Tacoma Ocean Fest Comes to a Close After Seven Years
The popular waterfront festival of art, science, and conservation, founded with the mission to celebrate and protect the ocean, closes its chapter.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 18, 2024
Tacoma, Wash.: After nearly a decade of uplifting diverse voices and bringing the community of Tacoma together through arts, education, and aquatic fun to celebrate and honor the ocean, our beloved Tacoma Ocean Fest is being put to rest.
We cannot thank our community enough for the unwavering outpour of support over the years, from attendees and participants to generous sponsors and community partners alike, including but not limited to the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, City of Tacoma Environmental Services, Cascade Federal Credit Union, Puget Sound Energy, Tacoma Venues & Events, Port of Tacoma, the Bamford Foundation, Tacoma Arts Commission, Tacoma Events & Venues, Tacoma Public Utilities, The Grand Cinema, Tacoma Public Schools, Tacoma Public Library, South Sound Surfrider, Harbor WildWatch and Metro Parks Tacoma, and Tacoma Creates…to name only a handful!
Founded by Rosemary Ponnekanti in 2018, Tacoma Ocean Fest encouraged South Sound to learn more about the ocean, its threats, and how to protect it, and we firmly believe that this sentiment will remain with our communities for generations to come. We would be remiss if we did not acknowledge Shunpike for their support - the non-profit agency that provides independent arts groups in Washington State with the services, resources, and opportunities they need to forge their own paths to sustainable success.
While our chapter with Tacoma Ocean Fest comes to a close, rest assured that the Foss Waterway Seaport has plenty of family-friendly maritime fun and education in store this coming year and beyond!
ALL INFO: tacomaoceanfest.org
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Tacoma Ocean Fest was a free festival on Tacoma’s waterfront. Lifting up diverse voices, it brought the community together through arts, sciences and water sports to celebrate the ocean, learn about its threats and get inspired to protect it. www.tacomaoceanfest.org
Tacoma Ocean Fest was fiscally sponsored by Shunpike. Shunpike is the 501(c)(3) non-profit agency that provides independent arts groups in Washington State with the services, resources and opportunities they need to forge their own paths to sustainable success.
Contact: Foss Waterway Seaport - Executive Director, Brent Mason (253)272-2750 ext. 101, Brent.Mason@FossWaterwaySeaport.org
Thank you to everyone that celebrated Ocean preservation at the 2024 family-friendly and FREE Tacoma Ocean Fest!
The 2024 free festival featured a glass medallion hunt, waterfront clean-up, Lantern Paddle, brand-new visual art, music and dance, OceanX Talks, eco-booths and vendors. Plus hands-on activities in our Heritage Boat Shop and arts & crafts from Toolbox Laboratories in our Education Center.
Visual Artists: featured artist Paula Nishikawara, Nives Cicin-Sain, plus Tacoma's own local artists; RickyLovesPainting, Amber Stephens, and River Meschi.
Performing Artists: Vuelta La Luna, Tacoma City Ballet, PLU Steel Band, DJ Special K, Global Fusion, Sirens of the Sound + more!
Foss Waterway Seaport's 2024 Tacoma Ocean Fest was supported by Tacoma Creates, KBTC/PBS, KNXK, Toolbox Laboratories, City of Tacoma, and Museum of Glass. Plus this event is sponsored by Port of Tacoma, Tacoma Venues & Events, KeyBank, and TAPCO.
Location: Foss Waterway Seaport – 705 Dock St. Tacoma
Cost: Free
Media contact: Brent Mason, info@tacomaoceanfest.org
Information: tacomaoceanfest.org