☕ Good morning! It's #dayoftheweek
The Washington State Fair officially kicks off this Friday in Puyallup, bringing back iconic rides, rodeo thrills, and Fisher scones. Plus, this Labor Day weekend features the 47th Annual Puyallup Tribal Powwow, Soulfull Festival, End of Summer Blast at the zoo, and big stand-up comedy across Tacoma.
Here is your quick guide.
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🎪 Washington State Fair
Rides, concerts, rodeo action, and iconic eats return to Puyallup
Washington's biggest tradition returns to the Puyallup Fairgrounds this Friday, September 4th, celebrating 126 years of livestock shows, carnival rides, and fair food.
Rides & Thrills: 30+ rides from the 1923 Antique Carousel and 1935 Classic Coaster to the 20-story Extreme Scream drop tower.
Entertainment & Rodeo: 20 nights of live music in the Columbia Bank Concert Series, plus the PRCA Cinch Playoff Series Puyallup Rodeo (September 10–13).
Animals & Agriculture: Daily farm fun with the new K9 Kings Flying Dog Show, milking and draft horse demos, Cattle Birthing Exhibit, petting areas, and 4-H and FFA livestock competitions.
America250 Features: Interactive exhibits including the traveling Freedom Truck museum and historic galleries.
Fair Food Deals: Fisher scones, Earthquake Burgers, BBQ Pete's, and weekday Fair Value Menu deals — $8 items and $12 meals at participating vendors.
Transit Tip: Skip the parking gridlock and take the Pierce Transit Fair Express from Lakewood or South Hill. Parking at transit lots is free, buses run daily, and riders 18 and under ride free.
📰 Community
Tacoma: Free Youth Summer Film Camp (Sept 3–5 & 10–12)
Middle and high school students can learn movie-making from industry pros at the Tacoma Main Library (1102 Tacoma Ave S).
Presented by Write253 and L61 Productions, this free, hands-on workshop covers screenwriting, camera work, acting, and editing.
Sessions run Thursdays and Fridays (4–7 p.m.) and Saturdays (1–6 p.m.), with equipment, snacks, and lunch fully provided. Space is limited; register here.
🎟 Events
Thursday 3
Canasta Thursdays | 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Location: Hidden Harbor Wine Library, Gig Harbor
Price: Free
Description: A casual weekly game night welcoming both beginners and seasoned card players to learn and play the classic card game Canasta over wine in the library lounge.
Free Thursday Neighborhood Nights | 5:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Location: Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma
Price: Free
Description: Free weekly evening admission to TAM with open galleries, art-making in the TAM Studio, community programming, and food and drinks at TAM Cafe.
Friday 4
47th Annual Puyallup Tribal Labor Day Powwow | Multi-Day
Location: 3509 72nd Street, Tacoma
Date: Friday, September 4th – Sunday, September 6th
Price: Free admission
Description: A three-day cultural celebration featuring intertribal dance and drum competitions, regalia showcases, local Native artisan craft booths, and a traditional community salmon bake on Saturday evening.
Fruitland Grange Social Dance | 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm
Location: The Fruitland Grange, Puyallup
Price: $10 suggested donation
Description: An open, all-levels social dance night with line dancing, two-step, West Coast Swing, and round dancing. Song requests welcome and beginner-friendly.
Cosmic Legacy: Tribute to Queen | 7:00 pm
Location: Pierce College Science Dome, Lakewood
Price: $15 (tickets)
Description: An immersive full-dome planetarium experience pairing psychedelic space visuals with Queen's iconic catalog, including "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "We Will Rock You."
Downtown Tacoma Ghost Tour | 7:30 pm
Location: Front door of McMenamins Elks Temple
Price: $30 (tickets)
Description: An outdoor walking tour through Tacoma's haunted past, infamous murders, and local legends, wrapping up along historic Whiskey Row with guide recommendations for local nightspots.
Saturday 5
End of Summer Blast | 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Daily
Location: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (5400 N Pearl St), Tacoma
Date: Saturday, September 5th – Monday, September 7th
Price: Free with general admission or zoo membership
Description: Labor Day weekend family celebration featuring cold enrichment treats for the animals, hands-on invertebrate encounters at the Pacific Seas Aquarium Tidal Touch Zone, and special keeper activities.
Feeding Frenzy | 9:30 am – 5:00 pm Daily
Location: Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, Eatonville
Date: Thursday, September 3rd – Saturday, September 5th
Price: Included with general park admission or membership
Description: An annual wildlife enrichment showcase with scheduled feedings for badgers, grizzly bears, wolverines, gray wolves, otters, and cougars, designed to stimulate natural foraging and hunting behaviors. Full access to the Kids' Trek outdoor play area included.
Yoga in the Park | 9:00 am – 10:00 am
Location: Gig Harbor Civic Center Park
Price: Free
Description: A relaxing, all-levels outdoor morning yoga session in the grass at Civic Center Park; family-friendly and open to all experience levels (bring your own mat or towel and water).
3rd Annual Soulfull Festival | 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Location: South 9th Street & Broadway, Tacoma
Price: Free admission
Description: An outdoor community celebration hosted by Black Night Market featuring a vibrant lineup of food trucks, food vendors, artisan booths, and live musical performances.
Speedy Carve Workshop | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Location: Tacoma Public Library Main Branch, Tacoma
Price: Free
Description: A monthly hands-on printmaking workshop open to all ages, where participants carve rubber linoleum blocks and print custom relief creations.
🎸 Music
😆 Comedy
Mike E. Winfield | 7:30 pm & 9:45 pm | Friday 4 - Saturday 5
Location: Tacoma Comedy Club (6th Ave.)
Price: Starting at $22.99 (tickets)
Description: Emmy-nominated comedian Mike E. Winfield (The Office, Late Show, America's Got Talent) brings his high-energy stand-up and quick-witted crowd work to the stage.
Ian Bagg | 7:00 pm, 8:45 pm & 9:45 pm | Thursday 3 - Saturday 5
Location: Tacoma Comedy Club (933 Market St)
Price: Starting at 30.29 (tickets)
Description: Veteran comedian Ian Bagg (Last Comic Standing, Conan) brings his rapid-fire crowd work and off-the-cuff humor to the stage.
Luenell Live | 7:00 pm & 9:30 pm | Friday 4 - Saturday 5
Location: Super Funny Comedy Club, Tacoma
Price: Starting at 44.81 (tickets)
Description: Actress and comedian Luenell (Borat, Hacks) brings her raw, bold, and high-energy stand-up to downtown Tacoma.
🎤 Karaoke & Trivias
Thursday 3
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 4
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
🧑🌾 Farmers’ Markets
☀ Weather
🖖 Before we go
Taste of Asia Pacific: Philippines at APCC
The APCC's monthly Taste of Asia Pacific series spotlights Filipino cuisine this Saturday, September 5 at 11:00 am. Expect interactive cooking demos and authentic tastings exploring the islands' blend of indigenous, Spanish, and Asian flavors. $20 for APCC members, $25 for non-members. Located at 4851 S. Tacoma Way.
Thank you for reading, and I'll see you next Thursday.