Pierce County Family-Friendly Summer Fun 2026

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Updated last: April 1, 2026

The sunny summer days are around the corner in Pierce County! I long for the warmth of the sun, watching the beautiful sunrises and sunsets, drinking gallons of sweet tea, and enjoying meals outside. 

Every summer I make a list 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.

What’s your favorite summer activity/event in Pierce County?

 

Check out these other local posts on my blog;

 

PIERCE COUNTY FAMILY-FRIENDLY
SUMMER FUN 2026

Below you’ll find city/town’s in Pierce County that will be having any events this summer. Events will be organized by dates and don’t forget to come back often to see if anything has changed(& visit their website for further info).

If the event is crossed out though, it just means the information and date haven’t been shared yet. I’ll update them as soon as possible. Also I won’t be adding all the events happening in Pierce County this summer.

Save this post, share it, and/or print it. Please leave me a comment if you have something you’d like me to add.

Table of Contents:

  • University Place
  • Steilacoom
  • Fircrest
  • Lakewood
  • Dupont
  • Tacoma
  • Fife
  • Puyallup & Sumner
  • Spanaway, Eatonville & Graham
  • Bonney Lake
  • Gig Harbor/Key Peninsula
  • Misc. Pierce County Areas

 

UNIVERSITY PLACE

»June 6 Duck Daze – Bridgeport Way, kicks off at 10am

»June 13 Kidz Kraze – 10am-2pm at Chambers Bay Park – Explore Chambers Creek Regional Park and enjoy a variety of activities, food, information booths, and more! $10 parking/vehicle

»Wednesdays starting July 8-August 26 Music on the Square – The Village at Chambers Bay. Make plans to have “dinner out” on Market Square this summer as Music on the Square takes place from 6 to 8 p.m.

»Thursdays starting July 23-August 20 Summer Concerts – Curran Apple Orchard, 6:30pm to 8pm

»August 1 Kite Festival – 10am-4pm. The entire family will be captivated by amazing kite demonstrations, family kite flying, inflatables, food trucks, vendors, and other fun activities! Each day 250 kites will be given away! $10 parking

»August 1 Movie in the Park – The movie begins at dusk in Cirque Park, 7250 Cirque Drive West in University Place. Make plans to pack up the kids, a blanket or chairs! Movie: The Sandlot.

»August 15-16 Family Campout – Chambers Creek Park *Registration required

»August 30 Community Harvest Day – Curran Apple Orchard – 10am-4pm, You can pick from any tree EXCEPT trees that are taped or have “Do Not Pick” signs. People are limited to two bags of apples.

»September 12 Bark by the Bay – Chambers Bay, Central Meadows – 10am-3pm This one-day festival is full of dog activities and games, an art project, treat hunting, vendors, and food trucks.

 

STEILACOOM

»4th of July Celebration – Steilacoom celebrates 4th of July all day long, with a parade, vendors, and more. Don’t forget to set up at Sunnyside Beach to watch the fireworks.

»Wednesdays starting July 9-August 20 Concerts In The Park – at Pioneer Park, from 6:30-8:00, free and open to the public.

»July 27, 2025 Salmon Bake – Noon – 4 pm, Join us at Sunnyside Beach for a delightful Salmon Bake!

 

FIRCREST

»June 28 Strawberry Festival – 5:00PM-9:00PM at Fircrest Park

»July 5 Fircrest Picnic & Rod Run – 10:00AM-3:00PM at Fircrest Park

»July 17-18 Fircrest Fun Days – more details to come

»August 20 Movie In the Park

LAKEWOOD

»May 29 Street Festival – We’ll have a live DJ, dancing, food trucks, roaming entertainment, jugglers, unicyclists and more! 4-7pm Colonial Plaza on Motor Ave.

»June 13-14 Fairy Fest at Lakewold Gardens – Fairyfest returns with a magical weekend of family-friendly activities! 

»Tuesdays June 16- August 25 Summer Nights at the Pavilion Concert Series – 6:30pm. Set up lawn chairs or throw down a blanket and enjoy live music at Fort Steilacoom Park!

»August 15 SummerFest – Noon-8:30pm Fort Steilacoom Park. Enjoy endless entertainment, dozens of food trucks, beer garden, and two stages with live music. there is truly something for everybody.

»September 26 – Fiesta de la Familia – Fort Steilacoom Park, 12-6pm Enjoy food, live entertainment, an art show, and hands on crafts. Kids will enjoy balloon making, face painting and more.

 

DUPONT

»4th of July Hometown Celebration – Clocktower Park from 10am-2PM, and fireworks at Patriot’s Landing at dusk.

»August 8 – Dino Day – Save the date for Dino Day at the historical museum, to celebrate our state dinosaur, Suciasaurus Rex. We will have activities for families, including a fossil dig and scavenger hunt with prizes, craft projects, refreshments, and history for all ages. Free of charge. 

»Thursdays from July 11- August 29 Concert at the Park – 6:30-8PM at the Clocktower Park.

TACOMA

»June 1-30 Tacoma Trails Challenge – We’re celebrating National Trails Day with a fun three-week exploration of Tacoma’s parks and trails. Participate at your own pace, earn badges and win prizes! Register starting April 15.

»June 19 Juneteenth Celebration – save the date! Tacoma, WA more details to come.

»June 26, July 24, August 14 LeMay Motors & Movies – Grab dinner at our picnic concessions and watch in your car or from a blanket. FREE and open to all ages, no RSVP required, first come first served. 7-11pm

»July 4th Tacoma Summer Blast –  This annual event takes place on Dune Peninsula and the iconic Ruston Way Waterfront and features two distinct event footprints, over 150 vendors, 2 stages and a 20-minute firework display. 12pm-10:30pm

»July 18-19 Brigade Encampment – 11am-5pm, Step back in time to 1855 at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum’s annual Brigade Encampment.  Tickets available.

»July 25-26 Mosaic Tacoma Arts & Cultural Festival –  Wright Park 12pm-7pm. The free community event highlighting traditional dance, music, art and food marks its 37th year under the park’s beautiful canopy of trees.

»Tacoma Concert Band Outdoor Series – 6:30pm Experience the magic of live music outdoors, surrounded by friends, family, and the scenery of Tacoma’s great parks. Food available for purchase. Concerts are free to all. Seating is on the lawn.
Wed, August 5: Wright Park
Thur, August 6: Point Defiance Park
Fri, August 7: Star Center
Sat, August 8: TBA

»August 21 Family Fun Night at Fort Nisqually – Bring a picnic dinner to enjoy in the shade of the locus trees. Kids of all ages enjoy 19th century games, music, and the firing of the candy cannon! 6:00pm-9:00pm, tickets available soon. 

»September 12 Harvest Home – 11 am-5 pm at Fort Nisqually Living History Museum. Join us for cider pressing with apples harvested from the museum’s very own orchard, crafts for the whole family and samples from our period kitchen! Tickets available here. 

»June 21, 2025 Lincoln District Food Walk –  12pm-7pm Enjoy food trucks, restaurants specials, beer garden, music, and more! 

»August 9(7pm), August 10(6pm), August 16(6pm), & August 17(6pm)  Shakespeare In The Park- Bring your blankets, lawn chairs and snacks to Wright Park for this production of Shakespeare. Free!

»August 14-24, 2025 Venardos Circus – I couldn’t be more excited that Venardos Circus will be back in Tacoma this year! They’ll be at Pt. Defiance Park, tickets on sale soon.

»August 24, 2024 The Hilltop Street Fair – Tacoma’s largest street fair, from 11:00am to 7:00pm.

»August 25, 2024 Proctor Food Fest – 11-5pm, Enjoy a summer afternoon in the Historic Proctor District with numerous food trucks, live entertainment from local musicians, and shopping! 

 

FIFE

»Tuesdays July 7-28 Music in the park – Check their FB for updates.

»August 28 Summer Bash & Movie in the Park – Check their FB for updates.

»August 19 Touch a Truck – at Dacca Park, Check their FB for updates.

 

PUYALLUP & SUMNER

»June 12-14 Meeker Days – Downtown Puyallup and Pioneer Park. For daily hours and more information check out here.

»June 20-21 Rhubarb Days & Vintage Market – A full weekend of live music, a beer garden, food trucks, kids’ zone, crafts, and local vendors, Sumner is the place for family fun! Downtown Sumner

»June 26-28 The Taste NW – 11AM – 9PM, Washington State Fair

»Fridays in July Movie in the Park – Meridian Habitat Park. Movies are FREE. Feel free to pack your own snacks and picnic treats to munch on during the movie or indulge in the delicious offerings from Cup of Jones Espresso and Big Dawgs Hot Dogs food trucks on site. The fun doesn’t stop there; arrive early at 7:00 p.m. to join in on the exciting preshow activities and games.
July 10 – TOGO(pet friendly)
July 17- Smurfs
July 24- Lilo & Stitch

»July 10, 17, 24, 31 Music Off Main – at Heritage Park(6:30-8pm) Get ready to tap your toes, clap your hands and enjoy a wide variety of music in the magic of summer twilight. Food trucks on site for all dates.

»August 2 Sumner Classy Chassis Car Show – 10am-3pm Sumner High School

»June 7, 2025 Paws in the Park – 10 AM – 12 PM, Meridian Habitat Park. Join us for Paws in the Park, a tail-wagging good time for dogs and their humans! This free community gathering promises a day filled with fun and excitement for everyone. Free admission & parking.

SPANAWAY, EATONVILLE, & GRAHAM

»May 30-31 Learn to Camp Campout – at Frontier Park in Graham. From mastering the art of pitching a tent to honing your fire-building skills, from exploring the culinary wonders of campfire cooking to learning about basic plant identification, this event has it all. Pre-registration is required.

»June 6 Light the Lake – Experience the magic of Spanaway Park as it transforms into a glowing paradise for Light the Lake! For tickets check out.

»June 27-28 Northwest Trek Slug Fest – free with admission.

»June 27 Tacoma Highland Games – at Frontier Park in Graham

»3rd of July – Eatonville – celebrate with food trucks, bouncy houses, live entertainment and vendors leading up to a professional fireworks display at dusk. The celebration is held in the field behind Eatonville Elementary and Eatonville Middle Schools. Begins at 5:30pm, fireworks at dark

»4th of July Parade – in Downtown Eatonville, takes place at noon. The main parade route is along Mashell Ave.

»August 2 Dog Days of Spanaway – 11am-4pm, Sprinker Rec Center. A delightful celebration filled with dogs, community spirit, and outdoor fun. Enjoy free admission and parking as you and your furry friends experience a tail-wagging good time.

»August 5-7 Feeding Frenzy at NW Trek – Gobble, munch, devour. Event activities are free with admission.

»August 13-16 Pierce County Fair – at Frontier Park in Graham

»September 12 Touch A Truck – Spanaway Park, 10am-1pm, Free Admission

»August 24, 2024 Classic Car Show – at Spanaway Park, 8am-3pm

 

BONNEY LAKE

»Wednesdays from July 8 – August 19 Outdoor Market & Tunes at Tapps – 5pm-8pm at Allan Yorke Park, This event features an outdoor market with local vendors and live music.

»Mondays July 13-August 17 Kids Club/Day- at Allan Yorke Park – 6:30pm-7:30pm. Enjoy a fun evening of entertainment at the park.

»August 4 National Night Out- Allan Yorke Park, 6-8pm

GIG HARBOR/KEY PENINSULA

»June 6-7 Maritime Gig Festival – Downtown Gig Harbor celebrate the beautiful city with a weekend of fun and festivities.

»Around June 20 – In recent years GNOMES have been found hiding at Key Pen Parks on the Summer Solstice! Lucky visitors to our parks can find hidden gnomes and give them a nice new home.

»June 21 Fest 4 All – Uptown Pavilion. Join us for a free, all-ages celebration of Gig Harbor’s creative spirit, featuring live performances by incredible local musicians spanning diverse genres and styles. 11:30am-8pm

»Tuesdays July 7-August 25 – Summer Sounds at Skansie Brother’s Park- from 6-8pm.

»Summer Concerts – Join us for seven summer evenings of live music and family fun! 6:30am-9:30pm
Wednesdays in July 8-29 – Sehmel Homestead Park
Fridays in August 7-21 – at the Recreation Center

»July 11 Family Fun Fest – at Gateway Park

»July 18, 25 & August 1 – Music in the Park – Gateway Park

»July 18-19 – Summer Art Festival – Discover the magic of creativity in the heart of Gig Harbor at the Summer Art Festival, where PenMet Parks’ picturesque Sehmel Homestead Park sets the stage for a vibrant celebration of artistic expression. 9am-5pm

»August 1 Cruise the Narrows Car Show-  8:00am-3:00pm Uptown Plaza, Multicare lot

»Thursdays in August 6, 13 & 20 Kid’s Concerts – Gateway Park

»Fridays August 7, 14 & 21 Cinema Under the Stars-  a longtime Key Pen Parks tradition at Volunteer or Gateway Parks. Bring your blankets, chairs, pillows and prepare to have a great time with your friends and family!

»June 14, 2025 – Key Peninsula Farm Tours – June Blooms, more information coming soon. (Also check out their Fall event!) CANCELED

»Friday Night Movies in the Park – Join us for a fun, family-friendly flick! The big screen will be at the Sehmel Homestead Park Amphitheater featuring PG-rated movies every Friday evening in August. 

»August 10, 2024 Gig Harbor Rockin’ Rhythm & Blues Festival- 12pm-9pm  more info here

 

MISC. PIERCE COUNTY AREAS – SUMMER FUN!!

»Kids Build Projects are free at both Lowes & Home Depot. Go register to reserve your spot, while supplies last.

»Pierce County Library Summer Reading Program – Starts June 1, they also host many other events throughout the year so check out their calendar.

»Many churches do VBS during the summer!

»YMCA‘s host camps & other activities.

»Kids Bowl Free – Registered Kids Receive 2 FREE GAMES Of Bowling Each Day Of The KBF Program All Summer Long! At select bowling alleys.

»Pizza Hut – Camp Book It, June thru August. Camp BOOK IT! is open to all families with PreK-6th grade students (ages 4-12). Parents set goals, track reading and reward their students, all in our digital dashboard.

»June 14, July 3-5, August 25, September 17 are Free National Parks Day

»Low Tide Beach Walk’s – aka Tiptoe through the Tidepools & Explore the Shore, Bring your family to explore the beach, learn about tide pool life and have lots of fun during some of the lowest tides of the year. A naturalist will guide low-tide beach exploration. This event is free!
Check out all the dates and locations during the summer!

»Regal Summer Movie Express – Summer Movie Express tickets are just $1 on Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 11AM featuring summer movies the whole family will enjoy. 

»Barnes & Noble – Summer Reading, Participation is a fun and easy way for kids to earn free books. Children then choose their free book from the books listed on the Reading Journal and collect their free book from a store near them during July and August.

»Tacoma Public Library Summer Reading Program – Starts in June, they also host many other events throughout the year so check out their calendar.

»Low Tide Walk’s – Join Harbor WildWatch for a fun and educational public beach walk program on the stunning shorelines of the Salish Sea. 
Check out all the dates and locations during the summer!

 

Hope your family finds some fun things to do this summer in Pierce County! Leave me a comment with your favorite summer event here in Pierce County, I’d love to hear about it.

And be sure to come back this fall when I update this post; SOUTH SOUND PUMPKIN PATCHES AND FALL FUN!

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