Find winter light festivals, ghost tour and New Years events this weekend in Tacoma
We’re almost at the end of the year, and that means soaking up the rest of the holiday festivities before entering 2024.
Among some things to enjoy this weekend in Tacoma are a variety of live music, the last winter festival and events, and kicking off the Tacoma Light Trail this Sunday.
Friday: Live music, this winter garden
This week’s holiday music series at the Museum of Glass in downtown Tacoma is coming to an end. Catch the Kareem Kandi World Orchestra performing on Friday from 1-2 p.m. at the museum’s Grand Hall, free with museum admission. Bandleader Kareem Kandi is a versatile musician with strong roots in the traditions of jazz, blues, classical and funk, according to the museum event calendar. He has been performing throughout the United States and abroad for years, composing original music and new arrangements of timeless classics. The Lindsey Bell Ringers will be performing from 1-2 p.m. Saturday. Address: 1801 Dock St., Tacoma.
It is also the last weekend to get tickets to the Winter Solstice Festival at the Lakewold Gardens in Lakewood. From 5-8 p.m. create a luminary and explore the winter garden, enjoy live music from local musicians, listen to dramatic solstice-themed poems, drink warm beverages and wine, and find comfort in the festively decorated historic Wagner House. Playing Friday night are violin students with the University of Puget Sound Community Music School, in addition to Lakewold Gardens’ Curator of Art and Music Ricardo de la Torre on piano. Tickets are $20 for adults, $16 for students, seniors and military members and $10 for youth ages 5-17. Address: 12317 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW, Lakewood.
Saturday: Ghost tour of Old Town, last call for light festivals
It’s the last weekend of the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium’s Zoolights, the annual holiday light display and winter wonderland. Online timed tickets are $18, with discounts for zoo members. It’s also the last weekend for the Sprinker Recreation Center’s Ice Lights skating wonderland. Saturday’s theme is Neon Skate day. Ice bumper car and skate rental prices are listed online, and hours are from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Take advantage of the winter darkness with an hour-long walking tour through the haunts of Old Town, Tacoma. Pretty Gritty Tours explores “the dark history of this great city’s past,” including gruesome murders, hexes, defiled burial grounds and slavery that has made spirits slow or unwilling to move on. Meet at the Job Carr Cabin Museum at 9 p.m. Tickets are $25. Address: 2350 N. 30th St., Tacoma.
Sunday: Tacoma Light Trail, Noon Year’s Eve
The Children’s Museum of Tacoma is counting down New Year at five minutes to noon on Sunday, which will be followed by a bubble-infused dance party. Families will be able to make their own festive party hats as well. Admission is Pay As You Will or by donation. Address: 1501 Pacific Ave., Tacoma.
Sunday night kicks off the first evening of the downtown Tacoma Light Trail, which runs from 5-9 p.m. nightly through Jan. 14. The free winter festival of lights features outdoor performances, live music, circus, dragon parades, lighted bike rides and dance. Explore an online map of where to see free art from the street, or hear music and poetry, as well as see a list of the participating artists. Sunday’s schedule starts at 5:30 p.m. with a parade led by Fire Dragon and Tacomarama Brass Band. From 6-10 p.m. the event will feature: DJ Summersoft, Tacoma Urban Performing Arts Center presenting Hilltop Holiday Revue, Asian Pacific Cultural Center presenting cultural and fire dance performances, Tacoma Dance Studios presenting illuminated Belly Dancers, a show from String and Shadow Puppet Theater, projection art from Ulysses Martin & Anthony Bassett and yummy meals from Bajan Caribbean Station and Starvin Marvin Food Trucks. You can support the Tacoma Light Trail with a donation online.
