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.
Take your family and friends on a magical journey through the marvelously detailed world of model railroads at the Washington State History Museum!
Friday, December 22, 2023 – Monday, January 1, 2024
Closed Sunday and Monday, December 24 and 25.
Included with admission.
The Model Train Festival brings railroad clubs from around Puget Sound to share their incredible, room-sized layouts in the History Museum! Every floor of the museum comes alive with trains, from the Kitsap Live Steamers 7.5-inch gauge railroad engines to the Mount Rainier N-Scale layout featuring miniature scenery of Western Washington and so many more.
Plus, the largest permanent model train layout in Washington is always on display at the museum on the fifth floor, operated by Puget Sound Model Railroad Engineers. Train operators will be on hand for questions and conversations.
Take a break from the live layouts to relax and enjoy trains on the big screen in our auditorium. We’ll feature footage from I Love Toy Trains and I Love Big Trains, from filmmaker Tom McComas with delightful songs by James Coffey. Learn about freight train signals, railroad history and what it’s like to be an engineer. Great for kids and train lovers of all ages!
The Model Train Festival wouldn’t be complete without a memorable photo opportunity! Step into our seasonal backdrop for free selfies.
Remember to pick up your collectible train button at the Admissions desk, too!
Celebrate winter at Hands On with three days of frozen fun at Ice Adventures Frosty Fables, Jan. 12-14! Explore Yeti and Bigfoot lore, meet costumed characters, use real tools to shave ice, skate in your socks, learn how to snowshoe with Olympia Mountaineers, investigate an ice cave hideout, and see exciting Dr. Science experiments with ice and fire.
Plus, special activities honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Jan. 15.
Online reservations recommended. Get your tickets online and save!
Special Guests & Activities
• Melt Arctic ice to see what’s inside
• Use real tools to shave ice
• Investigate Yeti versus Bigfoot lore and discover the differences between these large legends
• Skate indoors in your socks
• Meet and take a photo with costumed characters the Winter Queen, Summer Queen, and Ice Master from Emerald Kingdom Parties (Jan. 13-14, 10:00am-3:30pm)
• Learn how to snowshoe with Olympia Mountaineers (Jan. 13-14, 11:00am-3:00pm)
• Explore Puget Sound sea creatures and look at specimens who can tolerate the ice-cold waters with the Estuarium
• See Dr. Science experiment with setting Ice on Fire (Jan. 13-14)
• Craft your own Bigfoot or Yeti slippers
• Explore an ice cave hideout and find a Yeti
• Create an Abominable Snowman to race (Jan. 13-14)
• Silkscreen a print or special keepsake (Jan. 13-14, print a free poster or purchase and make a tote bag, apron, onesie, or t-shirt for $12.)
• Go on a scavenger hunt
• Take a picture at the photo booth (Jan. 13-14)
Winter Queen, Summer Queen, & Ice Master Costumed Characters presented by Emerald Kingdom Parties.
Snowshoeing activity presented by The Olympia Mountaineers.
Celebrate winter at Hands On with three days of frozen fun at Ice Adventures Frosty Fables, Jan. 12-14! Explore Yeti and Bigfoot lore, meet costumed characters, use real tools to shave ice, skate in your socks, learn how to snowshoe with Olympia Mountaineers, investigate an ice cave hideout, and see exciting Dr. Science experiments with ice and fire.
Plus, special activities honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Jan. 15.
Online reservations recommended. Get your tickets online and save!
Special Guests & Activities
• Melt Arctic ice to see what’s inside
• Use real tools to shave ice
• Investigate Yeti versus Bigfoot lore and discover the differences between these large legends
• Skate indoors in your socks
• Meet and take a photo with costumed characters the Winter Queen, Summer Queen, and Ice Master from Emerald Kingdom Parties (Jan. 13-14, 10:00am-3:30pm)
• Learn how to snowshoe with Olympia Mountaineers (Jan. 13-14, 11:00am-3:00pm)
• Explore Puget Sound sea creatures and look at specimens who can tolerate the ice-cold waters with the Estuarium
• See Dr. Science experiment with setting Ice on Fire (Jan. 13-14)
• Craft your own Bigfoot or Yeti slippers
• Explore an ice cave hideout and find a Yeti
• Create an Abominable Snowman to race (Jan. 13-14)
• Silkscreen a print or special keepsake (Jan. 13-14, print a free poster or purchase and make a tote bag, apron, onesie, or t-shirt for $12.)
• Go on a scavenger hunt
• Take a picture at the photo booth (Jan. 13-14)
Winter Queen, Summer Queen, & Ice Master Costumed Characters presented by Emerald Kingdom Parties.
Snowshoeing activity presented by The Olympia Mountaineers.
Celebrate winter at Hands On with three days of frozen fun at Ice Adventures Frosty Fables, Jan. 12-14! Explore Yeti and Bigfoot lore, meet costumed characters, use real tools to shave ice, skate in your socks, learn how to snowshoe with Olympia Mountaineers, investigate an ice cave hideout, and see exciting Dr. Science experiments with ice and fire.
Plus, special activities honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Jan. 15.
Online reservations recommended. Get your tickets online and save!
Special Guests & Activities
• Melt Arctic ice to see what’s inside
• Use real tools to shave ice
• Investigate Yeti versus Bigfoot lore and discover the differences between these large legends
• Skate indoors in your socks
• Meet and take a photo with costumed characters the Winter Queen, Summer Queen, and Ice Master from Emerald Kingdom Parties (Jan. 13-14, 10:00am-3:30pm)
• Learn how to snowshoe with Olympia Mountaineers (Jan. 13-14, 11:00am-3:00pm)
• Explore Puget Sound sea creatures and look at specimens who can tolerate the ice-cold waters with the Estuarium
• See Dr. Science experiment with setting Ice on Fire (Jan. 13-14)
• Craft your own Bigfoot or Yeti slippers
• Explore an ice cave hideout and find a Yeti
• Create an Abominable Snowman to race (Jan. 13-14)
• Silkscreen a print or special keepsake (Jan. 13-14, print a free poster or purchase and make a tote bag, apron, onesie, or t-shirt for $12.)
• Go on a scavenger hunt
• Take a picture at the photo booth (Jan. 13-14)
Winter Queen, Summer Queen, & Ice Master Costumed Characters presented by Emerald Kingdom Parties.
Snowshoeing activity presented by The Olympia Mountaineers.
The brand-new follow up to our 100th Season production of A Doll’s House.
In the final scene of Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 groundbreaking masterwork, Nora Helmer makes the shocking decision to leave her husband and children and begin a life on her own. This climactic event—when Nora slams the door on everything in her life—instantly propelled world drama into the modern age. In A Doll’s House, Part 2, many years have passed since Nora’s exit. Now, there’s a knock on that same door. Nora has returned. But why? And what will it mean for those she left behind?
Recommended for Ages 12+
The brand-new follow up to our 100th Season production of A Doll’s House.
In the final scene of Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 groundbreaking masterwork, Nora Helmer makes the shocking decision to leave her husband and children and begin a life on her own. This climactic event—when Nora slams the door on everything in her life—instantly propelled world drama into the modern age. In A Doll’s House, Part 2, many years have passed since Nora’s exit. Now, there’s a knock on that same door. Nora has returned. But why? And what will it mean for those she left behind?
Recommended for Ages 12+
The brand-new follow up to our 100th Season production of A Doll’s House.
In the final scene of Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 groundbreaking masterwork, Nora Helmer makes the shocking decision to leave her husband and children and begin a life on her own. This climactic event—when Nora slams the door on everything in her life—instantly propelled world drama into the modern age. In A Doll’s House, Part 2, many years have passed since Nora’s exit. Now, there’s a knock on that same door. Nora has returned. But why? And what will it mean for those she left behind?
Recommended for Ages 12+
The brand-new follow up to our 100th Season production of A Doll’s House.
In the final scene of Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 groundbreaking masterwork, Nora Helmer makes the shocking decision to leave her husband and children and begin a life on her own. This climactic event—when Nora slams the door on everything in her life—instantly propelled world drama into the modern age. In A Doll’s House, Part 2, many years have passed since Nora’s exit. Now, there’s a knock on that same door. Nora has returned. But why? And what will it mean for those she left behind?
Recommended for Ages 12+
In February, we promote healthy smiles by joining with our dental community to offer free dental screenings right inside the Museum! Kids can pretend to be the dentist in our Puget Sound Dental Office exhibit and meet Amazon of Olympia as Wonder Woman and as Captain Carter (see below for dates and times). From sewing a toothy pillow to exploring super-sized animal teeth (fangs and sabers of giant cats), families can enjoy fun and engaging dental health activities all month long.
• Explore the Puget Sound Dental Office in the Emergency! Gallery, open every day
• Register for a free dental screening
• Build toothbrush bots
• See some of the biggest teeth (smilodon, big cats, wildcats)
• Sew a monster mouth or tooth fairy pillow
• Explore different animal and insect teeth (herbivore, omnivore, carnivore)
• Play with electric bytes (connect circuits to power dental objects)
• Meet and get your photo taken with Amazon of Olympia (as Wonder Woman) Feb. 2, 5–7 p.m. & Feb. 24, 2–4 p.m. Amazon of Olympia (as Captain Carter) will be here Feb. 17, 2–4 p.m.
• Free Dental Screenings for kids every Saturday in Feb. from 2–4 p.m. & First Friday Night Feb. 2 from 6–8 p.m. Museum admission is also free with your screening. Reservations required. Call (360) 956-0818 ext 0. Screening Sponsor, Small to Tall Pediatric Dentistry with support from SPSCC Dental Assisting Program.
Check out our Dental Health Month page for more information and a complete list of sponsors.
The brand-new follow up to our 100th Season production of A Doll’s House.
In the final scene of Henrik Ibsen’s 1879 groundbreaking masterwork, Nora Helmer makes the shocking decision to leave her husband and children and begin a life on her own. This climactic event—when Nora slams the door on everything in her life—instantly propelled world drama into the modern age. In A Doll’s House, Part 2, many years have passed since Nora’s exit. Now, there’s a knock on that same door. Nora has returned. But why? And what will it mean for those she left behind?
Recommended for Ages 12+