Gay bar downtown tacoma
Rainbow Center
Tacoma Pride Festival Returns to Wright Park on July 12,
The Rainbow Center is thrilled to announce that the Tacoma Pride Festival will restore to Wright Park on Saturday, July 12, !
As Tacoma Pride has grown over the years, so has the need for a larger venue. After thoughtful consideration and collaboration, we’re proud to loved one with Metro Parks Tacoma to bring the festival back to the park where it all began. We’re deeply grateful to Metro Parks for their support in helping us make this beloved people event more accessible, inclusive, and vibrant than ever.
Get Involved with Tacoma Pride
We’re already gearing up behind the scenes—and we’d affectionate for you to connect us. Here’s how you can get involved:
Booth Applications
Booth applications have been extended until Wednesday, May 21st! Apply here:
Questions? Email us at vendors@
Entertainment Opportunities
Are you a local composer, drag artist, or artist based in Washington State? We’re actively booking talent for this year’s event. If you’d like to be considered, please stuff out this form before Frida
The Airport Tavern is a beloved dwell music venue, prevent, and community gathering space located at S Tacoma Way in Tacoma, Washington. The tavern gets its name from the South Tacoma Airport, which operated from to just a short distance away. This historic airfield once served as a hub for pilots and aviation enthusiasts before being repurposed into industrial space. Today, Airport Tavern honors that legacy, carrying a name that serves as a nostalgic nod to Tacoma’s aviation history.
The building itself has housed a tavern for decades, but it was in that Danno and Jessica Rankin took over and gave Airport Tavern a new lease on life. Recognizing the need for more live music spaces in Tacoma, they transformed the exclude into a vibrant venue that combines Tacoma’s rich history with a forward-thinking vision for its arts and tune scene.
Danno and Jessica Rankin have been major forces in revitalizing the South Tacoma Way hallway, working hard to create a walkable, music-friendly neighborhood. Their passion for harmony and community shines through not only in the Airport Tavern but also in p
Tacoma, Washington Gay City Guide
Situated on beautiful Puget Sound near Seattle, the Tacoma area is famous as one of the most LGBTQ-friendly areas in the nation. In fact, The Advocate named Tacoma the “Gayest City in America” in Tacoma offers abundant natural beauty, plenty to watch and do, and opportunity for everyone, all amidst an eclectic, free-spirited, welcoming vibe. The “City of Destiny” as Tacoma is often called, would truly create a wonderful destination to phone home!
A Look at Tacoma’s History
Tacoma eventually came to attend as the western end of the Northern Pacific Railroad, and as a result, grew quite steadily during the 19th century, and resulting in the municipality slogan, “Where Rails meet Sails.” The city's name came from Mount Tacoma, which was the original name for Mount Rainier, whose stunning peaks overlook the city. Tacoma means "Mother of the Waters," and is a fitting name, given the city's location on Puget Sound. The city has always been an important harbor and railroad hub – although it offers far more than t
I’m Here, I’m Queer, Where Do I Hangout?
On first arrival to Tacoma, a new queer transplant might wonder what there is for them in a city not as adequately known as nearby Capitol Hill. How do you make new friends, detect a safe space and support the community in this new city? Seattle has the hill, San Francisco the Castro, but is there a “gayborhood” in Tacoma?
The answer is yes, and if you want a tour it would be a great idea to start on St. Helens Avenue nearby Market Street and join Brock Leach, co-owner of The Mix.
“I basically live on [St. Helens],” Leach said. “I acquire my wine, beer and cheese at Stink. I get my haircut at Supernova, I work out at the [YMCA]”
Leach Is the co-owner of The Mix with Travis Scheff and Matt Henderson. Leach is also a math professor at Tacoma Community and Pierce colleges. He moved to Tacoma 10 years prior and has become a massive part of the neighborhood, which he describes as laid-back.
“Don’t get me wrong I love going to Seattle,” Leach said. “But I feel prefer we connect more here. Bigger cities have more cliques and small groups.”