August 1 The Proctor Business District Association's signature street fair returns to North 26th and Proctor Streets in Tacoma's Proctor District on Saturday, August 1, for its 30th year, drawing roughly 10,000 visitors and 160 art and craft vendors. Three stages of live music run throughout the day, including the Family Stage hosted by Tacoma Public Library. The Proctor Farmers Market, a kids area led by Metro Parks Tacoma, food trucks, and a merchant sidewalk sale round out

August 15 Fort Steilacoom Park hosts the City of Lakewood's signature summer festival on Saturday, August 15 from 11 am to 8:30 pm with food trucks, beer gardens, live music, fire dancers, a pop-up skate park, classic car show, and interactive sports and arts for all ages. International performances and global flavors fill the day, alongside the regulars who make this a Lakewood tradition. The festival is free and family-friendly. Address: 8714 87th Avenue SW, Lakewood....

Five improbable moments. One thread. And a question worth asking 250 years later. By Steve Russo Four bullets passed through his coat. Two horses died beneath him. He walked off the field. He was twenty-three years old. It was July 9, 1755. The British column had marched into an ambush near the Monongahela River, deep in what is now western Pennsylvania. The commanding general was dead. The officers around the young Virginia colonel were being cut down where they stood. The b

July 23–25 | Asia Pacific Cultural Center, Tacoma The Asia Pacific Cultural Center's 16th Annual Samoa Cultural Days runs July 23–25, with three days rooted in Samoan heritage and the Pacific Islander community. A Community Banquet opens Thursday evening, Samoa Youth Gospel Night follows on Friday, and the weekend closes with the Tanoa Festival on Saturday, an outdoor celebration featuring live performances, cultural exhibitions, food vendors, and family activities. The event

©Pneuma Glass July 18–19 | Sehmel Homestead Park, Gig Harbor The Peninsula Art League Summer Arts Festival returns to Sehmel Homestead Park July 18 and 19 for its 40th year. More than 100 juried artists from the Pacific Northwest and beyond will present work across ceramics, glass, metal, painting, photography, jewelry, fiber arts, sculpture, and other mediums. Live music begins at noon both days on the Kimball Coffeehouse Music Stage. The festival also includes the PAL Summe

A milestone festival supporting artists and future creatives By Like Media Team For 40 years, the Peninsula Art League (PAL) Summer Arts Festival has brought community to the artist and art to the community. The 40th festival takes place July 18 and 19, 2026, at Sehmel Homestead Park. Admission and parking are free. Saturday hours are 10 am–6 pm, and Sunday hours are 10 am–5 pm. “Reaching this milestone is a moment of immense pride for us,” says PAL President Robin Avni. “We

Saturday, July 4, 2026 Tacoma's largest free Fourth of July celebration returns to the Ruston Way Waterfront on Friday, July 4, running noon to 10:30 pm across two event footprints at Cummings Park and Dune Peninsula. Parks Tacoma hosts the day in partnership with the City of Tacoma, drawing more than 150 vendors, two stages of live music, food trucks, and craft markets stretched along the waterfront. A Family Zone at Cummings Park anchors the kid-focused programming with a

A real estate approach shaped by care, trust, and life’s transitions By Like Media Team Lindsay Jackman started her career in senior care, providing in-home support to elderly clients across the Gig Harbor area. The work required earning trust quickly, often in moments of real vulnerability. She learned to read a room, hold space for hard conversations, and balance many moving parts at once while keeping every client's dignity intact. Years later, those same instincts shape

June 26-28 The South Sound's summer food festival returns to the Washington State Fair Event Center June 26 through 28 for its fifth year, with $6 tastes, 150 plus food and marketplace vendors, live music, and outdoor beer gardens. The 2026 edition brings back the Puyallup Paddle Battle pickleball tournament, adds the first annual Corgi Races benefiting the Alzheimer's Association, and features a comedy stage presented by Tacoma Comedy Club. Sample everything from BBQ and tac

June 12-14 Downtown Puyallup turns into a three-block celebration of pioneer heritage, live music, and community June 12 through 14 as Meeker Days returns for its 87th year. The Puyallup Main Street Association festival features more than 200 artisans, food vendors, three stages of free entertainment, a beer and wine garden, classic car show, and a dedicated kids area with a sandbox, spray park, and playground. Friday runs noon to 9 pm, Saturday 10 am to 9 pm, Sunday 10 am to

Photo by Images by Brant A fee-only fiduciary helping clients move from uncertainty to confidence By Like Media TeamIn a financial planning meeting, the room can change. The numbers are on the table. The full picture is visible. And the person sitting across from the advisors at Stolz & Associates sees, often for the first time, that they are going to be okay. That sense of clarity is what the Tacoma-based firm is built around. Dave Stolz founded Stolz & Associates in 2001

May 16 An evening dedicated to easing the financial burden of cancer returns to Tacoma this spring. Hosted by Cancer Cartel, the 2026 Food, Fun & Fundraising Gala brings supporters together for a focused night of fundraising and community impact. On May 16, 2026, guests will gather to support direct financial assistance grants to cancer Warriors to cover essential living expenses, including housing, food, transportation, utilities, and other critical needs. What sets Cancer

May 16 Hear the Tacoma Youth Symphony close out the season with The Year 1905: Love and War at the Rialto Theater. This program reflects on the events of 1905, including Bloody Sunday in St. Petersburg, and the resilience that followed. The concert features Shostakovich’s Symphony No. 11 “The Year 1905,” Kenneth Alford’s Colonel Bogey March, and Bernstein’s Overture to West Side Story. Free student tickets are available at the door with a student ID (for college-aged and youn

May 16 Petpalooza returns for a full day dedicated to pets and the people who love them. This free event takes place on May 16, 2026, from 10 am to 5 pm. The day kicks off with the Dog Trot 3K/5K Fun Run and features an animal-related entertainment stage, flydog and agility demonstrations, the popular “Unleashed” Pet Contest, an agility area, vendor booths, adoptions, giveaways, and low-cost pet services. Leashed, licensed, well-behaved pets are welcome. Visit AuburnWA.gov/pe

May 2-3 The Wild Wonders Outdoor Theater reopens at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, inviting guests to experience animals demonstrating their natural behaviors in a live outdoor setting. This interactive show highlights the Zoo’s animal ambassadors while offering educational insights into wildlife conservation. The Opening of Wild Wonders Outdoor Theater takes place May 2–3, 2026, from 9 am to 5 pm. Bring your curiosity and enjoy engaging presentations designed for all ages.

Tracing the origins of Easter By Steve Russo Easter did not begin with choirs, pastel colors, or packed churches. It began in a dim upper room in Jerusalem around 30 CE. A small circle of Jewish followers gathered for Passover, the ancient remembrance of liberation from Egypt. The lamb was prepared. The bread was unleavened. Bitter herbs were placed on the table. Tradition was intact. Then came the moment no one expected. Their teacher, Jesus of Nazareth, reframed the meal. W

April 25 Support local animal welfare at the Whiskers & Paws Gala hosted by Auburn Valley Humane Society. This annual fundraiser takes place April 25, 2026, from 5 to 8:30 pm at the Federal Way Performing Arts & Event Center, 31510 Pete Von Reichbauer Way S, Federal Way. The evening includes a silent and live auction, appetizers, dinner, program, and Raise the Paddle. Proceeds benefit shelter programs and community pet services. Visit AuburnValleyHS.org for tickets and event

April 10-12 & 17-19 The Washington State Spring Fair returns to Puyallup with rides, animals, free entertainment, fair food, exhibits, and classic attractions spread across the fairgrounds. The event offers something for all ages, from agricultural showcases to live performances and midway favorites. Taking place April 10–12 and April 17–19, 2026, the fair delivers two weekends of spring fun and tradition. Family-friendly experiences and seasonal displays make it a popular an

April 17-19 The Daffodil 2026 Marine Festival & Parade is a spirited boating celebration where the Gig Harbor Yacht Club joins the Tacoma Yacht Club for one of Puget Sound’s most beloved spring traditions. The festival features themed parties, trivia, live music, boat decorating, and the vibrant marine parade along Commencement Bay. This event draws boaters and spectators alike to celebrate community, creativity, and maritime culture. It runs from April 17–19, 2026, with para

Simple habits for everyday living By Jennifer Hawkins, key2see with Hawkins Poe Nine times out of ten, when we’re getting a home prepped and polished for its big listing launch, the homeowners pause in the doorway, look around, and say, “Wow… I wish my house looked like this the whole time we lived here.” So here’s the question: why didn’t it? Staging isn’t about making a home feel untouchable or uncomfortable. It’s about creating space that flows. It’s about walking into a r