From evening music and arts to candy cannons, summer is coming alive at Fort Nisqually
Fort Nisqually
Summer events at Fort Nisqually showcase the space as more than a museum. It is a place where history can be heard through live music, tasted through food from a period kitchen, felt through hands-on activities and shared through community celebrations.
From the return of Brigade Encampment to a brand-new summer music event, and an evening designed for families, Fort Nisqually’s summer event lineup invites visitors to step inside the walls of the 19th-century fur trade outpost and experience history in new and memorable ways.
“Summer at the Fort is a special time, and we are excited to invite visitors to experience all that this historic site has to offer,” said Board Commissioner Andrea Smith. “Through programming, events, and storytelling, the Fort continues to inspire curiosity and bring people together. It has been a favorite destination for me and my family since I was a child.”
The season begins in July, when the 43rd celebration of the Brigade Encampment happens Saturday and Sunday, July 18–19. This living history event recreates the excitement of the fur brigade’s arrival, when a year’s worth of furs came through Fort Nisqually and the trading post became a lively hub. Visitors can step back into the 1850s and meet living historians, watch demonstrations, try hands-on period skills, while listening to live music. The event will also feature Punch and Judy puppet shows with Professor Petticoat, performances from the Pacific Ohana Foundation on Sunday honoring the Hawai’ian Hudson’s Bay laborers who worked in the Puget Sound region, and food from Boss Mamas’ Kitchen and Mauka Hawaiian Shave Ice.
On Friday, August 7, the Fort will open its gates after hours for the debut of Nisqually Live, a brand-new summer music event that brings local artists, food trucks, beer and wine, and hands-on crafts into the museum’s historic setting. Guests can wander the grounds, enjoy Pacific Northwest bluegrass and folk music from special guest Oly Mountain Boys and opener Pass the Lady Back, try paper marbling and lavender sachet making, and purchase food from Buddy’s Chicken & Waffles. Beer and wine will be available for purchase through the Fort Nisqually Foundation, with proceeds supporting building improvements and restoration efforts at the museum.
The summer lineup continues Friday, August 21, with Family Fun Night: an evening where families can try old-fashioned ice cream, experience firing of the candy cannon, picnic under the locust trees, and enjoy 19th-century games like sack races and three-legged races.
Fort Nisqually Living History Museum is located inside Point Defiance Park at 5519 Five Mile Drive in Tacoma. Upcoming summer events include:
Brigade Encampment
Saturday and Sunday, July 18–19, 2026 | 11 a.m.–5 p.m.
A living history event recreating the excitement of the 1855 fur brigade’s arrival at Fort Nisqually.
Nisqually Live
Friday, August 7, 2026 | 6–9 p.m.
A new 21+ summer music event featuring live Pacific Northwest bluegrass and folk music, food trucks, beer and wine, and hands-on crafts.
Family Fun Night
Friday, August 21, 2026 | 6–9 p.m.
A family-friendly evening with picnic space, 19th-century games, music, old-fashioned ice cream and the candy cannon.
For more information, tickets and event updates, visit the Fort Nisqually Living History Museum website or call (253) 404-3970.
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