60 year anniversary tribute, 20th annual native arts market and Northwest Native Festival, Pierce County Fair, and more. 
Happy Tuesday, Tacoma. You know the drill – grab your coffee (or whatever you sip in the morning), kick back, and let Tacoma Brief serve up everything you need to know for the week ahead.
📰 In the news
Local happenings: A sleek bar filling an old downtown bank, AI cameras on recycling trucks to curb contamination, and top honors for local stroke care teams — catch up here.
State-level stories: Owl ambassadors flapping into rehab fame, over 50 wineries earning Sustainable WA labels, and Olympic Peninsula road loop crowned a top 2025 drive — see what else is brewing.
National headlines: Safety alerts for hundreds of thousands of Kia and Ford vehicles as an early Atlantic storm takes shape, and Mediterranean diet tips ease inflammation — peruse the best of the rest.
Highlights this week
- Discuss transit improvements with city council
- Explore summer jobs serving children and community
- Give blood Wednesday at Pierce College Puyallup
- Connect with nonprofit leaders over breakfast
- Access free services and job opportunities
- Endurance’s auto protection plan is $300 off
🫶 We got your back
Treats: Whether your cat’s palate is picky or your dog’s idea of fun is squeaky toys, these Tacoma pet stores deliver goodies that’ll have them purring or wagging in no time.
Golf: Stuck on a work trip, I googled “golf courses near me” and somehow ended up playing 36 holes in two days while barely scratching the surface. These must-play courses prove Washington is America’s most underrated golf destination.
Travel: Traveling solo doesn’t have to feel scary once you hit 50, and these safety hacks will have you packing your bag with confidence.
Playhouse: Whether you’re craving toe-tapping show tunes, spine-tingling drama, or the offbeat charm of experimental one-acts, Tacoma Musical Playhouse brings center-stage magic (and just enough backstage buzz) to town.
Wealth: $4,000. That’s how much an ounce of gold is expected to cost in 2026. And since gold thrives in unstable markets, its rally appears far from over. Check out gold IRAs, which let you own physical gold while taking advantage of IRA tax breaks.
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📆 Around town this week
All events are subject to change without notice. This is entirey outside our control. Please check official event pages and social media for the most up to date information.
This week
⚾ Tacoma Rainiers vs. Reno Aces @ Cheney Stadium | Tuesday (8/5) at 12:05pm – Cheer on the Rainiers vs. the Aces at our cozy Cheney Stadium, where kids under three lap it up for free and only sealed water and your credit card get past the gates. It’s cashless, rainchecks not refunds, plus local banter guaranteed.
🏖️ The Sweet Beach Summertime Show @ Real Art Tacoma | Tuesday (8/5) at 7:30pm – Imagine drag queens doing shark ballet on a wrecked riverboat, juggling, swing dancing, and melodrama worthy of a campy ’60s beach flick. It’s a delightfully absurd mash-up of Jaws, Showboat, and summer musicals, perfect for those who appreciate a little salty, sweet chaos.
🎸 60 Year Anniversary @ McMenamins Elks Temple | Wednesday (8/6) at 6:00pm – Still got that old Help! vinyl, or just belt Beatles choruses in the shower? Swing by the Spanish Ballroom for a cheeky 60th anniversary tribute. Dain Norman and the Chrysalis Effect drop a fresh cover with garage-rock grit. No revolver necessary.
🎉 14th Year Anniversary | Friday (8/8) at 11:00am – Think over 80 lumpia flavors are enough for a lifetime? After 14 years, Northwest Lumpia is still cranking out fusion rolls, plus the annual comeback of Mom’s Shanghai-style special. Swing by for a bite, snag some free cake, and call it quality control.
🌆 Hot August Night | Friday (8/8) at 4:00pm – Who knew a row of ’67 Camaros pairs so well with a bouncy house? The 4th annual Hot August Night with DAWGEATDOGS is our car-show carnival with gleaming classics, live tunes, food trucks, and your vote crowning the top ride.
This weekend
🏅 Comeback Sports Day | Saturday (8/9) at 9:00am – This sports block party turns the street into Tacoma’s biggest playground, featuring cornhole, pickup hoops, and concession-stand nostalgia. Grab the family, shake out the rookie moves, and brace for gentle trash talk, sodas, and enough friendly rivalry to remind you why you came home.
🎨 20th Annual In the Spirit Arts Market & Northwest Native Festival @ Washington State History Museum | Saturday (8/9) at 10:00am – Celebrating two decades of Native arts, this free summer shindig hosted by Tacoma’s museums stuffs your day with artisan vendors, live performances, and a fashion show that makes your closet feel underdressed. Wander through beadwork and basketry, grab some fry bread, call yourself cultured.
🏖️ August Beach Cleanup @ Thea Foss Waterfront Park | Saturday (8/9) at 11:00am – Nothing says coastal self-improvement like gathering rogue plastic, greeting the sun in downward dog, and hunting starfish at low tide. It’s a triple threat that scrubs the sand and your karma, with bonus sea life spotting for bragging rights.
⛺ Brigade Encampment | Saturday (8/9) at 11:00am – Grab your tricorn hat and wander back to 1855 at Fort Nisqually’s Brigade Encampment, where Angus McDonald’s fur brigade rolls in with trappers’ games and authentic crafts. Sample vintage grub, barter a Hudson’s Bay contract, catch Punch and Judy, then sway to Hawaiian hula.
🎡 Pierce County Fair | Sunday (8/10) at 10:00am – Nothing says small-town charm like a week spent sampling funnel cake at Pierce County’s community fair, where the 2025 “Blue Jeans and Country Dreams” theme basically begs you to bust out your best denim, ride a Ferris wheel, and cheer on pie-eating champions.
Wanna see more? Browse our full events calendar →
🎶 Live music & entertainment
- 8/5 Summer Nights @ Fort Steilacoom Park – 6:30 pm
- 8/5 Clint Black @ Muckleshoot Casino – 8 pm
- 8/6 Oncore and more @ Kent Station – 4 pm
- 8/6 Outdoor Concert #1 @ Wright Park – 6:30 pm
- 8/6 Grand Funk Railroad and more @ Muckleshoot Casino – 8 pm
- 8/7 Almost Human @ Puyallup Rotary Stage – 6:30 pm
- 8/7 Nikko & The Night Shift @ McMenamins Elks Temple – 7 pm
- 8/7 Brian McKnight @ Muckleshoot Casino – 8 pm
- 8/8 RivetSkull @ McMenamins Elks Temple – 7 pm
- 8/9 Rockin’ R&B Festival @ Gig Harbor Sportsman Club – 12 pm
🏠️ This house is wild
Big views and bigger vibes. This custom two-story shows off Mt. Rainier, the Puget Sound, and the Tacoma skyline from almost every room. Hardwood floors shine, the kitchen means business with loads of counter space, and the family room spills out onto a deck made for sunset-watching. The main floor office is ready to moonlight as a fifth bedroom.
Upstairs, the primary suite comes with its own private deck, a fireplace for cozy nights, and a five-piece bath that knows how to pamper. The backyard is a landscaped showstopper, perfect for garden parties or just soaking up those jaw-dropping vistas.
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