full walk kicks off at 9:00 AM outside the Washington State History Museum and wraps up around 5:30–6:00 PM at 7 Seas Brewery & Taproom for post-walk drinks.
Don't want to do all 22 miles? You can hop on or off anywhere along the route, with scheduled check-ins at the Proctor Farmers Market (10:45 AM), Fort Nisqually (1:00 PM), Point Ruston (2:45 PM), and Northern Fish Co. (4:00 PM). It's completely free to join—just bring good walking shoes, plenty of water, and snacks!
Click here for more information.
Thank you for reading, and I'll see you next Thursday.