The archive Thursday, October 22, 2026

Frighthouse opens, two Sat concerts, and the Kraken this weekend

Happy Wednesday, Tacoma. This week: a homicide arrest near downtown, the city's biennial budget process heats up with public hearings ahead, and a weekend stacked with Halloween fun — haunted houses, a spooky farmers market, two live concerts on the same Saturday night, and the Kraken hosting back-to-back home games. Grab a costume and read on.

Community Events & Things to Do

Frighthouse Station haunted house — Freighthouse Square, through Saturday, October 31. Tacoma's own story-driven haunted house takes over the historic Freighthouse Square with 30-plus rooms, live actors, fog, and strobes. Open Thursday–Saturday each week, with the last night on Halloween. Tickets vary by night. Get tickets
NW Sinfonietta: The Planets — Saturday, October 24, 7:30 p.m., Rialto Theater. Conductor Mei-Ann Chen leads the orchestra through Holst's iconic suite, joined by theremin soloist Arturo Fernandez and a live visual choreographer for an immersive evening. Tickets at Ticketmaster
Tacoma Concert Band: Thriller — Saturday, October 24, 7:30 p.m., Pantages Theater. The Concert Band goes full Halloween with a Thriller-themed concert at one of Tacoma's grandest stages — a fun, accessible night for anyone who loves live band music with a side of spook. Tickets at Ticketmaster
Haunted Farmers Market — Sunday, October 25, South Tacoma. The South Tacoma farmers market goes full Halloween for its annual haunted edition — local vendors, fall produce, and costumes welcome. Free to attend and browse. Event details
Tacoma Halloween Bar Crawl — Saturday, October 24, The Forum, downtown Tacoma. PubCrawls.com brings Tacoma's favorite costumed pub crawl back for another round, starting at The Forum with stops across downtown. Dress up, meet your neighbors, explore the bar scene. Tickets on Eventbrite

For Families

Frighthouse Family Friendly Trick O' Treat Night — Friday, October 30, Freighthouse Square. The full haunted house dials down the scares for one special family night on October 30, making it the right call for younger trick-or-treaters who still want the experience without the nightmare fuel. Tickets and details
Autumn Flower Show at W.W. Seymour Botanical Conservatory — through Saturday, November 29, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., Wright Park. Step inside the Victorian glass conservatory to catch a vibrant fall display of chrysanthemums and seasonal foliage — a warm, sheltered outing that's lovely for little kids and easy on the wallet. Price: $3 suggested donation. Details at Parks Tacoma
Point Defiance Forest Bird Walk — Sunday, October 25, 8:30–10:30 a.m., Point Defiance Park. A park guide leads up to two miles of unpaved trail to look and listen for forest bird species during fall migration — a quiet, free morning outing for curious kids and parents alike. Price: Free. Details at Visit Pierce County

General Local News Roundup

Two adults arrested in juvenile homicide near downtown. Just after 2 a.m. on Sunday, October 18, officers responded to 1100 Commerce Street for reports of shots fired. A juvenile male was found with life-threatening gunshot wounds and later died. By Tuesday, October 20, detectives had developed probable cause and arrested two adult males and one adult female in connection with the killing. The investigation remains active. Read more (tacoma.gov)
City kicks off Pacific Avenue code update process. The City of Tacoma held a "Picture Pac Ave" open house on October 20, inviting residents to weigh in on zoning and design changes that could reshape the corridor's future. If you missed it, the planning process will continue with additional opportunities for public input. Read more (tacoma.gov)
Budget public hearings scheduled for late October and November. The City Council has set Tuesday, October 27 and Tuesday, November 10 as the dates for the first and second public hearings on the proposed 2027–2028 biennial budget. Residents can comment at either hearing; the council is expected to adopt a final budget in late November. Read more (tacoma.gov)

City Government & Council News

First budget public hearing is Tuesday — your chance to weigh in. The 2027–2028 proposed biennial budget goes before the public for formal comment this Tuesday, October 27, at a special City Council session starting no earlier than 5:15 p.m. The budget focuses on core everyday services and fiscal sustainability; a second hearing follows November 10. Watch or attend via Zoom or in Council Chambers. Meeting calendar on Legistar
Special Council meeting this Saturday. The City Council holds a special session on Saturday, October 24 at 1:00 p.m. Check the agenda on Legistar for items; special Saturday meetings are less common and typically reserved for time-sensitive business. Meeting calendar on Legistar
October declared Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Council approved a proclamation recognizing October 2026 as Domestic Violence Awareness Month in Tacoma. Local organizations including those serving survivors can be found through Pierce County's resource networks. Read more (tacoma.gov)

Weather & Seasonal Notes

The back half of October looks mostly pleasant. Today is forecast to become mostly sunny with a high near 62 — enjoy it. Thursday clears to mostly sunny with a forecast high near 66. Friday stays mostly sunny with a high near 68, though a 30 percent chance of rain creeps in Friday night after 11 p.m. Saturday brings a chance of rain before 11 a.m. with a forecast high near 60, clearing to mostly cloudy by afternoon; Sunday is partly sunny with a forecast high near 58. Early next week turns wet, with rain likely Monday and a chance of rain Sunday night. A fine fall week overall — just keep an eye on Saturday morning before your outdoor Halloween plans. Check the NWS Tacoma forecast for the latest.

Local Business & Real Estate Spotlight

New on the books: a gift shop, a cafe, and a bakery all filing for fall. City of Tacoma business license records show three consumer-facing storefronts registered this month. Social Karma Collective, a gift and novelty shop at 743 Broadway in downtown, lists an October 25 opening date — right in the heart of the Arts District. El Sol Cafe, a limited-service restaurant on South Tacoma Way in South Tacoma, and Coves Bakery at 766 St. Helens Avenue list November 1 opening dates. None of these businesses are confirmed open yet on the strength of the records alone; watch those corridors in the days ahead. City of Tacoma business licenses
14th Street Bakery registers with the city in South Tacoma. City records show 14th Street Bakery, a baked-goods retailer at 3113 S. 14th Street, registered with an October 16 opening date — making it one of the newest spots in the neighborhood. No additional details are available from the license record alone; a quick drive-by or search will tell you more. City of Tacoma business licenses

Food & Drink

Peaks & Pints pours five Halloween beers from Great Notion. The Proctor craft beer bar landed a five-beer flight from Great Notion just in time for spooky season, including the tropical hop-forward Black Magic Dreams, the 8.1% Little Haus of Horrors, a Boo Berry Muffin blueberry-marshmallow sour, and a chocolate-peanut beer called Wednesday. Stop by and pick your nightmare. Read more at Peaks & Pints
Juke Garden is bringing a cocktail lounge to Hilltop. Owner Andrew Green announced plans to open Juke Garden at the former Hilltop A Go Go location, with an open dance floor, a raised DJ platform, and lounge seating. The group has been hosting pop-up events around the region and is targeting a November soft opening. Read more (What Now)

Frugal Tacoma

Autumn Flower Show at the W.W. Seymour Conservatory — through November 29, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., 316 S. G St., Wright Park. The historic Victorian conservatory is showing a full fall chrysanthemum and foliage display for just a $3 suggested donation — one of the cheapest and most beautiful indoor outings in the city right now, and a nice rainy-day backup plan if the Halloween weekend weather turns. Details at Parks Tacoma

Community Spotlight

The Grand Cinema has been a cornerstone of Tacoma's cultural life for decades — and it remains one of the few truly independent, nonprofit movie theaters left in the Pacific Northwest. Operated by a board of community members and sustained in part by memberships and donations, the Grand sits at 606 Fawcett Avenue in downtown Tacoma and screens independent, foreign, and documentary films that rarely appear at the multiplex. It also serves as a venue for local film festivals, community discussions, and special screenings throughout the year. The Grand isn't just a place to see a film — it's a gathering space that has helped define what it means to have a thoughtful cultural anchor in a mid-size city. Memberships start at modest annual rates and help keep the seats on, the projector running, and the programming adventurous. If you've been meaning to check it out — or to become a member — this is a good week for it.

Learn more and support the work at grandcinema.com.

Sports

Rainiers and Defiance are off for the fall. The Tacoma Rainiers' Triple-A season wrapped in September, and Tacoma Defiance finished out their 2026 MLS Next Pro campaign earlier this fall. Both organizations will be back in the spring — for now, the local spotlight shifts to the regional teams Tacoma fans follow closely.
Kraken host the Utah Mammoth tomorrow, then the Wild on Saturday. Seattle opens a home back-to-back in the NHL regular season: Utah Mammoth visits Climate Pledge Arena tomorrow, Thursday, October 22 at 7:00 p.m. PT, followed by the Minnesota Wild on Saturday, October 24 at 7:00 p.m. PT. Both games are on ESPN+, Disney+, and streaming partners. Tomorrow's game is also on Hulu. Kraken schedule
High school football: Franklin Pierce in action Thursday. Franklin Pierce of Tacoma faces No. 25 Orting on Thursday, October 22 in a late-season matchup worth watching for Tacoma prep fans following the playoff picture. Scores at MaxPreps

This Week in Tacoma History

One hundred and forty-three years ago this fall, the Washington Territorial Legislature put an end to one of the more unusual civic arguments in the Pacific Northwest: two side-by-side towns — Tacoma City (also called Old Tacoma) and New Tacoma — had each been separately incorporated and had spent years competing over commerce, land, and the right to claim the Northern Pacific Railroad terminus. In 1883, the legislature stepped in and merged them into a single city, resolving decades of rivalry and laying the groundwork for Tacoma's emergence as a major regional port. The two Tacomas had clashed over everything from street layouts to which neighborhood would attract investment; the merger was reportedly controversial enough that almost no record survives of exactly why legislators finally decided to act. The result is the city you live in today.

Read the full story at HistoryLink.org.

Deadlines & Public Notices

Budget public hearing No. 1 — Tuesday, October 27, no earlier than 5:15 p.m. The first formal public hearing on the City of Tacoma's proposed 2027–2028 biennial budget. All residents are welcome to comment. Attend in Council Chambers at 747 Market Street or join via Zoom. Legistar meeting calendar
City Council special meeting — Saturday, October 24, 1:00 p.m. A special session of the Tacoma City Council; check the agenda on Legistar for specific items before attending. Legistar meeting calendar
Budget public hearing No. 2 — Tuesday, November 10. The second and final public hearing on the 2027–2028 proposed budget, again upon completion of regular agenda items. Residents who miss October 27 have a second chance to speak before the council moves toward adoption. Legistar meeting calendar

Before You Go

Halloween weekend is almost here — two concerts, a haunted house, a spooky market, and a chance of rain Saturday morning keep things interesting. What's your Tacoma Halloween tradition: the bar crawl, a neighborhood trick-or-treat route, or something else entirely? Hit reply and tell us. And if a neighbor would enjoy this newsletter, forward it along — the more Tacomans in the loop, the better.