More than 200 artists, vendors, and small businesses will line Sixth Avenue on August 9, when Art on the Ave returns for what organizers bill as Tacoma's largest street fair.
The free, all-ages festival runs from noon to 7 p.m. between Alder and State Streets, filling several blocks of the Sixth Avenue corridor with live music, food trucks, beer gardens, a Kid Zone, roller derby demos, dance performances, and interactive art activities.
Five named stages will host live entertainment throughout the district: the E9 Firehouse Main Stage, the Real Art Tacoma All Ages Stage, O'Malley's Irish Pub Stage, the Bleak Outlook Stage, and the Tacoma City Theaters Stage. DJs and dance acts perform between band sets.
TAPCO Credit Union and the Sixth Avenue Business District are presenting the event. Richard Stirgus, TAPCO's vice president of marketing and impact, said the festival "feels especially close to home" for the credit union because its Sixth Avenue branch sits in the center of the district. He called it a chance to highlight local artists and small businesses across the greater Tacoma community.
Event producer Stein Hansen said the festival creates opportunities for artists, businesses, and neighbors to connect along the corridor.
Tacoma Creates funding
Art on the Ave receives support through Tacoma Creates, the voter-approved Cultural Access Program that Tacoma residents passed in November 2018 with 67.2 percent support.
The Tacoma City Council reauthorized the program through 2032 on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, and the Sixth Avenue Business District is among the 80 organizations in the 2026-27 funded cohort, according to Tacoma Creates program records.
What to know before you go
- When: Sunday, August 9, noon to 7 p.m.
- Where: Sixth Avenue between Alder and State Streets
- Cost: Free, all ages
- Details: Entertainment schedules, vendor listings, and event updates at artontheave.org
Parking and street-closure details have not been announced. Check artontheave.org for logistics updates as they are posted.
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