Next Lakewood Farmers Market is July 11
After a break for the Fourth of July holiday, the Lakewood Farmers Market is back Tuesday, July 11 from 2-7 p.m. at Fort Steilacoom Park.
Head to the market and spend a day at the park. Bring your kids to play at the playground. Or your dog to run through the off-leash dog park. Find one-of-a-kind items at the market, fresh produce grown in Washington and hand-cut flowers.
Stay into the evening to grab dinner and head over to the Pavilion for our free summer concert series that kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Find a full list of market vendors online.
Summer Nights at the Pavilion
If you joined us for our kickoff concert at The Pavilion at Fort Steilacoom Park, then you know how fun our summer concerts are. (Check out photos and a video here.)
Our next summer concert is Tuesday, July 11 at 6:30 p.m. Harmonious Funk will offer cover music from the 80s, 90s and early 2000s. It will be another night of high-energy music you don’t want to miss!
The summer concert series runs through Tuesday, Aug. 29 at Fort Steilacoom Park. See the full concert lineup.
SummerFEST is July 15
The South Sound’s not-to-be-missed summer celebration is July 15, when we host SummerFEST.
This free festival is the city’s largest event of the year and offers something fun for everyone.
The party kicks off at 11 a.m. Catch live music all day from the Main Stage. This year’s musical lineup has everything from classic rock and country to Americana.
In total five bands will perform. Main Stage show times are:
- 11:20 a.m. House Band of Lakewood (classic rock)
- 1:15 p.m. The Olson Bros Band (country)
- 3:30 p.m. The Dusty 45s (Americana)
- 5:45 p.m. The Infinity Project (Journey tribute act)
- 8 p.m. Heart by Heart (Heart tribute act)
Plan your day by checking out a full schedule of events.
SummerFEST Parking/Shuttles
Parking is always free at SummerFEST. We anticipate large crowds again this year. To help reduce congestion and limit time waiting in line to park, people are encouraged to carpool and visit throughout the day.
Less busy times include: 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and after 6 p.m.
Drivers can access the park from the main entrance off 87th Avenue SW, or from one of the many temporary entrances that will be open off Elwood Drive SW. To reduce backups onto Steilacoom Drive, visitors should use other roads to access the park. This includes Hipkins, North Way, Elwood, Nixon, Lenox/Dalton, Haviland and 92nd Street SW.
Off-site parking is available at Pierce College in Lot D. Shuttles will run every 20 minutes to and from Fort Steilacoom Park. The shuttle will stop on Steilacoom Boulevard at the pedestrian entrance at Angle Lane.
Handicap parking is available in the paved lot directly next to the playground at Fort Steilacoom Park. Access the lot by entering through one of the entrances and follow the road to the playground. Please have your placard displayed as you enter the park.
When you’re ready to leave, exit using Angle Lane. At the end of the event, all entrances will transition to exits to help move traffic out of the park. Visitors are reminded to please drive respectfully and slowly through the residential neighborhoods that border the park.
SummerFEST Blood Drive
Cascade Regional Blood Services is partnering with the City of Lakewood to host a blood drive at SummerFEST this year. The blood drive will run 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and people can sign up in advance online.
Cascade Regional Blood Services supplies blood donations to hospitals in Pierce and south King counties. Donations are used to save lives. Donated blood supplies reached critical lows during the pandemic. Additional donations are needed to help meet the needs of our community.
Sign up today to donate July 15.
Council Corner: July 3, 2023 meeting recap
The Lakewood City Council met Monday for a regular meeting. The meeting started with a presentation of a proclamation recognizing July 2023 as Parks and Recreation Month.
It was followed by awarding the July 2023 Business Showcase to Biscuit House.
Action items included:
- Approving an agreement with 107th Street Building, LLC for the Tactical Tailor property.
- Approving the 2024 South Sound Housing Affordability Partners (SSHA3P) Budget.
- Approving the 2023 Comprehensive Plan Amendments.
- Amending Lakewood Municipal Code Chapter 8.16 Public Nuisance.
- Adopting the Six-Year (2024-2029) Transportation Improvement Program.
Watch the meeting.
The Lakewood City Council meets Monday, July 10, 2023 for a study session at 7 p.m. Tentative agenda items include:
- Living Access Support Alliance (LASA) Gravelly Lake Commons Project Update
- Joint Lodging Tax Advisory Committee meeting
- Lakewood Housing Needs Assessment
- Flock Safety Security Camera Presentation
How to attend: Attend in person at Lakewood City Hall, 6000 Main Street SW; Join via Zoom (or dial 253-215-8782 and enter meeting ID: 868 7263 2373), or watch live on the city’s YouTube channel.
Now accepting 2024 Comp Plan Amendments
The City of Lakewood invites interested parties to identify proposed amendments to the city’s Comprehensive Plan and its associated zoning maps. The Lakewood Planning Commission and then City Council will review and confirm the list of amendments to be considered over the course of the year, including privately initiated amendments. This list is known as the “Annual Comprehensive Plan Docket.”
Amendment applications must be submitted by July 31, 2023. Learn more here.
JBLM Airshow is July 15-16
The JBLM Airshow & Warrior Expo is July 15-16, 2023 at McChord Field. The airshow is free and open to the public, and features the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds. This year’s theme is “Warriors Wanted: Explore Your Destiny.”
The base expects a large crowd both days of the event. Lakewood residents should expect increased traffic in neighborhoods around the base and the off-site shuttle areas. Planning to attend? Find important information online at:
- Parking Plan
- Entry Restrictions
- General Information
- Up-to-date info during the Airshow, visit
Road closures planned for JBLM Airshow
Road closure alert: 112th Street South bordering McChord Field will be closed between 34th Ave S and 26th Ave S for three days in July leading up to and during the JBLM Airshow.
The closures are a required safety protocol for the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds to fly. The road will close 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday, July 14, Saturday, July 15 and Sunday, July 16. The Thunderbirds will practice Friday and perform Saturday and Sunday. Drivers who use this section of road will need to find alternate routes.
Drivers in the area should expect low flying aircraft and remember to keep their eyes on the road – not the air – as military planes perform for the two-day event.
Work for the city of Lakewood
We’re hiring! Looking to change careers? Looking for a new job? Ready to re-enter the job market?
Join the city of Lakewood! From maintenance workers, Information and Technology analysts, to financial analysts and police officers, we have a variety of positions open. Lakewood offers a competitive benefits package. We are part of the state retirement system (PERS). And the city is a beautiful place to work.
Find a current list of open positions online.
Road project updates
Washington Boulevard
Crews worked on the final stages of water line activation this week. Storm drainage work is also expected to complete this week. Remaining work includes grading the remaining roadway for the installation of roundabouts, curb/gutter and sidewalks.
We know this has been a lengthy project that has disrupted the area and we appreciate everyone’s patience as the work is done. Work continues to be ahead of schedule and major milestones reached as we near the finish line of this project.
Steilacoom Boulevard
New striping to the road was added Friday. The project is nearly finished. Last step is pouring the final concrete panels and minor site cleanup.
Elwood Drive/Angle Lane
Work continued this week to complete the new roundabout at the entrance of Fort Steilacoom Park. The roundabout is expected to reopen to vehicle traffic by mid-day July 14. The road and entrance into Fort Steilacoom Park will be open for SummerFEST to handle vehicle traffic to the park for the event.
Starting the week of July 10 storm drainage work will begin at spot locations on Angle Lane. Landscape work, including within the island of the roundabout at 87th Avenue, finished this week. Grading of the road is complete and ready for paving.
As part of this work a temporary entrance to Fort Steilacoom Park was built off Elwood Drive. Cars must access the new entrance from Hipkins/North Way/Elwood. There is no access from 87th Avenue/Dresden Lane.
We apologize for the inconvenience. We appreciate the public’s patience during this temporary detour while we make the roads leading into the park safer for pedestrians and drivers.
112th Street Sidewalks
The city’s contractor continued work this week preparing the project area for curb/gutter and sidewalk installation. Concrete pouring will begin the week of July 10. Paving is scheduled for the week of July 17.
This project will add sidewalks to 112th Street SW as part of a Safe Routes to School project to make it safer for students and pedestrians to walk along this busy road.