Tacoma’s July 4 waterfront festival postponed
A Fourth of July festival that draws thousands to Tacoma’s Ruston Way waterfront will be postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a press release issued Monday.
The T-Town Family Fourth might happen later in the summer when physical distancing mandates are lifted and it is deemed safe to host large gatherings, according to Metro Parks. A date has not yet been set.
“As much as we were looking forward to this fun family event, we must remain vigilant and focused on the safety and well-being of our community and take measures to reduce the spread of this pandemic,” said Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards in the press release. “I look forward to a time we can come together as a community again and celebrate.”
This would have been the first year of the July 4th event with a new name and new managers.
Last year, the City of Tacoma partnered with Metro Parks to manage the city’s annual Fourth of July celebration, and Festivals Inc. was selected to produce the re-imagined event, which would no longer be called “Freedom Fair.”
The change stirred controversy with leaders of the Tacoma Events Commission, which still hold the rights to the Freedom Fair name and had conducted the event for years.
T-Town Family 4th event organizers hope to have a clearer picture of how late summer will look, as restrictions placed by Gov. Jay Inslee across Washington, around larger community events and festivals, are scheduled to be lifted after July 6.
