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Summertime festivals

Where to have fun close to home

Find hot rods and more excitement at this year’s Freedom Fair. Photo courtesy of the Tacoma Events Commission

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Summer is so close, we can almost taste it. By taste it, we mean that it is almost time to savor all our favorite festival and fair foods! With the sunshine comes another round of annual festivals and events taking place in and around the area. With so many different fun events on the horizon, you better mark your calendars so you don't miss one. So get ready to pack up the kids, slather on the sunscreen, and get outdoors to enjoy this year's summer festivals and events.

JUNE 4
Deschutes Duck Dash
. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Free to attend. $5 per duck to race. The Lacey Rotary's annual fundraising event drops 12,000 rubber ducks in to the Deschutes River. The lucky ducks who cross the finish line have a chance at winning spectacular prizes. All money raised goes towards local charities, community service projects and scholarships. Food, fun fair, and live music entertainment. Event held at Tumwater Falls Park. 110 Deschutes Parkway SW, Tumwater.

JUNE 4-5
Roy Pioneer Rodeo
. Noon. Adults $12, Seniors $6, Children 6-12 $5, Children 5 and under: free. Rodeo will include fan favorites like bareback riding, calf roping, steer wrestling, and military bull riding. Concessions will be available for purchase including beer and wine. Cash only on rodeo grounds.

Maritime Gig Festival. Saturday, 8 a.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m. Free. Yo Ho Harbor Grande Parade, live music, children's activities, Classic Yacht Festival, Wheel's on the Water Car Show, and lots of food vendors. Downtown Gig Harbor between Pioneer and Rosedale on Harborview Drive.

June Faire. Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Weekend pass: $10 per adult. 17 and under, free. Come get medieval with the Barony of Dragon's Laire. Lots of medieval-related events including an artisan's village and marketplace. Try your luck with archery and youth armored combat activities. Event located at a new site: Norseland Site, 8707 SW Sentinel Peak Way, Bremerton.

JUNE 17-19
Meeker Days Festival
. Friday, Noon-9 p.m. Saturday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. Celebrate historical, educational and cultural interaction with this fun festival. Live entertainment, inflatable rides, educational exhibits, beer garden and classic car show. Downtown Puyallup and Pioneer Street.

JUNE 18-19
Olympic Air Show
. 9 a.m. $12 online, $15 at gate, children 6 and under, free. Father's Day weekend will be buzzing with fun family time with the air show. Watch aerobatic performers as well as heritage aircraft from WWII, Korea and Vietnam era. Entertainment including live music and the Smoke-n-Thunder Jet Car. Olympia Regional Airport, 7637 Old Hwy. 99 SE, Tumwater.

JUNE 24-26
EQC Taste of Tacoma
. Friday and Saturday 11 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Free. Celebrate local flavor by sampling all sorts of food. Family-friendly event includes entertainment and carnival rides. Wine bar and craft beer tasting.  Event located at Point Defiance Park, 5400 N. Pearl Street, Tacoma.

JULY 4
Freedom Fair
. Suggested admission donations of between $2 and $15. Spectacular annual air show over Commencement Bay, delicious food, lots of live entertainment and classic cars. The day ends with the fan favorite grand finale fireworks extravaganza beginning at 10:10 p.m. Event takes place along Ruston Way waterfront.

Artesian Family Festival and Thunder Valley Fireworks Show. 6 p.m. Fireworks begin at 10:15 p.m. Free. Event parking $10 per car. The biggest fireworks festival in the county will also feature live music, delicious food, games and so much more. Event held at the Tumwater Valley Golf Course driving range. 4611 Tumwater Valley Dr. SE, Tumwater.

JULY 9
Lakewood SummerFEST
. 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Free. Help celebrate the 20th anniversary of SummerFEST! Hands-on art activities, multi-sports events, trapeze, live music, food trucks, international festival and Kids Zone. SummerFEST Sprint Triathlon, 5k, 10k, and one-mile kids run. Minions movie begins at 9:30 p.m. Fort Steilacoom Park, 8714 87th Avenue SW, Lakewood.

Rainbow Center's Out in the Park. Noon-5 p.m. Free. Annual LGBTQA Pride Celebration features family-friendly entertainment, 100 street-side vendors, live performances by musicians, cirque performers, vaudeville and drag acts. Guest speakers as well. Event takes place on S. 9th Street and Pacific Avenue.

JULY 13-17
Capital Lakefair
. Noon-10 p.m.; Sunday, Noon - Midnight. Free. The five-day festival has events like Battle of the Bands, the Lakefair Car Show, live music, fireworks, carnival rides, and dozens of concession booths. The Capital Lakefair Grand Parade takes place on Saturday, July 16 at 5 p.m.

JULY 16-17
Summer Art Festival
. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Artists and crafters showcase their work that will be available for purchase. Live music, food vendors, a literary corner for authors and illustrators, children's activities and art exhibit. Festival held on Judson Street near the waterfront.

JULY 23
Oregon Trail Days
. Free. Saturday, July 23 Kid's Parade, 10 a.m. Adam Craig Foundation Concert, Friday and Saturday, 5 p.m.-Midnight. Tickets $20, purchasing in advance is recommended. Farmers Market on Saturday on Olympia Street. Festival will also have a rock and gem show, black powder shooting competition, a variety of vendors and plenty of food. Event takes place at the Tenino City Park. Park Ave. E. in Tenino.

JULY 24
Food Truck Fest
. 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Free. Find all your favorite food trucks in one place at this unique and fun festival. Taste test different types of food like hot dogs, gourmet bagel sandwiches, fried seafood, and ice cream. Located at Wright Park, 501 South I Street, Tacoma.

JULY 30

Tacoma Jazz and Blues Festival. 1 p.m. $20 in advance, $25 at the entrance. Youth ages 12-20, $10 in advance, $15 day of. Kids 12 and under, free. Plenty of jazz and blues music for music lovers. One-of-a-kind performances from many different artists. Fantastic food and beverages available for purchase. Beer garden for guests age 21 and over. Block party located on South Tacoma Way between South 54th and South 56th Street, Tacoma.

JULY 30-31
Pacific Northwest Mushroom Festival. 10 a.m.-6 p.m. $5; children 12 and under, free. Free parking and shuttle services. The 9th annual festival returns this year with more taste testing and more fun. Shroom Feast tasting books are $10 and include seven taste tickets. Live music, chef demos and Kids Zone. Farm tours also available. Regional Athletic Complex, corner of Steilacoom and Marvin Rd., Lacey.

Ethnic Fest. Noon-7 p.m. Free. Largest celebration of culture and community! Kid's Zone, live entertainment, specialty arts and crafts, and food. Located at Wright Park, 501 South I Street, Tacoma.

AUGUST 3-7
Thurston County Fair. 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Adults, $7. Seniors, $6. Youth ages 6-14, $5. Ages 5 and under, free. The area's premiere event for the Agricultural and Forestry Industry. All your favorite carnival rides, festival foods and entertainment will be back again this year. Crafts and artisan vendors. Thurston County Fairgrounds, 3054 Carpenter Rd. SE, Lacey.

AUGUST 6
Olympia Brew Fest. 1 p.m.-8:30 p.m. $25 advance, $30 at the door. Celebrate Olympia's fine brewing heritage and sample over 60 beers from 30 handpicked breweries. Live music and food available for purchase. No guests under the age of 21 permitted. Port Plaza Park, 701 Columbia St. NW, Olympia.

AUGUST 27
39th Annual LeMay Car Show and Auction. $15. Students ages 6-17, $5. Kids 5 and under, free. Event features more than 1,000 vintage vehicles. Additional collections of dolls, antiques and memorabilia to see. Donations and proceeds go to benefit the LeMay Family Collection Foundation. Event located at 325 152nd St. E., Tacoma.

AUGUST 27-28
JBLM Air Expo. Free. The area's largest outdoor event includes a visit from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds, plus other air show acts and static displays. McChord Field.

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