Special Events
Thanks for your interest in special events and Filming in Tacoma!
TVE Special Events is here to help event planners, organizers, and film producers in meeting the requirements to successfully produce an event on public property in the city.
To get started producing a film or event in Tacoma, reach out to the Special Office at communityevents@tacomavenues.org.
Events &
Film Permits
Special events can include concerts, parades, festivals, races, block parties, and many more types of gatherings. Applications for special events should be submitted no later than 60 days (for road closures) or 30 days (for neighborhood block parties or non-road closures) prior to the event date to allow for proper internal review and time required to notify impacted businesses and/or residents. How do you know if you need a permit? Before beginning, visit the Special Events Resources page.
The Special Events office is happy to assist in providing location and contact information to accommodate film productions including feature film, television and student or commercial shooting, and still photography. Applications for Master Film Permits may be submitted within a week of production, depending on the complexity of the production, including the need for road closures.
SPECIAL EVENTS FUNDING
The Special Events Funding program is intended to provide funds to qualified event producers. The intent is to foster high-quality, equitable, inclusive, open-to-the-public events across all of Tacoma; it will also seek to help strengthen the capacity of producing organizations to find other sustainable funding sources for the future of their event(s). Selected event producers must submit a fully executed proposal, meet deadlines, criteria, and expectations of the program, put on the event described in their proposal, and report an invoice and final report on the event as directed by the program staff.
City’s Events AND Recognition Committee
The City’s Events and Recognitions Committee is an advisory and action committee on City-hosted events and oversees special recognition programs with City staff. Annual events include the Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration, the City of Destiny Awards, and other special events. The Committee also participates in the oversight of City-funding for special events, as well as promotion of events and observations in the city such as Juneteenth.
City Event
Services Program
The City Event Services Program standardizes the distribution of City of Tacoma services and non-monetary support to benefit community special events beginning in 2025. Historically, some community events received financial and in-kind services support from City departments. In 2021, Tacoma Venues & Events (TVE) updated the City’s financial support process, introducing an equitable competitive grant system directed by the City’s Events and Recognitions Committee (CERC).
TVE SkillShops are designed to inform, teach, and support our event organizers to ensure they have the necessary tools to execute successful events.