Among the many outdoor music events this summer in South Puget Sound is the annual Tacoma Community College Summer Orchestra. A great chance for community and amateur musicians to get together and play, it’s also a great opportunity to hear free classical music. The concert’s at noon this Saturday.

“This experience is designed to be an inclusive community event, allowing musicians from a variety of experiences to be a part of a large orchestral masterwork,” says director John Falskow, music department chair at TCC.

The program is the tuneful, Spanish-overtoned “L’Arlesienne” suites 1 and 2 by Georges Bizet. The …

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“Vice and Virtue” at B2 Gallery

Pastel artists and 30-year collaborators Ric Hall and Ron Schmitt create canvases together. Their current show at B2 gallery explores the seven deadly sins in “Vice and Virtue,” closing this weekend. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. third Thursdays through July 28. Free. 711 St. Helens Ave. Suite 100, Tacoma. 253-238-5065, b2finearts.com

Indie rock in second “Cathedrals” concert at Immanuel Presbyterian

Immanuel Presbyterian and the Broadway Center for Performing Arts team up for the second incarnation of the “Cathedrals” series, indie and new rock played in acoustically reverberant venues. This …

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Ethnic Fest is always fun – strolling through funky vendor stalls, watching a world full of countries dancing, singing and beating drums onstage in downtown Tacoma. This year, add in the Wright Park sprayground (let’s hope for hot weather) with hands-on activities and family entertainment, free wifi around the park and a free Saturday night movie to the yummy food, and you’ve got yourself a fine festival this weekend. As always, it’s free.

Ethnic Fest runs noon-7 p.m. July 28 and 29 in Wright Park, Division and I Streets, Tacoma. metroparkstacoma.org/ethnicfest

Here’s the schedule:

Saturday

Main Stage:

11:30 a.m. opening; noon the Islanders; 1 p.m. Miho and Diego; 2 p.m. Geoffrey Castle; 3 p.m. Cambodian Cultural Dance; 4 p.m. PAYO; 5 p.m. Korean Drum and Dance; 6 p.m. Teine Tama Samoa Read more »

Something’s changed on GO Arts: You now use your Facebook account to post comments.

Editor Karen Peterson recently wrote a column explaining the reasons for the switch.

The change also will allow readers to share their comment with their Facebook friends by checking a “post to Facebook” box below the comment field.

If you have any questions or comments on this change, please send us an email at webmaster@thenewstribune.com.

As if there weren’t enough history already at Fort Nisqually, the historical open-air museum at Tacoma’s Point Defiance Park now has live artisans every weekend in summer.  They’ll be demonstrating and displaying 19^th-century craftforms like blacksmithing and puppetry in a cool program called “Crafts of the Past.”

One month into the program and there’s been a lot to see already – but luckily for us, many of the artisans are returning in late July and August. They’ll be at their posts all day on Saturdays and Sundays, showing what they do and helping others do the same (except …

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Anything goes in summertime, including sitting on your art. Art chairs, that is. Because the art Adirondacks are back in Ruston this week – 21 artist-painted Adirondack chairs, which are up for viewing 4-7 p.m. every day this week outside the Ruston Town Hall, and available for you to buy via silent auction this Saturday.

This year, though, there are a few differences. For starters, the chairs are arranged in front of the low-slung, sage-green Ruston Town Hall, instead of ranged along the grassy median strip in the middle of North Winnifred Street. Clustered on the front lawn, they have an expectant, cozy look, as if waiting for a summer concert or evening drinks party.

“We wanted to involve the local town hall,” explains co-chair Lucy Davis. “And it looked charming.”

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Gig Harbor arts fest

Gig Harbor arts it up this weekend with the 28^th annual Summer Art Festival. More than 130 artists and artisans will show their wares along Judson Street in the historic waterfront district, plus live music, food and chalk art on Saturday. 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. July 21-22. Free. Judson Street, Gig Harbor. Free shuttle service from Gig Harbor Medical Center, 6401 Kimball Drive. peninsulaartleague.com/artFest.html

Click Flick: “Nanny McPhee”

This months’ free Click Family Flick at the Grand Cinema in downtown Tacoma is “Nanny McPhee,” the 2005 comedy starring Emma Thompson as a quirky, …

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After four and a half years, nonprofit community arts center Tacoma Art Place will be closing doors on its street-front location on the Hilltop Aug. 31. Lack of funding is the primary reason for the closure, which will only affect TAP’s brick-and-mortar venue; mobile outreach activities will continue in schools and community centers.

From its beginnings, TAP has relied on donations, grants and yearly memberships to stay afloat. Founder Linda Danforth conceived of the community art-making and teaching venue after a trip to Africa, where local women were taught sewing and other income-generating crafts, with equipment supplied in …

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