Summer Weekend = Events Galore

Even if the weather has you thinking otherwise, it is summer, and one of the great things about summer is the plethora of community goings-on. This weekend is no exception.

City of Neighborhoods
This weekend Local Life and Go Local will be bringing you a chance to get in on the community conversation about sustainable living, walkable neighborhoods, and community building with their City of Neighborhoods event at UWT on Saturday. The all day conference will feature 2 amazing keynote speakers, 5 talks, “lunch huddles,” and 20 workshops. Interested in helping make a difference?

Urban Art Festival
The 8th Annual Urban Art Festival is coming up this weekend, June 30 and July 1, noon to 9 at the 21st Street Park on Dock Street. The free, nonprofit festival promises “music all day on two stages. Art. Vendors. Kids activities. Food. A Tiki Bar. And more!”

Crabbing 101
If you’ve always wanted to catch your own crabs, but haven’t felt up to the challenge, Metro Parks is offering Crabbing 101 this Saturday from 9 to 11 to answer all your crabbing questions. Learn about the unique sport of crabbing in Puget Sound in this class that is perfect for both beginning and experienced anglers. Find out the secrets to filling your pots from local crabbing experts. Products, reading the water, and marking are just a few of the topics discussed. Visit www.MetroParksTacoma.net to sign up.

Bake Sale for Kitties
Speaking of food, and because we’re suckers for cute animals, we thought we’d mention the bake sale fundraiser at Next to Nature (1624 Tacoma Avenue) Thursday through Sunday this week. The money raised goes toward GGAA (Genevieve G. Animal Advocacy). There will be cookies, brownies, & bars of all kinds of different flavors as well as plenty of gluten-free options. Okay, we’re sold.

Hempfest Non-advertised, non-event picnic
Hempfest won’t be happening this year. And despite what you may have read elsewhere, neither will any sort of organized, but unofficial gathering. That said, there will be a few people having picnics in Wright Park …

Lakewood
If you’ll be finding yourself anywhere in the vicinity of Lakewood this Saturday, they have a whole slew of events going on. Most notably, Lakewood SummerFEST will be taking place at Fort Steilacoom Park from 11 to 9 Saturday and 11 to 5 on Sunday. Admission is free, and activities will include live music on two stages, over 100 food, arts and craft and service vendors, a car show, a Kidz Zone inflatable area, petting zoo, pony rides, a baseball tournament, and more. We understand there will also be a chalk art festival going on at the park; unfortunately it’s too late to register to participate, but you could stop by to check out Lakewood’s chalk skills. And if you’re really crazy, you still have a couple days to sign up for the Lakewood SummerFEST Triathlon, but hurry, registration closes June 29.

Taste of Tacoma
… and of course there’s the Taste of Tacoma.