Being Updated as more dates become available….
Every summer I make a list/calendar of all the family friendly events I think my family would enjoy. Having a list down makes it easy to plan your calendar, or if you’re trying to come up with something fun to do, it’s a nice reference. Our #1 favorite thing to do each summer is the Movies in the Park, so I wrote down as many as I could find in our area. The list is in “area” categories and by dates, and be sure to check back often as I will most likely be adding. Save this post, share this post, and/or print this post. Please leave me a comment if you have something you’d like me to add. What’s your favorite summer activity/event?
University Place
Duck Daze Parade – June 2
Concerts in the Park – Curran Apple Orchard – free 6:30-8pm
July 12 – U253 is a premier U2 Tribute Band based out of University Place.This high energy musical performance by Eirik O’Neal, Tim Rades, Greg Jacoby and Doug Davis will perform songs made famous by one of the best bands in the world! Jackets from Julia, spearheaded by a local elementary school student, will also be collecting gently used and new jackets for distribution to Puget Sound area foster kids.
July 26 – America’s First Corps Band “Courage” from JBLM will perform rock to get all ages dancing!
Aug. 2 – The Fabulous Murphtones are a high energy group performing a diverse mix of popular dance, rock and old school music drawing on hits from the 60s through today’s hits.
Aug. 16 – David Deacon-Joyner Trio – Join us for a great evening of jazz! David Deacon-Joyner is a pianist, composer and arranger who has performed all over the world along with being a professor of jazz at the University of North Texas and Pacific Lutheran University.
Chambers Bay Fun Run Challenge – July 14
Chambers Bay * Registration Required
National Night Out – First Annual in Market Square – August 7 4-6 PM
Moonlight Movie in the Park – August 4 Starts at dusk “Coco” – Cirque Park
Kite Festival – August 4 10-3 pm Chambers Bay
Cinema on the sound – August 18 starts at dusk
Chambers Bay – Central meadow
Jumanji welcome to the jungle
Family Campout – August 18-19th
Chambers Bay *Registration required
Cider Squeeze – Curran Apple Orchard – TBD
Fircrest
Go Hawaiian Pool Party June 2 6:30-8:30PM
Community Garage Sale – June 9
Strawberry Feed – June 24 6:00PM-8:00PM
Picnic & Car Show – July 8 10:00am-3:00pm
Movie in the Park – July 20
National Night Out – August 7 6-9:00PM
Fircrest Fun Days – August 10 5-9PM, August 11 10A-10PM
Steilacoom
4th of July Celebration – July 4
Concerts In The Park – June, July, August – Every Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
Salmon Bake – Last Sunday in July, Noon – 4:00 p.m.
Tacoma
Taste of Tacoma June 22-24– Pt Defiance Park
July 4th Free Swimming at outdoor pools (Kandle and Stewart Heights)
Tacoma Freedom Fair, Airshow & Fireworks Extravaganza July 4th, Ruston Way
Family Fun Night July 6, 6-9 p.m. Fort Nisqually
Family Campout – July 13, July 27, August 24 7 pm-9 am Owen Beach, 5400 N. Pearl St.
*Registration required
Tacoma Maritime Fest – TBD Thea Foss WaterWay
LeMay Car Museum – CARnival July 21 2:00-10:00pm
Food Truck Fest July 22 Wrights Park 10:30-6:00 pm
Movies in the Park – join for family fun and movie, movie starts at dusk, schedule below;
Summer Bash and Movie at Stewart Heights Park
Friday, July 13
Movie: Coco, rated PG
Activities begin at 5 pm, movie at dusk
Ethnic Fest at Wright Park
Saturday, July 28
Movie: Moana, rated PG
Kandle Sunset Cinema
Friday, August 3
Activities begin at 7:30 pm
Movie begins at approx. 8:45 pm
Movie: Peter Rabbit, rated PG
Summer Bash at The Center at Norpoint
Friday, August 10
Movie: Cars 3, rated G
Activities begin at 6 pm, Movie begins at dusk
Summer Bash at STAR Center
Friday, August 17
Movie: Sherlock Gnomes, rated PG
Activities begin at 5 pm, Movie begins at dusk
National Night Out/Summer Bash- August 7 5-8 pm at the People’s Center
Ethnic Fest – July 28 & 29 at Wright Park
Shakespeare in the Park – August 10, 7-8:30PM, Wright’s Park
Pierce County 2nd Annual Mobile Food Fest – August 18th, 11-6pm, Sprinker Rec Center
Gig Harbor
Maritime Gig Festival – June 2-3 Downtown Gig Harbor
Food Truck Fest – June 16 Sehmel Park 11-5pm
Movies in the Park – Fridays, Skansie Brother’s Park, movie at dusk
July 6 – Movie: Wonder
July 13 – Movie: Top Gun
July 20 – Movie: Peter Rabbit
July 27 – Movie: Despicable Me 3
Summer Sounds at Skansie Brother’s – Tuesdays June-August – 6:30pm-8pm
Uptown Summer Concerts at Uptown Gig Harbor– July 5, August 2, August 9, 6-8pm
National Night Out – August 7, 5-8pm at Skansie Brothers Park
Cruise the Narrows Car Show August 4 Uptown Plaza
Fly in Drive In August 25, Tacoma Narrows Airport 6-9:30pm
Lakewood
Summer Fest – July 14 11A-11PM Fort Steilacoom Park
Regal 15 Lakewood Summer Movie Express $1 Click here for a theater near you
Week 1
Tue June 19 and Wed June 20
Storks and Mr. Peabody & Sherman
***BOTH MOVIES PLAY ON BOTH DAYS***
Week 2
Tue June 26 and Wed June 27
Despicable Me 2 and How to Train your dragon 2
***BOTH MOVIES PLAY ON BOTH DAYS***
Week 3
Tue July 3 and Wed July 4
Lego Movie and Alvin & The Chipmunks
***BOTH MOVIES PLAY ON BOTH DAYS***
Week 4
Tue July 10 and Wed July 11
Sing and The Peanuts Movie
***BOTH MOVIES PLAY ON BOTH DAYS***
Week 5
Tue July 17 and Wed July 18
The Lego Ninjago Movie and Ferdinand
***BOTH MOVIES PLAY ON BOTH DAYS***
Week 6
Tue July 24 and Wed July 25
Secret Life of Pets and Alvin & the Chipmunks: Sequel
***BOTH MOVIES PLAY ON BOTH DAYS***
Week 7
Tue July 31 and Wed August 1
The Lego Batman Movie and Trolls
***BOTH MOVIES PLAY ON BOTH DAYS***
Week 8
Tue August 7 and Wed August 8
Minions and The Boss Baby
***BOTH MOVIES PLAY ON BOTH DAYS***
Week 9
Tue August 14 and Wed August 15
Paddington 2 and Captain Underpants
***BOTH MOVIES PLAY ON BOTH DAYS***
FIFE
Annual Car Show – Dacca Park – June 24th 9-2pm
Fridays at the Park:
June 29
Music in the Park Concert Kickoff Celebration
5-8:30 p.m.
Try out our brand new life-size Connect-Four & Jenga games, toss some bean bags or just kick back with family and friends for a bite to eat. Bring a cooler full of snacks or enjoy a tasty bite from Arnold’s Happy Days Food Truck. Live music from The Coats at 6:30.
July 6
Independence Day Celebration
6:30-10:30 p.m.
Kick off the night with live music from The Beatniks at 6:30 p.m. After the concert, stick around for fun games, and an all-ages glowstick party (free glowsticks for the first 250 guests). Finish off the night with a spectacular fireworks show. Don’t forget to wear your red, white, and blue!
July 13
Youth Yard Sale & Book Exchange
5-8:30 p.m.
Join the City of Fife and the Pierce County Library System for an unforgettable evening of family-fun! Bring down your old, unwanted books and trade them in for new (to you) books at the Book Exchange tent. Peruse treasures from local youth entrepreneurs, or host your own yard sale booth. Youth under the age of 18 are invited to host a free booth, selling used toys, homemade items, and crafts; register online at www.cityoffife.org , space is limited. Vendor booths and food truck will be open from 5-8:30 p.m. with live music from Gansango at 5:30 p.m. and Recess Monkey at 6:30 p.m.
July 20
Dog’s Night Out & Movie in the Park
5:30-8 p.m. (Movie at Dusk)
Grab a leash and your furry canine friend and come out to Dacca Park for an evening devoted to doggies. Bring Rufus through a series of activity stations and reward him with a tasty treat, compliments of Pawsabilities Total Dog Center. Games and food truck from 5:30-8 p.m. and live music from the Randy Oxford Band at 6:30 p.m. Stick around after the show for a free movie in the park at dusk: 101 Dalmatians.
July 27
Junk in the Trunk Sale
5-8:30 p.m.
It’s like a rummage sale, in the trunk of your car! Peruse your neighbor’s junk, and make someone’s trash your treasure, while jamming out to tunes from the band Folsom Prism at 6:30 p.m. Vendors and food truck will be open from 5-8:30 p.m. Vendor spaces are $10 – register online at www.cityoffife.org then drive in, set up, and sell.
August 3
Touch-A-Truck & Movie in the Park
5-8:30p.m. (Movie at Dusk)
Fire trucks, police cars, dump trucks, tow trucks, and even a garbage truck! Come check them out! Children have a hands-on opportunity to explore vehicles of all types, as well as meet the people who use them every day. Vehicle tours from 5-6:30 p.m. and live music at 6:30 p.m. from Jessica Lynne. Food truck open 5-8:30p.m. and stick around after the concert for a free movie in the park at dusk: Coco.
PUYALLUP (& Sumner)
$1 Movie express at Regal Theaters – (look above for movies) and check out for a theater near you.
Meeker Days – June 15th- 17th
Food Truck Frenzy – June 30 at Bradley Lake Park 12-6pm
Rhubarb Days – July 4-5th (Sumner)
EATONVILLE
Movies in the Park – check here for dates
4th of July parade and fireworks display and family picnic/bbq
July 21-22 Art in Bloom
August 3-5 Glacier Park Eatonville Arts Festival
BONNEY LAKE
Kids Club Mondays at 6:30pm (7/9-8/20) at Allan Yorke Park
Outdoor Music – Wednesdays at 6:30pm (7/11-8/22) at Allan Yorke Park
Outdoor Market starts at 5:00pm
Movies in the park – Allen Yorke Park – starts at dusk, Fridays TBA
Food truck fest – July 28 11-5pm Allan Yorke Park
National Night Out August 7 Allan Yorke Park
Bonney Lake Days August 18 Allan Yorke Park
AUBURN
Fathers Day BBQ & Strawberry shortcake feed – June 16
Kids Day June 22 11:00 AM- 4:00 PM Les Grove Park
4th of July Festival 11:00AM-4:00PM Les Grove Park
Kids SummerStage Wednesday July 11 – August 15 12:00PM Les Grove Park
Soundbites! July 12- August 9 12:00PM City Hall
Summer Sounds & Cinema –
Friday, July 27, 2018
Lea Hill Park, 31693 124th Ave SE
6:00 PM – Matt Baker’s Comedy Stunt Showlinks to external site (non-stop comedy and stunts)
7:00 PM – Hair Nationlinks to external site (the Pacific Northwest’s Premier 80’s Hair Rock Band)
Dusk – Movie: Despicable Me 3 (PG)
Friday, August 3, 2018
Sunset Park, 1420 69th Street SE
6:00 PM – Joanie Leedslinks to external site (super fun music for kids!)
7:00 PM – Chris Anderson Bandlinks to external site (Jazz, Motown & Traditional Pop)
Dusk – Movie: Coco (PG)
Friday, August 10, 2018
Les Gove Park, 910 9th ST SE
6:00 PM – Mister Glinks to external site (kid-friendly, bilingual rockstar)
7:00 PM – Atomic Poplinks to external site (high energy dance hits)
Dusk – Movie: Raiders of the Lost Ark (PG)
AuburnFest – August 11 11:00AM-8:00PM – Les Grove Park
In many areas!!
Pierce County Library Summer Reading Program – TBA
Summer Playground and Free Meal Distribution Program:
June 18-August 24, 2017
11 am to 3 pm Monday-Friday [no program or meals July 4] Meals served noon-1:00 youth 18 and younger
Franklin Park
Portland Avenue Park
South Park
Verlo Playfield
Wapato Park
Wright Park
Don’t forget to pull out those calendars and start penciling in events you don’t want to miss this summer
Amanda Ramsey
August 15, 2018Oh my goodness! I wish I had found you earlier. Better late than never though, right? I’m linking you to our Pinterest board w/Eat Local Pierce County.