Weekend Preview: Festival fun times three

It is going to be a big weekend for Tacoma, and not because I will be out of town for much of it. I don’t feel bad about Tacomans planning fun times without me. I don’t give out my calendar to just anyone. My mistake, but I’ll be around for as much of the festivities as I can.

First on the list is the Tacoma Craft Beer Festival along the Foss Waterway. The fun begins Friday with tastings, music and beer knowledge from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Foss Waterway Seaport. The brew crew will be at work again from noon to 8 p.m. Saturday with more than 50 breweries offering up more than 100 varieties of beer and malted libations. Proceeds benefit the Emergency Food Network. For $18 each day or a $35 festival pass for the whole sha-bang, this year’s offerings will raise the bar so to speak from last year’s success. Did I mention the beer? There will be kegs and kegs of it, darks, ales, lagers, infusions, wheats, to savor and sample. Free shuttles from the Tacoma Dome Station will certainly help the parking hassle of the waterfront, so plan on leaving cars there.

Also kicking off Friday is the 253Heart Music and Arts Festival, which will have a kick-off party and film fest starting at 5 p.m. at Varsity Grill. The festival will offer music and arts of the South Sound to benefit the American Heart Association and the Pierce County AIDS Foundation. Venues with activities in the works for the weekend include Varsity Grill, Peabody Waldorf, Harmon Tap Room and The Swiss, which will offer too many bands and art showcases to list. Many of the bands and artists will be on the line up at Tacoma watering holes. The festival will have all-age events as well. The effort’s Facebook lists the line up.

The third big festival this weekend is the 47th Greek Festival at St. Nicholas Church. Think of it as Taste of Tacoma for all things garlic and olives and lamb and pita bread and tomatoes.  Now toss in some Greek Orthodox vibes and Greek dancers, stir liberally and serve immediately. That is Greek Fest. The food is hot from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

The weekend will certainly be filled with food, fermentation, fun and friends. Enjoy, Tacoma.