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.
One person can make a difference. In May 1985, Dr. Gordon “Gordy” Klatt walked and ran for 24 hours around a track in Tacoma, Washington, raising money to help the American Cancer Society with the nation’s biggest health concern: cancer.
Gordy spent a grueling 24 hours circling the track at the University of Puget Sound. Friends, family, and patients watched and supported him as he walked and ran more than 83.6 miles and raised $27,000 through pledges to help save lives from cancer. As he circled the track, he thought of how he could get others to take part. He envisioned having teams participate in a 24-hour fundraising event. The next year, 19 teams were part of the first Relay For Life event at the historical Stadium Bowl and raised $33,000.
After previously battling stomach cancer, Gordy passed away from heart failure on August 3, 2014 at the age of 71. But his legacy lives on. He shaped an idea that started as one man walking and running a track and helped turn it into a global fundraising phenomenon.
Our Tacoma Buddhist Temple Bon Odori Festival is back after 3 years! As part of our religion, we honor those who have passed by celebrating them through Japanese traditional dancing called Bon Odori. Everyone is welcome to dance, enjoy the food or just watch the dancing and taiko performances. 4pm: Food, beer garden, info booths, Japanese items for sale and Kings Books table. 4:30: Obon service. 5pm: Dancing and taiko drumming will occur in front of our temple on Fawcett Avenue up from UW Tacoma. 8pm: memorial candle service. Come early before the food runs out. Credit card and checks preferred for all purchases. Questions: info@tacomabt.org.
Join Tacoma Historical Society for our August Monthly Program presented by Rod Koon, author & former communications manager for Port of Tacoma. Rod will be discussing his recent publication “Images of America: Port of Tacoma” which details the history and development of the Port of Tacoma.
Copies of Rod’s book will be available for purchase and signing during the event.
Refreshments will be provided. Doors open at 6:00pm for exhibit viewing, talk begins at 6:30pm. This event is FREE or by donation. Donations can be made through Eventbrite or at the door.
RSVP on Eventbrite.
This event is generously sponsored by Tacoma Creates, the Port of Tacoma, Tacoma Public Utilities, Amtrak and Puyallup Tribe of Indians.
For questions, call (253)472-3738 or email info@tacomahistory.org
For more events related to the 150th Northern Pacific Commemoration, visit www.NP150.org.
Included with admission, FREE for WSHS members
Explore how history connects us all during this half hour story time program designed for children ages 4–10 and their families. We’ll read Imagine, written by Juan Felipe Herrera and illustrated by Lauren Castillo. Herrera was the first Latino U.S. Poet Laureate (2015–17). After the reading, we’ll engage in a hands-on investigation of a related artifact.
This program will be conducted in English and in Spanish.
Henry R. Fenbert Challenging History Lecture
Saturday, September 23, 5:30 PM– 7:00 PM
Tickets: FREE for WSHS members, $15 for non-members. Registration is required.
The second annual Henry R. Fenbert Challenging History Lecture features historian Monica De La Torre, assistant professor of media and expressive culture in the School of Transborder Studies at Arizona State University.
De La Torre will discuss her first book, “Feminista Frequencies: Community Building through Radio in the Yakima Valley,” which tracks the emergence of Chicano community radio in rural farmworker communities in the 1970s. Her presentation will include a musical playlist featuring songs that illuminate the history explored in her research.
ANNUAL AUCTION BENEFITING SOUTH SOUND CARE FOUNDATION CELEBRATES 10 YEARS
Beer & Bites is October 7th!
Beer & Bites, the annual event and auction benefitting The South Sound CARE Foundation (CARE) will celebrate its 10th anniversary on Saturday, October 7th 2023. All proceeds from this annual event go towards expanding clinical trials and research for patients fighting cancer in the South Sound. Historically a cancer diagnosis in the South Sound meant an immediate referral to Seattle or cancer centers far beyond. Since 2008, the South Sound CARE Foundation has been expanding access to the very best care for patients in the Puget Sound region. Important trials are conducted locally, patients are living longer and they are living better lives. Beer & Bites helps fund this research and provide access to care that patients were previously unable to find locally.
Spearheaded by CARE’s Founder, Dr. Frank Senecal, and Gordon Rush, a CARE Emeritus Board Member and Founder of The Rush Companies, Beer & Bites got its start in 2013 as a way to get the local community involved in improving treatments options for a disease that has touched far too many: cancer. The 10th annual Beer & Bites fundraiser will be held at The Waterfront Venue at Narrows Marina. The generosity of the local community has allowed Beer & Bites to raise more than $7.6 million over the last 10 years to bring important research to our area and to allow cancer patients to stay close to home, surrounded by their support systems during some of the most challenging times of their life.
“Finding a better way to care for our patients and a better way to treat the cancer – whether it is surgery, immune therapy, chemo therapy, or radiation therapy—all depend upon good clinical research,” said Dr. Frank Senecal, Founder of the South Sound CARE Foundation. “Beer & Bites helps make that research possible.”
You are cordially invited to the 2nd Annual HopeSparks Lighting the Way Dinner and Auction Fundraiser!
We’d love for you to join us as we envision the future together and celebrate our accomplishments.
Ticket price includes: Reception with silent auction and appetizers, delicious dinner with complimentary wine, opportunities to engage in games – including a dessert dash, and a chance to bid on incredible live auction items.
Tickets are $150 per person or $1,500 for a reserved table of 10 guests.
This is a dressy casual, 21 and over event
All event proceeds go to HopeSparks programs that directly benefit children and families who have experienced trauma, adversity, and overwhelming life challenges.
Grab your friends and family, or your date, and come out to enjoy a scrumptious spaghetti dinner benefiting the Gig Harbor Senior Center, on Saturday, October 21, 4pm to 7pm.
The Spaghetti Dinner Fundraiser, is a casual and family-friendly event where you can indulge in a delicious spaghetti dinner, replete with a choice of meatballs or sausage, salad, garlic bread, ad dessert, for a great cause – Gig Harbor Senior Center programs, services and its future forever home!
Don your spookiest or most fun Halloween costume and support a great cause at the same time as Centerforce hosts All Hallows Eve: A Just Like You mixer and auction on Friday, Oct. 27.
Wine and beer will be available, along with some hors d’oeuvres, while you browse the silent auction, grab a bottle of wine from the wine pull or try your chance at winning 2 tickets for travel valid on Alaska Airlines! Tickets are $45 each for our 21-and-older event at Lakewood Elks Lodge #2388, 6313 75th St. W, Lakewood, WA 98499. Doors open at 5 p.m. Costumes are welcome but not required. Purchase your tickets today at https://centerforce.salsalabs.org/allhallowseve2023/index.html
For 50-plus years as a local not-for-profit 501 (c)(3), social service organization, Centerforce has provided employment training, volunteer opportunities and assistance for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities to move toward inclusion in their community. The 200 individuals we serve in south King, Pierce and Thurston counties have a wide range of disabilities and a number of barriers to traditional employment. With this event, our goal is to raise $40,000 to support our programs that assist individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities find jobs, and be able to engage and participate in their communities.
As with everyone, Centerforce services have been significantly impacted by the pandemic and other economic forces. We serve those with intellectual and developmental disabilities who are among the most vulnerable and, as a result, are still impacted by the pandemic.
When you attend our event, it supports clients like John B., who has been employed at Safeway for 18 years; Sarah H., who worked for McDonald’s for 10 years, then lost her job during the pandemic, and with our help, found employment at Safeway; Chris J., who is now on his 8th year working for the Ram Brewery and Restaurant; Joe C., who transitioned from a 13-year job at the ARC to working for MOD Pizza; Tyler K., as a school-to-work client, secured a job with OnTrac five months before he graduated; and Deacon C., who with our help, transitioned from school to working his first job at Red Robin, before his high school graduation.
Would you like to sponsor our event or donate silent auction items? Contact us here. For more information regarding Centerforce and its services, contact Debby L. Graham, M.A., Executive Director, at 253-426-1860.
Round up the little goblins (or maybe your ghoulfriends) and join us for Rattle Dem Bones – a group bike ride for people of all ages and abilities, followed by a spook-tacular Halloween party in boo-ti-ful Gig Harbor!
Rattle Dem Bones has something for anyone: Cyclists riding Monster Hills will be challenged by some good climbs and overtaken by gorgeous scenery. Anyone terrified of Monster Hills can take on the Son of Monster, still lovely but shorter and less hilly. Casual riders seeking healthy outdoor activity, but not necessarily wanting to be super heroes, can ride as much or as little as they wish on the Mini-Monster route. We invite anyone who doesn’t want to ride to help support the riders with good cheer… and candy!
All riders and volunteers are invited to the post ride party, featuring music and the awards ceremony – with prizes – for best costumes in several categories, including best themed group, best volunteer and best use of the bike as part of the costume.
Proceeds from Rattle Dem Bones benefit the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation’s Community Recreation Fund – we are going to have fun and also make it possible for all kids in our area to join in sports and recreation activities, regardless of their family’s ability to pay registration fees and equipment costs. Ride is limited to 250 riders, so plan your costume, tune up your bike and register for Rattle Dem Bones today!
Find more information, registration and volunteer sign up at https://www.gigharborfoundation.org/rattle-dem-bones