Let the festivities begin! Get ready to enjoy an exciting week filled with community events, parties, birthdays, and more in Downtown Tacoma.
From honoring historic landmarks to celebrating new beginnings, mark your calendars to enjoy three free, family-friendly events that you won’t want to miss.
Old City Hall Celebrates 130th Birthday
One of Downtown Tacoma’s most iconic buildings is turning 130 years old this week.
The original construction of Old City Hall was completed on April 23, 1893 when Tacoma was still a rail town acting as the terminus of the Northern Pacific Railroad, and was utilized by the City of Tacoma until the late 1950’s.
Now, after years of vacancy and renovation, Old City Hall is anticipated to re-open in 2024 with plans for new restaurants and retail, along with space for offices, co-working, events, and more.
Celebrate the historic building on Wednesday, April 26th at their 130th birthday celebration, which will be held just up the street at downtown’s Union Club (also known as Old City Hall’s sister). Stop by the party from 5pm – 7pm to get your hands on a limited supply of 130 hand-drawn Old City Hall posters, enjoy exciting tours from Pretty Gritty Tours, and enter for the chance to win $130 gift cards from downtown shops including Sunny’s, eTc Tacoma, and D. Haberdashery.
Tacoma Dome’s 40th Birthday & T-Town Celebration
On April 21st, 1983, the Tacoma Dome opened for the very first time and just a few months later held its very first concert featuring David Bowie.
Constructed with felled timber from the 1980 Mt. St. Helens eruption, the iconic venue is known as one of the largest wooden domes in the world, and has welcomed countless music legends to the stage over the years including the likes of Frank Sinatra, Prince, Elton John, Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, and more.
Help celebrate the local landmark’s 40th birthday at their free and family-friendly T-Town event complete with food, live entertainment, backstage tours, a hiring fair and much more fun on April 28th & 29th!
Dawg Bites at UW Tacoma
Enjoy a day filled with family fun, food trucks, and more as UW Tacoma celebrates the opening of Milgard Hall, the newest addition to the University of Washington’s Tacoma campus.
Catch live marching band and music performances, participate in Dawg Bites Scavenger Hunts, and explore the new state of the art Milgard Hall facility. Don’t miss snapping a photo with UW’s famous husky, “Dubs”, and learn about how to become a husky yourself, gain scholarships and more.
Food trucks on site will include Dick’s Drive-In, Stacks, Just a Pizza My Mind, Taco Cortes, Campfire Coffee, and Bliss Ice Cream.
Don’t forget to stop by the Kid Zone, watch dance teams and performers, see live glass blowing demonstrations, enjoy campus tours, and even have the chance to win exciting prizes.
Dawg Bites will take place on Saturday, April 29th 12pm – 5pm, and parking on-campus will be free.
