$1.50 parking downtown, Bleachers at Dune Peninsula

Thursday, September 17, 2026

Happy Thursday, Tacoma. This week: downtown street parking gets pricier next month, a K-pop arena show and a waterfront rock concert land on the same weekend, and Washington's original 1889 Constitution makes a one-day stop downtown. Plus a Fred Meyer closure, a new tenant union near Wright Park, and where to find free museum nights tonight.

Community Events & Things to Do

• Washington's Original 1889 State Constitution Viewing — Thursday, Sept 17 (today), 1–7 p.m., Washington State History Museum, 1911 Pacific Ave. Free from 3 to 7 p.m. for Third Thursday. The State Archives brings the actual handwritten founding document to Tacoma for one day only. Constitution Viewing
• Live at The Eleanor: Sabor Flamenco — Friday, Sept 18, doors 7 p.m., show 8 p.m., Tacoma Armory Roosevelt Room, 1001 Yakima Ave. $24.54 online, including fees. An intimate night of flamenco guitar, vocals, and dance in the historic Eleanor Roosevelt Room. Live at The Eleanor
• Bleachers with The Linda Lindas — Saturday, Sept 19, 6:30 p.m., Dune Peninsula at Point Defiance, 5361 Yacht Club Rd. Jack Antonoff's band plays an outdoor show over Commencement Bay, with L.A. punk kids The Linda Lindas opening. Bleachers tickets
• LE SSERAFIM: Pureflow Tour — Sunday, Sept 20, 7:30 p.m., Tacoma Dome. The K-pop group brings its Pureflow Tour to the Dome for a Sunday night show. Allow extra travel time around the arena. LE SSERAFIM tickets
• Washington State Fair — through Sunday, Sept 27, Puyallup. Closed Tuesdays. There are still two weekends to visit before the fair closes Sept 27, with rides, food, animals, and entertainment in Puyallup. Washington State Fair

For Families

• Fiestas Patrias at the Fair — Sunday, Sept 20, shows at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m., Columbia Bank Grandstand, Puyallup. The state's largest Fiestas Patrias celebration, with two free grandstand shows and cultural performances across the fairgrounds all day, included with fair admission. Price: Included with paid fair admission. Fiestas Patrias
• Latine/x Heritage Month Scavenger Hunt — now through Thursday, Oct 15, all open Tacoma Public Library branches. Kids search for hidden images of inspiring Latinas featured in Latinitas: Celebrating 40 Big Dreamers by Juliet Menéndez and earn a prize for finding them all. Price: Free. Library Scavenger Hunt

General Local News Roundup

Downtown street parking goes to $1.50 an hour on Oct 13
On-street parking in downtown's metered zones will rise from $1.00 to $1.50 per hour starting Tuesday, Oct 13. Officials say the goal is to nudge all-day parkers into garages and lots so curb spaces turn over for quick errands and appointments; time limits and other regulations stay the same. If you're downtown for more than a couple of hours, participating garages offer $1 an hour for the first four hours and up to $12 a day. Read more (City of Tacoma)

Tenants near Wright Park form a union ahead of a building sale
Residents of three apartment buildings near Wright Park, including Hillcrest Apartments, announced the new Wright Park Tenant Union at a rally Saturday. The buildings are in the process of being sold to a Puyallup-based property management and construction company, and tenants say they organized to protect their households and work with the incoming management during the transition. It's the latest in a growing string of tenant unions forming in Tacoma. Read more (KNKX)

Pierce County eases burn ban to Stage 1
Cooler, wetter conditions let the county fire marshal drop unincorporated Pierce County from a Stage 2 to a Stage 1 burn ban effective Tuesday, Sept 15. Small recreational fires in approved pits are allowed again, along with gas, charcoal, and wood barbecues; yard debris and land-clearing burns remain off limits. The statewide ban is scheduled to run through Sept 30, and Tacoma residents inside city limits should check with the city for local rules. Read more (Auburn Reporter)

City Government & Council News

City wants residents on the Arts Commission and Tacoma Creates board
The council put out a call on Sept 10 for applicants to fill four open seats on the Tacoma Arts Commission and one on the Tacoma Creates Advisory Board. Practically, these are the volunteer bodies that help steer public art, arts funding, and the Tacoma Creates cultural-access dollars, so it's a real chance to shape where that money goes. Applications are due by noon Monday, Oct 12. Application details (City of Tacoma)

Have your say on the 2025–2026 CAPER
The city's Housing Division has published its draft 2025–2026 CAPER (Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report), the document that summarizes how federal Community Development Block Grant and related funds were spent on housing rehab, small-business assistance, and human services over the past program year. Written comments are being accepted until 4 p.m. Thursday, Sept 24, by email or mail, and the draft is available to read at the Tacoma Municipal Building and every library branch. Read more (City of Tacoma)

Community conversation on police accountability set for Sept 26
The city is hosting a hybrid Community Conversation on Police Accountability and Transparency on Saturday, Sept 26, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., in the Cascade Room at the Main Library, 1102 Tacoma Ave S, with a Zoom option. Organizers promise pizza, light snacks, and a rundown of how oversight work is progressing in Tacoma, Pierce County, and statewide. Read more (City of Tacoma)

Weather & Seasonal Notes

The National Weather Service forecast calls for a high near 69 today, 66 Friday and Saturday, and 67 Sunday, with sunny to mostly sunny skies. Early next week brings highs near 67 Monday, 64 Tuesday, and 65 Wednesday, with overnight lows generally in the low 50s. A slight chance of rain enters the forecast Tuesday night. Fall officially arrives Tuesday, Sept 22. Before lighting a recreational fire, check the rules for your jurisdiction: the eased county restrictions apply to unincorporated Pierce County. Latest Tacoma forecast (NWS)

Local Business & Real Estate Spotlight

James Center Fred Meyer will close in January
Kroger confirmed it is closing the Fred Meyer at 6901 S 19th St, across from Tacoma Community College, with the store scheduled to shut in January 2027. The company told the workers' union that rising rent drove the decision, but the property's landlord disputes that, saying it offered a rent decrease when Kroger declined to renew its five-year lease. For West End shoppers, it means the loss of a full-service grocery on a busy bus corridor. Read more (KNKX)

Local agent sees a more balanced housing market
Local agent Marguerite Martin of Move to Tacoma described a KOMO town hall in a Sept 11 article. According to her recap, regional new listings are up about 10.5 percent year over year while pending sales are down more than 7 percent and prices have slipped roughly 1.5 percent. Her article puts Pierce County's median home price around $550,000 and average time on market at about 44 days, a far cry from the weekend bidding wars of recent years, though results still vary sharply by neighborhood and price point. Read more (Move to Tacoma)

Food & Drink

• Stadium District Art & Wine Walk — Saturday, Sept 19, 1 to 4 p.m. Enjoy Washington wine tastings at 18 participating Stadium District businesses alongside local art; $30, advance purchase required, check-in at First Presbyterian Church, 20 Tacoma Ave S. Proceeds support the district, and it tends to sell out. Art & Wine Walk tickets

Coming Up

• Last call at the Broadway Farmers Market — the downtown market's 36th season wraps up Thursday, Sept 24, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., on Broadway between 9th and 11th. Stock up on late-summer produce and say thanks to your favorite vendors; EBT, SNAP Market Match, and WIC are all accepted. Broadway Farmers Market
• Beat Beethoven 5K — Saturday, Sept 26, 9 a.m., Wright Park. Symphony Tacoma's second annual race challenges runners to finish before the final notes of Beethoven's Fifth, which lasts about 30 minutes. Registration required. Beat Beethoven 5K
• Cider Swig turns 13 — Saturday, Sept 26, noon to 5 p.m., LeMay America's Car Museum. Over 130 Northwest ciders and related drinks, plus music and food, hosted by the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation. Pace yourself; that's a lot of apples. Cider Swig
• Green Tacoma Day — Saturday, Oct 10, 9 a.m. to noon, Wapato Hills Park and other sites. The annual day of service pairs tree plantings and restoration work with family-friendly learning activities; first-timers welcome. Price: Free. Green Tacoma Day
• Tacoma Studio Tour — Saturday and Sunday, Oct 17–18, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., studios across the city. Step inside the working spaces of local artists; every stop has a demo or hands-on activity, which makes it a surprisingly good outing with kids. Price: Free. Tacoma Studio Tour

Frugal Tacoma

• Free Third Thursday at Museum of Glass — Museum District. The museum stays open late tonight, Thursday, Sept 17, with free admission from 5 to 8 p.m., hot shop included. Tacoma high school students also get in free any day with a valid student ID. Museum of Glass admission
• Neighborhood Nights at Tacoma Art Museum — Pacific Avenue downtown. TAM is free every Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m., including tonight and Sept 24, with artmaking in the studio and programs with community partners; grab a bite at the cafe first. Neighborhood Nights

Community Spotlight

Founded in 1994, Hilltop Artists helps young people build skills and confidence through glass art, including programs at Hilltop Heritage Middle School. You can see students and instructors at work tonight, Thursday, Sept 17, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Museum of Glass, 1801 Dock St. Watch live glassmaking on the hot shop floor during the museum's free Third Thursday evening. Hilltop Artists at Museum of Glass

Sports

A quiet week on the local sports desk: we couldn't verify fresh results or confirmed home dates for our teams by press time, so we'll hold the scores rather than guess. If your school or club has a result worth sharing, hit reply and we'll get it in next week.

This Week in Tacoma History

Our history desk couldn't nail down a verified Tacoma anniversary that lands squarely in this week's dates, and we'd rather skip a week than fudge one. For a genuine brush with the past instead, the 1889 Constitution on view today at the State History Museum (see Events) is about as close to the founding of Washington as you can get without a time machine.

Deadlines & Public Notices

• Operational Strategy and Administrative Committee meeting — Friday, Sept 25, 10:30 a.m. — council committee, hybrid format, Conference Room 243 at 747 Market St; the Sept 11 meeting was canceled, so this is the next one. Meeting notice
• Summer Reading grand-prize pickup — by Wednesday, Sept 30 — Tacoma Public Library's Summer Reading grand-prize raffle winners must collect their prizes by Sept 30. Summer Reading

Before You Go

That's the week. With downtown curb parking about to cost more, we're curious: do you park on the street, in a garage, or skip the car entirely when you head downtown? Hit reply and tell us your move. And if this saved you a search or two, forward it to a Tacoma neighbor who'd appreciate the heads-up.