SEATTLE — Summer is prime time for just about every outdoor activity that the Pacific Northwest has to offer. For many hobbies, it’s also a chance to gather the like-minded for a celebration or friendly competition. Whether you paddle, pedal, camp or run, there’s likely an event or festival to choose from. Here are just a few of this summer’s highlights.
Tacoma Ocean Fest: Celebrate the weekend before World Ocean Day in downtown Tacoma with a twilight lantern paddle and a beach cleanup. Get on the water with kayak tryouts and boat tours, or stay landside to enjoy circus acts, music and dance performances, poetry readings, kids’ activities, hands-on science experiences and engaging speakers.
June 2-4; Foss Waterway Seaport, 705 Dock St., Tacoma; free; tacomaoceanfest.org
Rainshadow Running Millersylvania Trail Races: Both Rainshadow Running and Evergreen Trail Runs host trail running races year-round throughout Washington, but this weekender at Millersylvania State Park offers 5K, 10K, 30K and 50K events, or the doozy: 12 hours, covering as much mileage as you can muster (solo or in relay). With scant elevation gain compared to most Washington trail runs, Millersylvania is ideal for beginning trail runners. The location at the state park retreat center offers solid infrastructure for a weekend of trail running — a lakeside beach and bunkhouses, for starters.