TVE Tours and Tables Across Tacoma’s Special Events
It has been a busy summer for Tacoma residents and visitors with community festivals and fairs at every turn, many of which Tacoma Venues & Events has been proud to support through its Special Events Funding and City Event Services programs.
TVE was grateful to get to table at or visit several of these events, including a bustling Tacoma Pride at Wright Park, a windy but beautiful Proctor Arts Festival, an electric Downtown Tacoma Block Party, and a thriving Art on the Ave, to name a few.
The TVE team and City’s Events and Recognitions Committee were also invited to a special, behind-the-scenes tour of IN THE SPIRIT Arts Market & Northwest Native Festival at the Washington State History Museum, Tacoma Art Museum, and Museum of Glass.
“We are incredibly grateful for TVE’s long-term support and for the funding that helps make this event possible,” said Institutional Giving Manager Jessica Shaw, Washington State Historical Society.
This summertime celebration of Native arts and culture launched in 2005 and is still going strong 21 years later. 2026 set a new record as nearly 1,400 visitors from across the state gathered against the backdrop of the museum's This Is Native Land exhibit to experience cultural performances and shop from 47 Native and Indigenous vendors.
“It’s becoming a destination event,” shared WSHS Director Nicholas Vann. “People are making it a point to come out.”
In fact, the event has seen such growth that this year marked the first that the History Museum opened its doors to have vendors inside the actual building.
As you can imagine, festival planning begins well in advance, with the event’s advisory committee making initial decisions in early winter and meeting regularly thereafter to select vendors, performers, and artists.
“The final outcome is my favorite part,” said Todd Clark, longtime IN THE SPIRIT committee member and enrolled member of the Wailaki-Round Valley Indian Tribes. “The art and vendors are wonderful, and the cultural significance is important for the area.”
TVE is proud to support enriching community and cultural events like IN THE SPIRIT, reinvesting revenue from City-owned venues into local programs and initiatives that strengthen our community!