Get outside and enjoy Parks Tacoma this summer with these free family fun activities

Summer is coming in hot and Parks Tacoma is here to help keep your days full of fun!

Remember, recreation has benefits to your mental and physical health. Bring your family out to our free activities and get started on a lifetime of fun and good health.

There are so many free events and opportunities between now and Labor Day that our calendar is almost full to overflowing. Whether you’re planning to revisit your favorite picnic spots from years past or explore a new trail, this list is full of ideas on ways to entertain, educate, and make fun summer memories without spending a dime. 

CLICK ON EACH EVENT TITLE for more information including cancellations and schedule or location changes.

Game Night with the Park Guides

Join us for an evening of friendly competition and connection!

• June 26, 4:30-7 pm, People’s Center
• July 31, 4:30-7 pm, Titlow Park
• Aug  28, 4:30-7 pm, Wapato Park
• Sept 25, 4:30-7 pm,  STAR Center

4th of July Summer Blast

Enjoy a full day of live music, food, entertainment, and craft vendors. The fun begins at noon and ends with spectacular fireworks over Puget Sound.

• July 4, 12-10:30 pm, Dune Peninsula & Cummings Park

Park Spotlight

Come out and play with the Park Guides!

• July 8, 4 pm, Oakland Madrona
• July 11, 3 pm, Oakland Madrona
• July 22, 4 pm, Verlo Play­field
• July 26, 3 pm, Verlo Play­field
• Aug 5, 4 pm, Wright Park
• Aug 8, 3 pm, Wright Park
• Aug 19, 4 pm, Franklin Park
• Aug 22, 3 pm, Franklin Park

Fish Tales

Tots and their parent/guardian will enjoy nautical-themed storytime and crafts.

• July 9, Aug 13, Sept 10, 11 am, Point Defiance Marina

Community Market Resource Fair

Connect with a variety of community resources all in one place! Discover opportunities for food, housing, healthcare, and more in Tacoma and surrounding areas.

• July 9, 10 am-1:30 pm, Verlo Playfield
• July 30, 10 am-1:30 pm, Stewart Heights Park

Tiptoe Through the Tidepools

Join our beach walk naturalists and stroll along the beach at low tide to learn about the animals that live there.

• July 13, 9:30 am-12:30 pm, Titlow Beach

Explore the Shore

Learn about the biological diversity of our local beaches during some of the lowest tides of the year.

• July 14, 10:30 am-12:30 pm, Owen Beach
• Aug 12, 10 am-12 pm, Owen Beach

National Night Out

Meet your neighbors and celebrate with us! Enjoy live music, dance performances, food, video games, bouncy houses, basketball, and more!

• Aug 4, 3 pm-dusk, People’s Center

Tacoma Concert Band Outdoor Series

Experience the magic of live music outdoors, surrounded by friends, family, and the scenery of Tacoma’s great parks.

• Aug 5, 6:30 pm, Wright Park
• Aug 6, 6:30 pm, Point De­fiance Park
• Aug 7, 6:30 pm, STAR Center
• Aug 8, 6:30 pm, Wapato Park

Summer Bash & Outdoor Movie

Pack your snacks, blankets and lawn chairs and head to the park for a free movie for the whole family.

• Aug 21, 6:30 pm, STAR Center (movie: Zootopia 2, rated PG)

Boathouse Market

Gather, stroll, & shop to support local nautical & marine-themed handcrafted and artisan vendors.

• Sept 26, 10 am-3 pm, Point Defiance Marina

Story Hour at the Conservatory

Kids will have fun learning about nature, plants and the environment through stories, crafts and science projects.

• Every Thursday, 11 am, W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory

50+ Walk the Parks

Join us as we explore parks across Tacoma. Participants will travel on unpaved, uneven trails for up to one mile.

• July 3, 9 am, Wapato Park
• July 7, 5 pm, Wapato Park
• July 17, 9 am, Charlotte’s Blueberry Park
• July 21, 5 pm, Charlotte’s Blueberry Park
• July 31, 9 am, Swan Creek Park
• Aug 4, 5 pm, Swan Creek Park
• Aug 14, 9 am, Alderwood Park
• Aug 18, 5 pm, Browns Point Lighthouse Park

Coffee With the Birds

(All ages) Explore a special topic about birds, followed by a guided walk through one of our beautiful parks. Enjoy some coffee, sharpen your birdwatching skills and socialize with other birders. Free, registration required.

• July 5, 9-11 am, Point De­fiance Park
• August 2, 9-11 am, Titlow Park

Bird Walks

(All Ages) Join in a Park Guide-led bird walk through a Parks Tacoma’s site and see what species can be found along the shore and forest. Free, registration required.

• July 19, Aug 16, Sept 20, 9-11 am, Titlow Park
• June 28, July 26, Aug 23, Sept 27, 9-11 am, Point Defiance Park
• July 12, Aug 9, Sept 13, 9-11 am, Wapato Park

Guided Dog Walk

July 18, 2 pm, Wright Park

• Aug 15, 2 pm, Titlow Park
• Sept 19, 2 pm, Alderwood Park

Discovering Defiance: Drop-In Hikes

Hike with a Park Guide every Saturday starting from the Fort Nisqually Picnic Shelter at 9 am. The walk will average 3 miles at a leisurely pace and can be tailored to participant interest and time for a different route each week.

• Every Saturday, 9 am, Point Defi­ance Park

Family Nature Walks

(Ages 3+) Explore Tacoma Parks during these naturalist-led walks. Discover the amazing plants and animals that live in these parks and how they adapt in the different seasons.

• July 18, Aug 15, Sept 19, 10-11 am, Point Defiance Park

Tots on the Trail

See Point Defiance from a kids’ point of view. Early walkers and confident toddlers and their parent/guardian are invited to join Park Guide Jenn on a child-led hike through Point Defiance Park.

• Every Friday, 10 am, Point Defi­ance Park

Babies on the Trail

You’re never too young to enjoy the outdoors. This program is for ages 18 months and younger and their parent/guardian. Siblings are welcome.

• Every Wednesday, 10 am, Point Defi­ance Park