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Festivals, Concerts, Films, Fairs

Celebrate all Summer in the South Sound

In the sun-kissed playground of Tacoma, Mount Rainier and the South Sound, this summer promises a cornucopia of festivities that will make even the most stoic introverts reconsider their reclusive ways.

From toe-tapping concerts and film screenings to kaleidoscopic festivals and performances that make you go "hmmmm," it's as though the region has become a giant treasure chest, brimming with culture and entertainment! So, if you've been searching for a reason to visit this sizzling slice of paradise, grab your sunscreen and shades, and prepare for an unforgettable whirlwind of adventure in the land where boredom is as scarce as snow in July.

Get pumped up for your events and itineraries!

Scroll through the calendar below, or download your own Summer Magic Calendar PDF here!

bite of tacoma

FRIDAY AUGUST 16

  • Bite of Tacoma
    Aug 16-18 | Tacoma Dome, Tacoma
    Learn More

  • Milton Days Kickoff
    Aug 16 Kickoff, Aug 17 Parade | Milton Community Park
    Learn More

milton days

SATURDAY AUGUST 17

  • Milton Days Parade
    Aug 17 | Milton Community Park
    Learn More

  • Sumner Summertime Sip and Stroll
    Aug 17 | Downtown Sumner
    Learn More

  • Community Litter Cleanup
    Aug 17 | Point Defiance Boathouse, Tacoma
    Learn More

  • Summer Bash: Kung Fu Panda Outdoor Movie in the Park
    Aug 17 | Stewart Heights, Tacoma
    Learn More

  • Coffee and Cones Car Show
    Aug 17 | Elbe, WA
    Learn More

  • Bite of Tacoma
    Aug 16-18 | Tacoma Dome, Tacoma
    Learn More

garlic and goats festival

SUNDAY AUGUST 18

  • Goats and Garlic Festival
    Aug 18 | Simple Goodness Sisters Soda Shop, Wilkeson
    Learn More

  • Bite of Tacoma
    Aug 16-18 | Tacoma Dome, Tacoma
    Learn More

  • Tiptoe Through the Tidepools
    Aug 18 | Titlow Park, Tacoma
    Learn More

kids club bonney lake

MONDAY AUGUST 19

  • Kids Club: Reptileman!
    Aug. 19 | 6:30-7:30 P.M. | 7203 W Tapps Hwy E, Bonney Lake
    Learn More

family nature walk

TUESDAY AUGUST 20

music on the square university place

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 21

  • Music on the Square
    July 10 | 6:00-8:00 P.M. | 3609 Market Place West, University Place
    Learn More

  • Tunes at Tapps: Good Times Roll
    Aug. 21 | 5:00-8:00 P.M. | 19501 Bonney Lake Blvd E, Bonney Lake
    Learn More

fircrest concert in the park

THURSDAY AUGUST 22

  • Fircrest Concert in the Park: Harmonious Funk Band
    Aug 22 | Fircrest Park
    Learn More

bonney lake days

FRIDAY AUGUST 23

  • Bonney Lake Days
    Aug 23-24 | Bonney Lake
    Learn More

dupont bbq cookoff

SATURDAY AUGUST 24

  • DuPont BBQ Cook Off
    Aug 24-25 | DuPont
    Learn More

  • Hilltop Street Fair
    Aug 24 | 11th St & Martin Luther King, Jr Way, Tacoma
    Learn More

  • Parkland Pace or Race
    Aug 24 | Washington High School, Tacoma
    Learn More

  • Bonney Lake Days
    Aug 23-24 | Bonney Lake
    Learn More

hudson's bay heritage day

SUNDAY AUGUST 25

  • Hudson’s Bay Heritage Day & 1843 Fort Nisqually Site Tour
    Aug 25 | Dupont Historical Museum
    Learn More

  • Point Defiance Bird Walk
    Aug 25 | Point Defiance, Tacoma
    Learn More

  • DuPont BBQ Cook Off
    Aug 24-25 | DuPont
    Learn More

climb for a cause

MONDAY AUGUST 26

  • Climb for a Cause
    Aug 26-29 | Mount Rainier National Park
    Learn More

puyallup fish hatchery kids

TUESDAY AUGUST 27

sumner main street

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 28

  • Shop Sumner’s Main Street
    Downtown Sumner
    Learn More

  • Music on the Square
    Aug. 28 | 6:00-8:00 P.M. | 3609 Market Place West, University Place
    Learn More

Heritage Distilling Gig Harbor

THURSDAY AUGUST 29

​tacoma decimation fest

FRIDAY AUGUST 30

  • Tacoma Decimation Fest 2: An All Ages Death Metal Fest
    Aug 30-31 | Tacoma
    Learn More

 

end of summer blast point defiance zoo

SATURDAY AUGUST 31

  • End of Summer Blast
    Aug 31-Sept 2 | Point Defiance Zoo, Tacoma
    Learn More

  • LeMay Annual Show
    Aug 31 | LeMay Collections at Marymount, Tacoma
    Learn More

  • Intermediate Kayaking: Nisqually Delta
    Aug 31 | Luhr Beach Boat Launch, Olympia
    Learn More

  • Washington State Fair
    Aug 31-Sept 22 | Puyallup Fairgrounds
    Learn More

  • Feeding Frenzy at NW Trek
    Aug 31-Sept 2 | 11610 Trek Drive E, Eatonville
    Learn More

  • Tacoma Decimation Fest 2: An All Ages Death Metal Fest
    Aug 30-31 | Tacoma
    Learn More

feeding frenzy nw trek

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 1

  • Feeding Frenzy at NW Trek
    Aug 31-Sept 2 | 11610 Trek Drive E, Eatonville
    Learn More

  • End of Summer Blast
    Aug 31-Sept 2 | Point Defiance Zoo, Tacoma
    Learn More

  • Washington State Fair
    Aug 31-Sept 22 | Puyallup Fairgrounds
    Learn More

washington state fair

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 2

  • Washington State Fair
    Aug 31-Sept 22 | Puyallup Fairgrounds
    Learn More

  • End of Summer Blast
    Aug 31-Sept 2 | Point Defiance Zoo, Tacoma
    Learn More

  • Feeding Frenzy at NW Trek
    Aug 31-Sept 2 | 11610 Trek Drive E, Eatonville
    Learn More

pink at the tacoma dome p!nk

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 3

  • P!nk comes to the Tacoma Dome
    Sept 3 | Tacoma Dome
    Learn More

  • Washington State Fair
    Aug 31-Sept 22 | Puyallup Fairgrounds
    Learn More

happy hour at water from wine

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 4 

  • Happy Hour at Water from Wine
    Every Mon. and Wed. | 1704 Pacific Ave, Tacoma
    Learn More

  • Washington State Fair
    Aug 31-Sept 22 | Puyallup Fairgrounds
    Learn More

puyallup rodeo

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 5

  • The Puyallup Rodeo
    Sept 5-8 | Washington State Fair, Puyallup
    Learn More

  • Washington State Fair
    Aug 31-Sept 22 | Puyallup Fairgrounds
    Learn More

kurt metzger tacoma comedy club

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 6

  • Kurt Metzger at Tacoma Comedy Club
    Sept 6-7 | 933 Market St, Tacoma
    Learn More

  • The Puyallup Rodeo
    Sept 5-8 | Washington State Fair, Puyallup
    Learn More

  • Washington State Fair
    Aug 31-Sept 22 | Puyallup Fairgrounds
    Learn More

fiesta de la familia

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 7

  • Fiesta De La Familia
    Sept 7 | Fort Steilacoom Park, Lakewood
    Learn More

  • Harvest Home Traditional Harvest Festival
    Sept 7 | Fort Nisqually, Tacoma
    Learn More

  • Kurt Metzger at Tacoma Comedy Club
    Sept 6-7 | 933 Market St, Tacoma
    Learn More

  • The Puyallup Rodeo
    Sept 5-8 | Washington State Fair, Puyallup
    Learn More

  • Washington State Fair
    Aug 31-Sept 22 | Puyallup Fairgrounds
    Learn More

elk bugling tour nw trek

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 8

  • Elk Bugling Tour at NW Trek
    Sept 8 | 11610 Trek Drive E., Eatonville
    Learn More

  • The Puyallup Rodeo
    Sept 5-8 | Washington State Fair, Puyallup
    Learn More

  • Washington State Fair
    Aug 31-Sept 22 | Puyallup Fairgrounds
    Learn More

monday night football dinner at doyle's

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 9

  • Kick off football season at Doyle’s with Monday Night Football dinner
    Sept 9 | 208 St Helens Ave, Tacoma
    Learn More

  • Washington State Fair
    Aug 31-Sept 22 | Puyallup Fairgrounds
    Learn More

u-pick apples

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 10

artvana paint and sip

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 11

  • Artvana Paint and Sip Class
    Sept 11 | ​Locust Cider, Gig Harbor
    Learn More

  • Kidz Bop Live at Washington State Fair
    Sept 11 | Puyallup State Fairgrounds
    Learn More

  • Washington State Fair
    Aug 31-Sept 22 | Puyallup Fairgrounds
    Learn More

bike walk roll summit

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 12

  • Bike Walk Roll Summit 2024
    Sept 12 | University of Washington Tacoma YMCA Student Center, Tacoma
    Learn More

  • Free Neighborhood Night at Tacoma Art Museum
    Sept 12 | Tacoma Art Museum, Tacoma
    Learn More

  • Washington State Fair
    Aug 31-Sept 22 | Puyallup Fairgrounds
    Learn More

spooky stories clocktower park

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 13

  • Spooky Stories at Clocktower Park
    Sept 13 | Clocktower Park, DuPont
    Learn More

  • Washington State Fair
    Aug 31-Sept 22 | Puyallup Fairgrounds
    Learn More

celebration on the hill

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 14

  • Celebration on the Hill
    Sept 14 | Community House, Tacoma
    Learn More

  • Washington State Fair
    Aug 31-Sept 22 | Puyallup Fairgrounds
    Learn More

lakewold music from home

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 15

  • Lakewold Gardens Music From Home: The Sound of Mexico
    Sept 15 | 12317 Gravelly Lake Drive SW, Lakewood
    Learn More

  • Paradise Pond Beginner and Family-Friendly Bird Walk
    Paradise Pond Park, Tacoma
    Learn More

  • Washington State Fair
    Aug 31-Sept 22 | Puyallup Fairgrounds
    Learn More

Native plant sale

MONDAY SEPTEMBER 16

  • Tacoma Fall Native Plant Sale
    Sept 14-29, Online
    Learn More

  • Washington State Fair
    Aug 31-Sept 22 | Puyallup Fairgrounds
    Learn More

farmers market produce

TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 17

  • Last Lakewood Farmers Market of the season
    Sept 17 | 8714 87th Ave SW, Lakewood
    Learn More

  • Washington State Fair
    Aug 31-Sept 22 | Puyallup Fairgrounds
    Learn More

Fife Bike Trail Brookville Gardens

WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 18

  • Summer bucket list: visit parks throughout Pierce County
    Learn More

  • Washington State Fair
    Aug 31-Sept 22 | Puyallup Fairgrounds
    Learn More

Mount Rainier fall

THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 19

  • Timed entry reservations are no longer needed for Mount Rainier National Park. Why not sneak one more visit before the fall?
    Learn More

  • Washington State Fair
    Aug 31-Sept 22 | Puyallup Fairgrounds
    Learn More

Point Ruston - Wheel Fun Bike and Surrey Rentals

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 20

drop in hikes point defiance

SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 21

  • Drop in Hikes at Point Defiance
    Saturdays | Rhododendron Garden, Tacoma
    Learn More

  • Washington State Fair
    Aug 31-Sept 22 | Puyallup Fairgrounds
    Learn More

Ice Cream Social - Photo by Alex Balansay

SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 22

  • Last day of summer: get some ice cream!
    We love Ice Cream Social, Bliss Small Batch, La Michoacana Classic, Iscreamery, and many more throughout Pierce County.
    Learn More

  • Washington State Fair
    Aug 31-Sept 22 | Puyallup Fairgrounds
    Learn More