Events for the week ahead: National Night Out activities, comedy with Josh Blue, Thurston County Fair, music and more

Communities of all kinds and sizes will be bonding Tuesday at local National Night Out events. Among them:

▪ Arts Night Out at Hilltop Artists will bring together food, music, T-shirt painting, chalk, cycles and skateboards. Check out glassblowing demonstrations while getting to know your neighbors. From 4-7 p.m. at Jason Lee Middle School, 602 N. Sprague Ave., Tacoma. Free. Go to hilltopartists.org/events/artsnightout2018 for more information.

▪ Metro Parks Tacoma will host the National Night Out and Summer Bash at People’s Center, 1602 S. Martin Luther King Way. There will be food and entertainment, including moon bounce, face painting and balloon artists. From 5-8 p.m. Free.

▪ Gig Harbor National Night Out will close down Harborview Drive so the community can get together for a variety of activities, including free food, military and law enforcement displays and family activities. From 5-9 p.m. At Skansie Brothers Park, the Summer Sounds at Skansie outdoor concert will feature the Bobby Sox & the Jukebox playing ‘50s and ‘60s music, beginning at 6:30 p.m.

▪ The City of Fife will have food, raffle prizes, a climbing wall, face painting, games, music and more. From 5:30-8:30 p.m. at 2820 54th Ave. E.

▪ The City Fircrest’s National Night Out festivities will include food, family activities, displays, music and a fireworks show. From 6-9 p.m. at the Fircrest Community Center, 555 Contra Costa Ave.

Much of Josh Blue’s self-deprecating humor comes from his experience living with cerebral palsy. He started his comedic career while attending The Evergreen State College and won the 2002 Comedy Works New Talent Search contest, the 2004 Las Vegas Comedy Festivals Royal Flush Comedy Competition and the 2006 season of NBS’s “Last Comic Standing.” He’s making a stop at the Tacoma Comedy Club, 933 Market St., for two shows Friday — 7:30 and 10:30 p.m. Tickets are $25 and available online at tacomacomedyclub.com

Having helped forge the way for women rockers, Grammy Award-winner Pat Benatar will be at the Emerald Queen Casino, 2024 E. 29th St., Tacoma, performing some of her hits, including “Love Is a Battlefield” and “Hit Me With Your Best Shot.” Joining her on stage will be Neil Giraldo. The concert will be at 8:30 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $50-$120 and available through Ticketmaster.

The Thurston County Fair’s annual five-day run offers rides, musical entertainment, home arts demonstrations, 4-H and FFA events and fair food. Hours are 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $7 for adults; $6 for seniors; $5 for youth, ages 6-14; and free for kids 5 and younger. Season passes are available. Go to co.thurston.wa.us/fair/index.htm for details.

A new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera” is coming to The Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle, for an 11-day stint as part of a North American tour. The classic production has a new scenic design and new costumes. It opens Wednesday and continues through Aug. 19. Tickets start at $35 and are available at stgpresents.org

SeaFair Weekend kicks off Friday. The festival features the Boeing Air Show with the Blue Angels; the Albert Lee Appliance Cup, featuring H1 hydroplane racing; the Graham Trucking Seafair Cup; Hyperlite World Class Wakeboarding; Monster Energy’s BMX Stunt Bikes; a Kids Zone with inflatables and games, music, food and more. Hours are 8 a.m.-6 p.m. daily at Genesee Park, 4316 S. Genesee St., Seattle. Transportation using Link light rail (with free shuttle buses) and Metro Bus Route 50 is recommended. Tickets are $25-$150. Go to seafair.com for more information.

Bringing a night of original and reggae covers, Island Bound and Unified Culture will perform at The Swiss Pub, 1904 Jefferson Ave., Tacoma. The two local bands’ 21-and-older-only show will be at 9 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $8. Go to tinyurl.com/ybzyd87p for more information.