Weekend Review: festivals courtesy of others

The weekend solidified my resolve to continue to live in the 253. The area code is small enough to be homey and connected while large enough to have a depth of talent in all areas of art. And it comes courtesy of a lot of volunteers doing what they do.

While the Tacoma Craft Beer Festival along the Foss Waterway didn’t have more than a handful of beers from the South Sound and pulled its taps from around the Pacific Northwest, the effort boomed with buzz and fun thanks to a gaggle of volunteers and locally minded sponsors. The building was packed shortly after the doors opened Friday and kept growing through Saturday. Tacoma is for drinkers, but it is also for people out just looking to chat with other folks of all ages and backgrounds. The beer fest brought everyone together with samples and music.

The 253Heart Music and Arts Festival’s mini film fest Friday was lightly attended but filled with some talented directors and writers that proved to be a great start to what could be a growing local festival effort. There really are some great film makers in this little burg of ours. Watch for more films to come as the effort grows. Again, the effort is driven by volunteers.

“A Day at the Races” annual silent auction and fundraiser for the East Side Boys and Girls Club occurred this weekend too, thanks to volunteers. The effort raised some $5,000 for the cause and deepened Tacoma’s civic-minded heart along the way.

Good times through service to the community can never go wrong in Tacoma.