🤘 Good morning, Tacoma. It's Thursday, April 23rd.
This weekend’s lineup is a wild mix. You can catch a Labyrinth-inspired aerial circus at the Armory, trade in your gear at the Pierce County Bike Swap, or hit the Pantages for some much-needed parenting humor with Dude Dad.
Whether you’re looking for a quiet morning bird walk at Point Defiance or a rowdy night of bull riding at the Dome, there’s plenty to get you out of the house.
Here’s your weekend breakdown:
🎭 Events
Thu 23
Labyrinth of Adventure | 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm (tickets)
Location: Tacoma Armory – 1001 S Yakima Ave
Description: An all-ages circus and aerial arts tribute to the classic 80s film Labyrinth. Follow Sarah’s journey to rescue her brother through acrobatic performances on silks, hoops, and slings, all set to an electrifying 70s and 80s soundtrack.
Elements: Material and Process in the Moving Image | 6:00 pm – 7:30 pm (Free)
Location: Tacoma Art Museum – 1701 Pacific Ave
Description: A free six-part film series featuring twenty-five contemporary works exploring the transformation of natural and artificial matter. Curated in dialogue with the exhibition HAUNTED, these films use moving images as a witness to personal and geologic histories.
Fri 24
Dude Dad's Parents Night Out (18+) | 7:00 pm (tickets)
Location: Pantages Theater – 901 Broadway
Description: Viral comedy sensation Taylor Calmus, known as "Dude Dad," brings his relatable parenting humor to the stage for an adults-only night of laughs. Tapping into the daily struggles of raising four kids, this show is designed for parents to find the humor in the chaos.
Game Night with the Park Guides | 4:30 pm – 7:00 pm (Free)
Location: Eastside Community Center – 1721 E 56th St
Description: A free, all-ages evening of tabletop gaming and friendly competition. Choose from a diverse library of games, including options with braille components for visually impaired participants, or bring your own from home to share. No registration is required; just drop in to play and connect.
Sat 25
Washington State History Awards | 5:30 pm – 8:00 pm (tickets)
Location: Washington State History Museum – 1911 Pacific Ave
Description: An evening celebrating major contributions to Washington’s history in writing, teaching, and cultural diversity. The event features a keynote by Dr. Johann N. Neem on modern narratives of the American Revolution, followed by a reception with appetizers and a bar.
Klahowya | 11:00 am – 4:00 pm (Free)
Location: Fort Nisqually Living History Museum – 5519 Five Mile Dr
Description: Kick off the museum's event season with a day of historic trades, guided tours, and family-friendly activities. You can plant seeds to take home, meet a cow while learning about 19th-century dairy, and sample food from a period kitchen. Admission is free for all Pierce County residents and Tribal members with ID.
Northwest Metaphysical Market | 11:00 am – 5:00 pm (Free)
Location: Broadway (between S 9th & S 11th) – 916 Broadway
Description: An inclusive outdoor market featuring metaphysical vendors, crystals, and unique crafts. Located across from Antique Row, it offers a vibrant community space to explore spiritual and magical offerings.
Disability Adventure Day | 4:30 pm – 7:30 pm (tickets)
Location: Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium – 5400 N Pearl St
Description: An inclusive, after-hours event for individuals with disabilities and their families. Highlights include meet-and-greets with Animal Ambassadors, diver interactions, and behind-the-scenes tours of the accessible Eye-to-Eye Shark Dive facility. Tickets are $2 per person; social stories and event maps are available to help guests prepare for the experience.
15th Annual Pierce County Bike Swap | 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Location: Tacoma Community College – 6501 S 19th St
Description: A free, family-friendly event to buy or sell used bicycles and parts. Features include a bike sale rack, free safety checks, a test-ride area, and a skills practice course. Attendees can also visit food trucks, grab low-cost helmets, and practice using the Pierce Transit bus bike racks.
Sun 26
Point Defiance Bird Walk | 8:30 am – 10:30 am (Free)
Location: Point Defiance Park (5-Mile Drive Entrance) – 5400 N Pearl St
Description: A guided walk through the forest to observe local bird species. Participants should be prepared to travel up to two miles on unpaved trails. Registration is required, and while bringing your own binoculars is encouraged, loaners are available.
🎸 Music
Events marked with ($) are paid events
Thu 23
Ray Baron | McMenamis Spanish Ballroom | 6:00 pm ($)
Fri 24
Fern Spores with Joyla Red and Arden Leas | Jazzbones | 8:00 pm ($)
Boots and Beats - A Night of Country and EDM | McMenamis Spanish Ballroom | 8:00 pm ($)
Sat 25
Kareem Kandi World Orchestra | Tacoma Mall | 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm (Free)
The Eclectics | The Spar | 7:00 pm ($)
Best 80’s Party Ever | McMenamis Spanish Ballroom | 8:00 pm ($)
Yo! MTV Raps Vs. 106 & Park | Jazzbones | 9:30 pm ($)
Sun 26
The Harmonica Pocket | McMenamis Spanish Ballroom | 11:00 am ($)
Cydeways | McMenamis Spanish Ballroom | 6:00 pm ($)
Armchair Boogie | Jazzbones | 7:00 pm ($)
Cody Bartels / Doyle Scott & the Lovesick Rodeo / Kirk Reese | The New Frontier | 7:00 pm ($)
😆 Comedy
Caroline Rhea (tickets)
Location: Tacoma Comedy Club – 933 Market St
Description: Renowned stand-up comedian and actress Caroline Rhea (Sabrina the Teenage Witch) brings her smart, spontaneous comedy to Tacoma. Shows starting at 9:30 pm or later are 21+; earlier shows are 18+. Note: A two-item minimum purchase is required in the showroom.
⚾ Sports
Fri 24
Sat 25
☀ Weather
🫡 Before we go
The Budos Band is coming to McMenamins Spanish Ballroom on May 3rd. If you haven’t heard them, they play this wild, "genreless" mix of horn-heavy funk and psychedelic rock that’s perfect for a late-night vibe. Tickets are on sale now, but their shows tend to sell out fast; grab yours soon if you want to catch them.
Thank you for reading, and I'll see you on Thursday.