🎄 The Tacoma Holiday Festival Fills the Tacoma Dome October 15 to 18

The biggest holiday market in the South Sound is back for its 44th year. The Tacoma Holiday Festival runs Thursday, October 15, through Sunday, October 18, at the Tacoma Dome.

Hundreds of local vendors fill the floor with gifts, decor, food, and fashion, so it is a good chance to knock out a chunk of your list early and support local makers while you do it. Holiday workshops run through the weekend, from centerpieces to DIY ornaments.

There is plenty for the kids, too. Santa is there to hear wish lists, a 25-foot living blue spruce and a Christmas Cottage make for easy family photos, and Puppermint Lane brings adoptable rescue dogs. You can also drop off a new toy or book for the drive benefiting MultiCare Mary Bridge Children's Hospital.

Friday night is Ladies Night from 5 to 7 PM, with live jazz from Ambiance Jazz, drinks for purchase, and vendor raffle prizes. Admission at the box office drops to $5 starting at 4 PM that day only, and parking is $10 from 4 to 6 PM.

Details:

• When: Thursday to Saturday, 10 AM to 7 PM; Sunday, 10 AM to 6 PM

• Where: Tacoma Dome, 2727 E D St, Tacoma

• Tickets: $19.50 at the door, $18.50 plus fees online. Kids 12 and under free. Military with ID free at the box office

• Parking: $20 on site (card only); free parking at the Tacoma Dome Station garage about a quarter mile away

Real estate note: the Tacoma Dome District is changing fast, with light rail, Sounder, and the Dome all within walking distance. Events like this are a reminder of why neighborhoods near the Dome and along the transit lines keep getting more attention from buyers who want city access without the Seattle price tag.