📆 Tacoma Area Events

⚽The World Cup Glass Hunt Is Still On Across Pierce County!

⛔No End Date to Ongoing I Street Closure

🎆Puyallup Tribe’s Firecracker Alley Hosts Free Family Fireworks Night on June 30th

Have you found your glass piece yet?

Pierce County has turned this summer’s soccer excitement into a countywide treasure hunt with Art of the Game, a glass-art scavenger hunt running through July 13. The pieces were first placed in early June as part of the build-up around the 2026 World Cup matches in Seattle, but the hunt is still going — and new clues and surprises are being shared throughout the campaign.

The idea is simple: hand-crafted glass medallions and glass floats are hidden in public places, events, festivals, scenic spots, and approved partner locations throughout Pierce County and the Mount Rainier area. The hunt celebrates both the region’s soccer energy and Tacoma’s long-running reputation as a glass-art destination. Visit Tacoma-Pierce County is posting clues on Facebook, Instagram, and through the #ArtOfTheGame hashtag.

If you find a glass medallion — described as looking like a large glass coaster — it’s yours to keep. If you find one of the individually numbered glass floats, which look more like a ball with a medallion attached, you get to keep that too, but there’s a bonus. Float finders can bring their piece to the Visit Tacoma-Pierce County booth at select Puyallup Tribe Fan Zone activations in Tacoma for an additional prize.

The pieces are meant to be found safely and respectfully. Organizers note that hunters won’t need to climb, break, detach, damage, or disturb anything to find them. They’re hidden in accessible public spaces and community locations, so this is more about paying attention while you’re out exploring than tearing anything apart.

So the next time you’re at a park, festival, viewpoint, coffee shop, local store, or community event, keep your eyes open. One of Pierce County’s World Cup-inspired glass treasures may be hiding in plain sight.

If you've been navigating around North Tacoma lately, you might have noticed a frustrating pattern. A section of North I Street and North 12th Street has been closing on and off for several weeks now.

The ongoing disruptions are tied to construction work happening at Lowell Elementary. Crews are on site as part of a larger project at the school, which has required intermittent road closures in the surrounding area.

For residents and commuters who use these streets regularly, the uncertainty can be a hassle. The closures aren't constant, but they pop up without a predictable schedule, making it hard to plan alternate routes.

Local officials haven't announced a specific end date for the closures. However, the work is part of a defined construction timeline at the elementary school.

Drivers are advised to expect delays and seek alternative paths when possible. The situation highlights the balancing act between necessary infrastructure upgrades and the daily routines of the neighborhood.

For now, patience is the main recommendation for anyone passing through the area.

Looking for a way to start the Independence Day celebrations a little early?

Firecracker Alley is hosting a free fireworks show on Monday, June 30, at 3509 72nd St. E. in Tacoma. Families are invited to bring lawn chairs, gather under the stars, and enjoy a night built around one of summer’s biggest traditions.

The event is being promoted as a family-friendly evening with a large fireworks display and a chance to kick off the Fourth of July week before the holiday itself. Firecracker Alley opened for the season on June 1 and features more than 100 fireworks available on site, but organizers say the June 30 show will be the highlight of the season.

Guests are encouraged to come ready for a safe, relaxed night outdoors. The event rules are simple: no drugs, no alcohol, and no dogs. Organizers are emphasizing safety first, which is especially important anytime fireworks are involved.

So grab your chairs, bring the family, and head to Firecracker Alley for a free community fireworks show before the Fourth. It’s a chance to enjoy the sparkle of the season without waiting until Independence Day.

If you’re reading a copy of Tacoma Local Minute that some forwarded you, and you would like to start your own free subscription, just click on the button below and we’ll direct you to a page where you can sign up!