Calendar: Tacoma Maritime Fest highlights weekend events

  • Port of Tacoma boat tours slated for Sunday

The annual Tacoma Maritime Fest will be held this weekend, offering free activities including the Foss Waterway Seaport museum, boarding the boats, making toy boats, boat tours of the Foss Waterway and the Port of Tacoma, and live music.

Visitors are encouraged to take the free shuttle buses from the Tacoma Dome bus station (Puyallup Ave and G St) to the event. The festival  will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and until 5 p.m. Sunday.

Get a ship-side view of one of North America’s largest container ports on the Port of Tacoma’s annual guided boat tours. The boat tours depart Sunday only, from 535 Dock St. in downtown Tacoma at 10 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., 2:30 p.m., 4 p.m.

Tours are first come, first served. Free tickets will be available at the Port booth the day of tours for the next available sailing time. Tickets for the 10 a.m. tour will be available beginning at 9 a.m.

Arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled departure time to line up for boarding. Passengers with mobility challenges should plan to take the 4 p.m. tour when the tide makes it easier to board.

On the web: tacomamaritimefest.org

OTHER EVENTS

Thursday, July 14 – Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, Sip, Swirl & Savor silent auction, Point Defiance Pagoda (5715 Roberts Garden Rd., Tacoma), 5-7:30 p.m., $35-45. tacomachamber.org

Friday, July 15 – Family Fun Night at Fort Nisqually, Point Defiance Park, 6-9 p.m.,  games, dancing, and relay races with the fort’s living historians. $5-8. 253-591-5339 | metroparkstacoma.org/fort-nisqually-living-history-museum/

Friday, July 15 – Sounds at Sunset concert series featuring The Coats, Meridian Habitat Park, (14422 Meridian Ave. E., Puyallup), 7 p.m. Free. piercecountywa.org/index.aspx?NID=4250

Saturday, July 16 – Junk In Your Trunk community garage sale, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., Sprinker Recreation Center (14824 C St. S., Tacoma). Admission and parking free. Vendor fee $20-30. 253-798-4141 | piercecountywa.org/parks

Saturday, July 16 – Southeast Asian Cultural Celebration, Saltwater State Park (25205 8th Pl. S., Des Moines), 11 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Traditional music, dance, children’s activities and food. Admission free (Discover Pass required for vehicle access to park). parks.state.wa.us/calendar.aspx?eid=1889

Sunday, July 17 – South Sound Vintage Motorcycle Enthusiasts Poker Run, benefiting Emergency Food Network, 10-11:30 a.m., Emergency Food Network Distribution Center (3318 92nd St S, Lakewood 98499) ending at Emergency Food Network’s Mother Earth Farm (15208 102nd St E, Puyallup 98374). $10. Contact Rolf Gabbe 253)-770-3749.

Friday, July 22 – Sounds at Sunset concert series featuring The Not-It’s, Meridian Habitat Park, (14422 Meridian Ave. E., Puyallup), 7 p.m. Free. piercecountywa.org/index.aspx?NID=4250

Saturday, July 23 – ShellFest 216, Twanoh Sate Park on Hood Canal (12190 E. SR 106, Union), 10 a.m. -2 p.m.,  exhibits, shellfish lunch, children activities, beach walks and education. Lunch free with a suggested donation of $7/person or $20/family. Admission free. Discover Pass required for vehicle access to the park. parks.state.wa.us/Calendar.aspx?EID=1981 or on Twitter at #digWAshellfish.

Sunday, July 24 – Arts Connect Garden Gather, 2-5 p.m., Edgewood Garden Studio (12727 32nd St. E., Edgewood), $40. hilltopartists.org | 253-571-7670

Friday, July 29 – Sounds at Sunset concert series featuring the Olson Brothers Band, Meridian Habitat Park, (14422 Meridian Ave. E., Puyallup), 7 p.m. Free. piercecountywa.org/index.aspx?NID=4250