Summer Nights at the Pavilion
The Pavilion at Fort Steilacoom Park will be rocking Tuesday, June 27 as Chapter 5 takes the stage to kick off the city’s free summer concert series.
If you haven’t seen Chapter 5 in person yet, you don’t want to miss their 90-minute set that spans generations from Marvin Gaye to Ne-Yo. Enjoy classic R&B hits spun with a contemporary groove.
Chapter 5 takes the stage at 6:30 p.m. and plays until 8 p.m. Swing by the Lakewood Farmers Market next door to grab dinner, then find your spot on the Pavilion lawn for a picnic dinner, good tunes and great company.
The Summer Nights at the Pavilion concert series runs every Tuesday, 6:30-8 p.m. from June 27 to Aug. 29 (except July 4). 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)
Spend the day at Fort Steilacoom Park admiring the cars at the car show. Shop local vendor booths, cool off at the skim boarding pool, test your skills at the pop-up skate park, enjoy circus acts from the Wenatchee Youth Circus or take the kids to the activity zone. Make sure to stop by the Lakewood Sister Cities International Festival for performances from around the world on The Pavilion Stage and don’t forget the endless options of festival food from food vendors.
Plan your day by checking out a full schedule of events.
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: June 20, 2023 meeting recap
At its regular meeting Tuesday the Lakewood City Council took action on the following items:
- Authorized amendments to agreements with the Town of Steilacoom and City of DuPont for court services.
- Appointed City Councilmember Trestin Lauricella to serve as representative and Councilmember Mike Brandstetter as alternate on the Pierce County Opioid Abatement Council (OAC).
- Adopted an ordinance authorizing the acquisition of real property under threat of condemnation or by condemnation for park and/or road purposes and authorizing payment.
- Adopted an ordinance amending Chapter 9.06 of the Lakewood Municipal Code relating to Controlled Substances, as outlined in state law.
As part of its meeting Council also held two public hearings. One on the proposed Six-Year (2024-2029) Transportation Improvement Program. The other on the proposed 2023 Comprehensive Plan amendments. Both items are set for final Council action at the July 3 regular meeting. Council also received an update on the first quarter financial report.
Watch the meeting
The Lakewood City Council meets Monday, June 26. Council will hold a joint meeting with the Lakewood Water District at 6 p.m. followed by a study session at 7 p.m. Tentative agenda items include:
- Review of Multifamily Tax Exemption
- Review amendments to the public nuisance code
- Review agreement with 107th Street Building, LLC for the Tactical Tailor property
- 2023-2024 Strategic Plan update
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.
Waughop Lake alum treatment planned
Next week the city’s contractor will apply treatment to Waughop Lake. The current level of phosphorus in the lake is at a level that could result in potentially hazardous algae blooms. Waughop Lake has a history of toxic algae blooms resulting in the issuance of health advisories by the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Protection and restoration of the lake is a priority for the city, which is why the Lakewood City Council approved a treatment plan to reduce phosphorus levels. Similar treatments are done in other regional lakes like Seattle’s popular Green Lake.
Two treatments were done in 2020. The scheduled treatment this summer is expected to occur during the week of June 26-30. The state Department of Ecology issued an Aquatic Plant and Algae Management general permit for the treatment.
During the application the city’s contractor SOLitude will be working with equipment in and around the lake. Public access will be restricted to allow the contractor to move large equipment including tanker trucks. For safety reasons, the public should not access the lake, and obey signage to stay out of the staging area. This includes the covered picnic area on the lake shore and a portion of the parking lot nearest the lake. Work is expected to be complete by Friday, June 30.
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. The general public (aka non-DoD ID holders) are encouraged to use off-base bus shuttles to reach the event. All visitors are encouraged to carpool.
Buses are free and start running at 9 a.m. from three locations:
- Old State Farm building, 1000 Wilmington Dr, DuPont
- Sound Transit Lakewood Station, 11424 Pacific Highway SW
- SR 512 Park-and-Ride, 10617 S Tacoma Way
Limited parking is allowed on base. From I-5, take exit 125 and enter JBLM at the McChord Field gate. From there you will be directed where to park.
Planning to attend? Find important information online at:
- Parking Plan: www.jblewis-mcchordairshow.com/parking
- Entry Restrictions: www.jblewis-mcchordairshow.com/entry-restrictions
- General Information: www.jblmairshow.com
- 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 Air Force’s Thunderbirds to fly. The road will close 10 a.m. to 4 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.
Members needed: Independent Salary Commission
The City of Lakewood is still in need of people to fill the remaining vacancies on its Independent Salary Commission.
The commission meets to determine the salaries of the Lakewood Mayor and City Council members. The term is for one salary review. The board is composed of five members.
Interested? Contact Lakewood City Clerk Briana Schumacher by email or call 253-983-7705. Find the application online.
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
This week the city’s contractor installed the water main between 83rd Street and Interlaaken Drive. Striping work on North Gate Road, Edgewood Avenue, Vernon and Washington Blvd was also completed.
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
The new signal poles are scheduled to go live next week: Tuesday June 27 and Wednesday June 28. As we near these dates expect traffic impacts while the signals are turned on and the old poles removed. The work is expected to occur after 8 a.m., once the morning commute traffic has passed and will conclude before the evening commute returns.
To avoid long delays, drivers are encouraged to use alternate routes on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Elwood Drive/Angle Lane
The curbs and sidewalks were installed along 87th Avenue and in the new roundabout where 87th, Dresden Lane and Elwood Drive meet. Next week the city’s contractor will grade the road for the new pavement section on Elwood Drive and 87th Avenue. Paving is scheduled for July 6-7. The contractor remains on schedule. The roads will reopen by July 15 for SummerFEST.
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
Work started this week on a Safe Routes to School project that will add sidewalks to 112th Street between Gravelly Lake Drive and Highland Avenue. The addition of sidewalks on this stretch will make it safer for students walking to Clover Park High School.
Demolition began this week and the storm drainage system will be installed next week. Curb installation will follow.