7 Days Out: Rhubarb Days, Living History Cemetery Tour and more happenings

Easy as pie

Sumner’s Rhubarb Days is a small-town festival with a love for the leafy green with the red stem. The two-day festival features a bake off competition, kids games, petting zoo, tractor display, pie-eating contest, entertainment and more. Hours are 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sunday in downtown Sumner. Go to sumnerdowntown.com/rhubarb_days.html for a schedule of events.

Dead men (and women) do tell tales

Join in learning about Tacoma’s history at the annual Living History Cemetery Tour presented by Fort Nisqually Time Travelers, Tacoma Cemetery and Tacoma Historical Society. Tacoma’s historic figures come to life with eight re-enactors sharing their lives from their grave sites. It’s at Tacoma Cemetery, 4801 South Tacoma Way, with one-hour tours starting every 20 minutes from 6-7:40 p.m. and 5:40-7:40 p.m. Friday and 5:40-7:40 p.m. Saturday. Cost is $10; advanced reservations required. For more information, go to tacomahistory.org.

Unusual conveyances

Tapping into its roots tied to coal and the Northern Pacific Railway, the town of Wilkeson is putting on its annual Wilkeson Days festival Saturday. With a small town feel, there will be a community parade at 11 a.m. followed by railroad handcar races, lawnmower races and a good old-fashioned tug-o-war. It’s bound to be a family-friendly day of fun. For more information, go to townofwilkeson.com.

Summer art

With more than 125 local artists showing and selling their work, the annual Gig Harbor Summer Art Festival takes over Judson Street this weekend. Sponsored by the Peninsula Art League, the Gig Harbor festival will feature children’s art activities, live music, a literary corner with authors, book illustrators and food. Hours are 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. For more information go to peninsulaartleague.com.

Renaissance man

Harry Connick Jr., ranked among the top 60 best-selling male artists in the United States with 16 million in certified sales, is a conductor, pianist, actor, and composer. He will perform at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at Chateau Ste. Michelle, 14111 NE 145th St., Woodinville. Both shows are sold out but check online for any late release tickets; ste-michelle.com/visit-us/summer-concerts/list.

Blondie and a blond

Known for her mixture of confessional lyrics and pop-based folk-rock, Melissa Etheridge has been performing for more than 20 years and has two Grammy Awards and one Academy Award. She will perform with Blondie in a 6 p.m. concert Tuesday at the Woodland Park Zoo, 750 N. 50th St., Seattle. Tickets are $45-$120 and available at zoo.org/zootunes.

Never let them go

Third Eye Blind is known for hits including “Semi-Charmed Life,” “Jumper,” “How’s It Going to Be” and “Never Let You Go.” Come out to see them and Dashboard Confessional perform in a 6 p.m. concert Wednesday at Marymoor Park, 6046 W. Lake Sammamish Parkway NE, Redmond. Tickets are $35-$59.50 and are available online or at the door; marymoorconcerts.com/events.

Party with los caballos

Billed as one of the largest Hispanic events in the Northwest, Fiesta Premio Esmeralda is coming to Emerald Downs, 2300 Emerald Downs Drive, Auburn for a day full of horse races, a traditional Mexican horse show, Mariachi and Banda music, authentic Mexican food, and activities for the kids. There will be jumping castles, giant slides, face painting, pony rides and of course the famous dancing horses. The fun begins at noon Sunday. Admission is $7 and children 17 and younger are free. For more information, go to emeralddowns.com.

This story was originally published July 17, 2015 at 1:00 AM with the headline "7 Days Out: Rhubarb Days, Living History Cemetery Tour and more happenings."