Pierce County Events Calendar
This calendar is the place to find fun events happening throughout Pierce County, including Tacoma, Puyallup, Lakewood and beyond.
Have an event that isn’t listed? Please email events@SouthSoundTalk.com with the following information:
- Name of Event
- Date, time and location (name of business if applicable and complete address)
- Organizer(s) name
- Cost
- URL to purchase tickets
- Website URL
- SHORT description of the event
- Photo
Our editors will review and post within a few business days.
We’re excited to celebrate our third year as Tacoma’s only Black Community Theatre Organization dedicated to producing powerful works by and featuring Black artists that honor our unique beauty, talents, history, legacy, and future!
“A Hilltop Holiday” is more than just a show—it’s a soulful celebration of redemption, the true spirit of the season filled with joy, warmth, and togetherness. Time travel with Hilltop Slumlord, Eb Scrooge on his journey from a grumpy miser to a joyful Hilltop community member guided by spirited visits of three unforgettable ghosts.
We have a wonderful cast of Tacoma’s best singers, dancers & actors for the most soulful spectacular winter holiday musical in Tacoma, ” A HILLTOP HOLIDAY!”
PERFORMANCE DATES: November 15, 16, 17 and November 22, 23, 24
** Friday November 22nd is Pay What You Can.
Ticket Pricing:
Golden (Seniors 60+) & Military: $25
Adults: $30
Young Adults (19-25): $20
Teens, Children & Babies in Arms: $5
VIP Seats (First 2 Rows): $40
Back by popular demand! God is a Scottish Drag Queen: A Christmas Special returns this December! God, dressed in an all new holiday power suit, is returning by popular demand to set the record straight and expound on everything from the beginnings of Christmas with Yule, Saturnalia and Winter Solstice, to holiday foods, Christmas carols, Star Wars, the true story of the Nativity, and even Tiny Tim! This show blends together the nostalgia of holidays gone by, a hilarious and laugh-out-loud look at the holidays of today and a heartwarming and perfectly sweet peek at holidays yet to come! The Christmas Special has become the most popular show of the entire series and is an absolute must see! You will never look at Egg Nog the same way again!
Celebrate the holiday season with ornament making, the harvesting of the Yule Log, parlor games, and a visit with Father Christmas.
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of modern holidays and experience a real old-fashioned Christmas at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum. Throughout the day guests of all ages can join in parlor games, make ornaments, and create pomanders from clementines and cloves. Wonder the holiday market and pop into the kitchen for a treat. Arrive early line up to meet Father Christmas. Children are invited to participate in bringing the Yule Log into the Fort, and all parties may take a fresh cut of the Yule Log home.
Join National Geographic photographer Michael Yamashita as he follows in the footsteps of Marco Polo, reliving his 13th Century odyssey along the Silk Road to Asia and back across the South China Sea, connecting the East and West for the first time.
Take home a FREE children’s activity kit to make a train ornament during the 12/14 Craft Saturday at Job Carr Cabin Museum. All ages welcome. Please bring a food donation for St Leo’s Food Connection.
The beloved Tacoma Santa Parade is back for its 11th year, bringing holiday cheer, community fun, and endless festive activities to historic South Tacoma Way on Saturday, December 14th. This year’s event promises an unforgettable experience for all ages, with the day’s festivities kicking off at noon and leading up to the exciting parade at 4:30 PM.
Event Highlights:
? Street Festival (Noon – 6:00 PM): South Tacoma Way between 50th and 56th will transform into a bustling holiday street festival, featuring a wide range of vendors selling handmade gifts, bath and body items, home goods, jewelry, including a Creepmas Market and more—perfect for holiday shopping!
? Food Vendors: Satisfy your seasonal cravings with comfort foods from local vendors, including Pacific Islander delicacies, soul food, pizza, kettlecorn, baked goods, hot cocoa, and more. Enjoy the tastes of the holidays while exploring all the festival has to offer.
? Stage Entertainment: A full lineup of live performances will celebrate the season with music and dance. Don’t miss the Ugly Holiday Sweater Contest at 4:00 PM on the main stage—bring your most outrageous festive attire and compete for prizes!
? Parade (4:30 PM): The grand Tacoma Santa Parade will step off in style with local cheer teams, dance clubs, marching bands, decorated floats, and, of course, Santa’s Elves. The parade will end with the arrival of Santa Claus himself, spreading holiday cheer to all in attendance.
Join Us as a Sponsor or Parade Participant:
To make this year’s event truly magical, we are still welcoming sponsors and parade participants who wish to join in spreading holiday joy. Interested businesses and community groups can visit our website at www.tacomasantaparade.org to complete an application and become part of this cherished Tacoma tradition.
Sponsors and Community Support:
This year’s event is proudly supported by local businesses and sponsors dedicated to making the holiday season brighter for the Tacoma community, including Pierce Transit, Stellar Soirees Event Creation, SEO2000, Partytime Parcels, Cascade Home Builders, Tapco Credit Union, Liz Ann Johnson Elder Law, Guild Mortgage and the Asian Pacific Cultural Center. Their support and commitment to community spirit help make this cherished event possible.
Join Us for the Magic of the Holiday Season:
The Tacoma Santa Parade & Street Festival has become a favorite annual tradition, bringing together families, friends, and neighbors to celebrate the holiday season with warmth, joy, and Tacoma’s signature community spirit. With fun for all ages and something for everyone, the 11th Annual Tacoma Santa Parade promises a day filled with festive cheer.
For more information, follow our event updates or reach out to Event Coordinator Jennifer Day at tacomasantaparade@gmail.com. We look forward to celebrating with you and ringing in the holiday season together in the heart of Tacoma!
This year we are travelling back in time to 19th century New York City. Seneca Village was a charming rural community founded by African Americans in 1825, and thrived for 30 years before the Parks Commission came in with plans for Central Park. ?Stage Director Michelle Matlock has crafted a story of joy and resilience inspired by this historic Village, and Music Director Megan Oberfield is leading our talented Chorus. The show includes a delightful blend of African American, Irish, and German traditions. Don’t miss this incredible production. It’s Christmastime in Seneca Village!
An affordable event for families: Experience an 1861 Christmas at Historic Fort Steilacoom on Dec. 14
Step back in time and experience Christmas as it was celebrated in 1861! Join Historic Fort Steilacoom in Lakewood on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2024, from 4:30 to 8 p.m., as living historians bring the holiday season to life in the same buildings where it was celebrated 163 years ago.
Visitors will walk through candlelit scenes of re-enactors singing, dancing, dining, and exchanging gifts, just as the residents of Fort Steilacoom might have done in the first U.S. military post in Puget Sound. Visitors from 2024 will walk past and witness scenes as if the visitors are silent time travelers.
Though 1861 marked the beginning of the U.S. Civil War, Christmas at Fort Steilacoom was a time of celebration and social gathering, where soldiers, families, and friends came together in a festive spirit.
Ticket Information
Tickets are $7 for adults and $5 for youth. A family of up to two adults and four youth pays $12. Proceeds support the maintenance of Fort Steilacoom’s historic buildings. Tickets are available in advance through Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/christmas-at-historic-fort-steilacoom-1861-in-2024-tickets-1086615178249?aff=oddtdtcreator
This popular event often sells out, so advance purchase is highly recommended. You can check the Fort Steilacoom Facebook page for updates about tickets.
The final tour group departs at 7:10 p.m.
Fort Steilacoom is on the grounds of Western State Hospital, located at 9601 Steilacoom Blvd. SW, Lakewood, WA 98498. Be sure to use this address to locate the fort, as GPS may direct you to nearby Fort Steilacoom Park. After entering Western State, turn right, and look for the cannon shelter and lights. Tours start at the building furthest right of the four.
About Fort Steilacoom
Fort Steilacoom was the first U.S. Army post in Puget Sound, operating from 1849 to 1868. Now managed entirely by volunteers, it holds an essential place in the settlement and early history of Washington Territory. The Historic Fort Steilacoom Association is dedicated to preserving this heritage, acknowledging the complex history of the Fort, and including diverse perspectives in its storytelling.
Learn more at www.historicfortsteilacoom.org
? Join Us for the 3rd Annual Hilltop Christmas Tree Lighting! ?
Celebrate the season with family and friends at the 3rd Annual Hilltop Christmas Tree Lighting! Kick off the holidays with dazzling lights, festive music, and plenty of holiday cheer. Enjoy delicious treats, festive activities, and the magic of the season as we light up the night and create memories that will last a lifetime. Don’t miss this heartwarming tradition – the perfect way to start your holiday season!
This year we are travelling back in time to 19th century New York City. Seneca Village was a charming rural community founded by African Americans in 1825, and thrived for 30 years before the Parks Commission came in with plans for Central Park. ?Stage Director Michelle Matlock has crafted a story of joy and resilience inspired by this historic Village, and Music Director Megan Oberfield is leading our talented Chorus. The show includes a delightful blend of African American, Irish, and German traditions. Don’t miss this incredible production. It’s Christmastime in Seneca Village!