Sep 26 Saturday
Get Ready to run, groove, and feel the power of Beethoven!
Symphony Tacoma invites you for a one-of-a-kind 5k experience that will have you moving to the rhythm of one of the most iconic symphonic pieces of all time—Beethoven’s 5th Symphony! Whether you’re a seasoned runner or a casual jogger, this race is designed for everyone who loves music and fitness!
The challenge? Cross the finish line before the last note of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. This epic symphony lasts about 30 minutes, so your mission is to finish before the final, dramatic da-da-da-daahh echoes through the air. Do it, and you’ll get a voucher to any 2026/27 Symphony Tacoma Classic Concert!
Join us as we welcome members of the Latine community to the Aquarium. To celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we’ll have a digital scavenger hunt, animal talks in Spanish and English (select dates) and more. Open to all members of the Latine community and other people interested in celebrating Latine culture.
Be sure to bring your little ones too! We’ll have special activities during Toddler Time on September 27 and 28, and October 10 and 11. Join us for a sensory-friendly early opening on Sunday, September 27 at 9am. For early-opening ticket information, reach out to connections@seattleaquarium.org.
In celebration of its 30th anniversary, the Washington State Historical Society invites you to explore the history of building the State History Museum. 30 Years and Counting: The Making of the Washington State History Museum is a special exhibition that uncovers the vision, effort, and community spirit that brought this iconic Tacoma landmark to life.
Discover the bold ideas and architectural ingenuity that shaped the museum’s distinctive look. From early sketches to final blueprints, see how the building’s design reflects both innovation and reverence for Washington’s past. Go behind the scenes of the museum’s construction. Through photographs and artifacts from the building process, witness how a dream took shape—brick by brick, beam by beam.
Staff Picks: 30 Objects for 30 Years
In a special feature area, museum staff share their favorite objects from the collection—each one a personal reflection on the power of history to inspire, surprise, and connect us.
Never Turn Back: Echoes of African American Music unveils the profound legacy of Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul artists who shaped the soundscape of American culture and used their music as instruments of resistance, identity, and representation.
Gospel, Blues, Jazz, and Soul embody the profound influence of African American music on culture and history. From the spiritual foundations and transformative movements of Gospel hymns to the revolutionary improvisations of Jazz, the Blues’ Southern roots rising from the Mississippi Delta, and Soul’s powerful amplification of the Civil Rights and Black Power Movements, these genres have defined the unique sound and undying spirit of a nation that continues to echo through contemporary Black music today.
This is a permanent exhibition. Since time immemorial, Tribal nations have existed in this place we call Washington. This Is Native Land invites visitors to understand Washington State through the lived experiences and voices of its Native people.
Tribal nations are sovereign nations. Today, Native history, culture, and community thrive in our state. Through everyday acts of sovereignty – big and small – Indigenous peoples demonstrate they are still here, they have persevered, and they will always be here.
This Is Native Land is guided by three teachings:We are of the land and watersWith knowledge comes responsibilitySovereignty protects people, lands, and waters
These teachings are shared through multimedia, artwork, and interactive objects designed for guest engagement. They represent a contemporary continuation of Tribal stories and traditions.
Over 100 Native contributors from more than 60 Tribes shaped the exhibition’s stories and content. We thank the Native Advisory Committee and all community participants for their contributions.
LeMay – America’s Car Museum proudly presents The Birth of the American Supercar, a groundbreaking exhibition guest curated by renowned automotive innovator Steve Saleen. This one-of-a-kind display invites guests on an exhilarating journey through the evolution of American supercars. From early speed pioneers to cutting-edge modern marvels, visitors will experience a stunning lineup of vehicles that have redefined engineering, speed, and style, built by a wide range of American automotive manufacturers like Ford, Chevy, Dodge, Saleen himself, and even some more obscure ones like Vector, Cunningham, and Hennessey. From roaring V8s to sleek carbon-fiber bodies, discover how American automakers pushed boundaries, challenged European rivals, and redefined what a supercar could be. This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to see some of the most thrilling and historically significant American-made performance vehicles ever built—all under one roof.
“Every piece I create, from the humblest tumbler to the most baroque sculpture, makes a statement about isolation, striving, access, perseverance, boundary pushing, and the pursuit of excellence. I believe my presence in the field as a working-class Black man, striving and excelling in a field occupied chiefly by society’s most privileged (whitest), is a powerful artistic and political gesture. “—Jason McDonald
Glass vessels evocative of the highly ornamented Baroque style, black silhouettes embedded in scenes on ancient pottery vessels, and medallion reliefs of Black figures all abide in the deliberate, expansive practice of Jason McDonald. McDonald’s visual language is deeply rooted in research of ancient histories, traditional techniques, and race. Here, contemporary ideas blend and transform tradition with caring attention to detail, precision in thought, and beauty. Motivated by glass—with its magical properties, myriads of endless possibilities and potential—McDonald’s devotion lies in the desire to refine the craft, making his hands more familiar and knowledgeable with each replication. Through his repetition and re-imagination of these historical forms, the objects transform into sculptures and vessels of time, carrying with them the essence of centuries-old traditions, as well as McDonald’s commitment and insertion of the representation and notions of Black identity. With a commitment to the craft that transcends his own work, McDonald diligently carves out space for those who will follow him through mentoring and the creation of his own glass studio, which he has named Ideal Conditions.
Organized by Tacoma Art Museum and curated by Victoria Miles.
"Migration," a multifaceted show exploring the movement of wildlife, people and ideas across the world, is open now. Artists Kate Flores, Mary O'Shaughnessy and Loran Scruggs of Port Townsend and Carolyn King of Tucson are presenting a variety of two- and three-dimensional creations. Their materials range from tin cans and bottle caps to embroidery, paint, cast glass and beyond. Northwind's gallery, at 701 Water Street in downtown Port Townsend, is open noon to 5 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays. More information awaits at NorthwindArt.org. Pictured: "Danzante Azteca" by Carolyn King.
The Tacoma Puzzle Hunt is an exciting afternoon of mind-bending puzzles and brainteasers. It combines a treasure hunt with life-sized challenges that test your creativity and problem solving skills - imagine an outdoor escape room where you don’t just survive, but you also win prizes!
So, get your team together for this unique Tacoma event, and register now on our website. It’s FREE, and you could come away $500 richer!
Live Jazz
