Admission: free

Friday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.

Organizers of the Emerald Queen Casino’s Taste of Tacoma presented by BECU are offering a free shuttle bus for riders to and from Point Defiance Park for this year’s event which begins Friday.

Thousands of people annually flock to the free, three-day gathering. To alleviate the traffic strain, event organizers have arranged free parking at Tacoma Community College for all three days of the festival, Friday to Sunday. Free shuttles are scheduled to begin at TCC at 10:30 a.m. and run every 15 minutes to and from the park. The final shuttle will leave the park half an hour after the event shuts down for the day.

Although improvements to Point Defiance Park are underway, they should not affect the festival except that on-site parking will be even more challenging.

The Point Defiance Visitors Center will not be open during the event.

— Metro Parks

Friday, June 24 – Lakewood Chamber Golf Classic, noon, Oakbrook Golf Course, $125/person, $400/team(4). 253-582-9400 |

Saturday, June 25 – 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

Tuesday, June 28 – Alliance of Women Owned Businesses, Women Owned Night “One Team, One Goal,” 5:30-7 p.m., Puerto Vallarta Restaurant (1599 SE Lund Ave., Port Orchard), free-$15. allianceofwomenownedbusinesses.com

Sunday, July 3 – Gig Harbor Wings & Wheels, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m., Tacoma Narrows Airport (1202 26th Ave. NW, Gig Harbor), $5-15. freedomfair.com/wings-wheels.php

Monday, July 4 – Freedom Fair, Ruston Way waterfront, Tacoma. Airshow: 1:30-3:30 p.m.; Music, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fireworks, 10:10 p.m. freedomfair.com

Monday, July 4 – Oak Harbor’s Old Fashioned 4th of July, Windjammer Park, 11 a.m.-11 p.m., fireworks at dark. oakharborchamber.com