Good news: free Puget Sound-view concert series returns. Bad news: fewer acts
.jpg "A popular free concert series returns to Steilacoom this year, though in a diminished form.")
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Steilacoom cut general spending in 2025 due to a 1% property tax cap and rising costs.
- Donations surpassed $21,000 in 2026, enabling six concerts.
- The free public concerts are held Wednesdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
One year after the town of Steilacoom announced it would no longer fund its popular summer concert series due to budget cuts, the community rallied together to fund six Wednesday concerts, fewer than in previous years.
For 37 years the town usually offered between nine and 11 free concerts at Pioneer Park, which has a panoramic view of Puget Sound. Donations surpassed $21,000 this year, which allowed Steilacoom to host six concerts this summer, town administrator Paul Loveless told The News Tribune on Tuesday. The events go from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The lineup is as follows:
- July 8 - Joey Jewel (Frank Sinatra Tribute) and Salute to Soldiers
- July 15 - The Mistaken (Swing-A-Billy, Country, Folk)
- July 22 - Josephine Howell and Friends (Motown, Blues and Ballads)
- July 29 - Chapter 5 (Urban funk, R&B/Soul)
- August 5 - Wally & The Beaves (’50s, ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s Rock n’ Roll)
- August 12 - Michael Powers (Smooth Jazz)
No alcohol or marijuana is permitted in town parks. If it rains, the event will be held at Steilacoom Community Center, according to the town. Attendees are encouraged to bring a chair or blanket and can donate to support the concert series online.
Marcus Rogers has hosted, managed and coordinated the series for 24 years. He said the concerts are a draw for residents who live in Tacoma, Federal Way, Auburn and Puyallup.
“I kind of look at it as more of a Pierce County event, or a community event in general,” Rogers said, noting shows typically draw 1,000 people per event, with many regulars and repeat attendees.
Many artists have remained loyal to the town and were open to the idea of performing for less this year, he said. Rogers said, “I tip my hat” to the community that has donated to ensure the concert series continues.
Mayor Liz Grasher told The News Tribune on Tuesday that the town doesn’t have the infrastructure or ability to fund concerts like DuPont or Lakewood, whose summer concerts are paid via hotel taxes. As previously reported by The News Tribune, the town of Steilacoom had to cut spending in 2025 amid inflation and rising costs because its property tax rate — its main source of revenue — is capped at 1% under state law.
“When we cut our budgets, it’s because the leadership is trying to do the right thing. It’s not an easy decision,” Rogers said. “But I also think that just as quickly as we sometimes will cut our budgets, we sometimes miss the opportunity to really applaud the community and those who continue to make something happen. So, I think if there’s anything I would want people to know, it would be that Marcus appreciates you. I appreciate the people who continue to volunteer, show up for concerts, make donations, become a sponsor, you know, because that is the reason why we continue.”
