Tacoma is chock-full of fun community events and festivals this summer. With the combination of local food vendors, blues bands and more than 35 Washington craft brewers, Brew Five Three is one not to miss. This inaugural event, put on by Broadway Center for the Performing Arts, takes place Saturday, June 22 from 1 to 10 p.m. on Broadway in downtown Tacoma.

"The inspiration for Brew Five Three came from our city," said Aaron Stevens, Broadway Center programming manager. "Tacoma has a long-standing and wonderful relationship with craft beer. Further inspiration came from our city's blues fans. We get asked all the time to bring more blues shows to Tacoma."     

So far, food vendors include The Red Hot, Dirty Oscar's, Lumpia World, Gateway to India and Taste of Istanbul, with more to come. The full list of participating brewers is long, and includes Gig Harbor's 7 Seas Brewing, Wingman Brewers and Puyallup River Brewing, just to name a few.

Advance tickets can be purchased online for $25 through June 15, and increase to $30 after that date.  Tickets include eight tasting tokens and a collectible tasting glass, and additional tasting tokens can be purchased at the event. A designated driver ticket - which includes admission to the event, music and food vendors - is available for $5. There will be a half hour break when no beer will be poured from 5-5:30.

As if you needed more reasons to attend, the ticket sales benefit Broadway Center for the Performing Arts' Education Program, serving more than 51,000 students, teachers and parents each year.

BREW FIVE THREE, 1 to 10 p.m., Saturday, June 22, Broadway between Ninth and 11th, 21 + only, $25-$30, website

Band Schedule
2:00-3:00 pm: Chris Stevens & The Surf Monkeys with Jay Mabin
3:30-4:30 pm: T-Town Aces
6:30-7:30 pm: Snake Oil Blues Elixir All Stars
8:00-9:00 pm: Little Bill and the Blues Notes