Tour iconic Tacoma school, shop at a local street market, see a play about a shipwreck
It’s a big weekend for markets and storytelling in Tacoma. What better way to enjoy a rainy autumn day? Here are some good ways to spend your time.
Friday: Bike stories and ghost stories
Bike lovers, it’s time for this year’s bike-themed storytelling event and fundraiser for Second Cycle, South Sound’s community bicycle shop. Hosted in the Tacoma Armory, enjoy a buffet, cash bar and silent auction, then settle in to build community and hear captivating stories of bikers’ unique experiences on the trail. There will be a bike carnival, with bicycle games and an exposition of unusual bikes. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and the program starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $85. If the fundraising goal of $75,000 is reached, Second Cycle said it will commit to bringing back the “Pedal 4 the People” adult bike giveaway program for people in need and add another “Open Shop” night to the monthly calendar, where bikers can come to learn how to work on their rides.
Lovers of a good story could attend the play, “Andelana,” which will run from 7:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. at the Dukesbay Theater. Part history, part ghost story, the play follows the men aboard the ship Andelana, which sank in the Tacoma harbor in 1899 and still remains at the bottom of Commencement Bay. There are rumors that ghosts and a curse caused some sailors to jump ship once it landed in Tacoma. Tickets are $15, and include coffee, tea and cookies. Additional shows run weekends through Nov. 19. Address: 408 6th Ave., Tacoma.
Saturday: Fall market and Stadium High School tour
Get a head start on holiday shopping and check out the Autumn Makers Market on 6th Avenue this Saturday from noon until 5 p.m. Support local women-owned businesses and enjoy live music from artist Erina McLaren, who will be performing from 2-4 p.m. Among the wares being sold: vintage clothing, handmade earrings, handmade leather handbags, baked goods, sustainable woodworking, jewelry and more. Address: 2315 6th Ave., Tacoma.
Saturday evening take an hour and a half tour through the inside of historic Stadium High School. Pretty Gritty Tours will show you everything from the sub-basement to the attic. Originally built as a luxury hotel, the iconic building was abandoned in the late 1800s before it was purchased by the school district and opened in 1906 as a school. Tickets cost $35, and tours will be happening at 5 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. Address: 111 N. E St., Tacoma.
Sunday: Sunday market and matinees
It’s the first Sunday of the month, which means it’s time for the Tacoma Sunday Market. The historic Courthouse Square, built in 1901, will be transformed into a curated vintage market full of clothing, antiques, flowers, sneakers, designers, makers and DJs. Enjoy food trucks, coffee and cocktails from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Family and pet-friendly too. Address: 1102 A Street, Tacoma.
Sunday looks like rain, so it might be a good idea to check out some new movies playing at The Grand Cinema in downtown Tacoma. Movies playing Sunday include “Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour,” “Priscilla,” “Anatomy of a Fall” and “Uncharitable and Killers of the Flower Moon.” Address: 606 Fawcett Ave., Tacoma.
This story was originally published November 2, 2023 at 1:33 PM.
