🌆 Grit City Gala 2025 | Alfresco Fine Dining in the Heart of Downtown Tacoma

On August 21, 2025, Broadway Street in downtown Tacoma transformed into something truly special. The Grit City Gala, hosted by the Tacoma Farmers Market, brought together community, cuisine, and connection for a one-of-a-kind alfresco fine dining experience set right in the middle of the city.

Long family-style tables stretched down the tree-lined street as the summer sun dipped low behind the buildings, casting warm light across elegant place settings, shared plates, and a gathering of neighbors, farmers, chefs, and supporters of local food systems. It was a celebration that felt distinctly Tacoma — vibrant, welcoming, creative, and rooted in community.

🍽️ A Farm-to-Fork Experience Curated by Chef Jan Parker

This year’s gala featured an exceptional multi-course menu curated by Chef Jan Parker, inspired entirely by ingredients sourced from Broadway Farmers Market vendors and local farms. Each course celebrated the region’s agricultural abundance while inviting guests to dine communally and savor the flavors of the Pacific Northwest.

The evening’s menu included:

• Bread Service with atchara pickles and tomato fish sauce butter

• Seasonal Salad of tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, farmer’s greens, mango calamansi vinaigrette, and crispy shallots

• Farmer’s Chilled Pancit with pickled Adam’s mushrooms, seasonal vegetables, soy sauce, and lemon dressing

• Chilled Poached Chicken with ginger scallion oil, achuete lemongrass rice, and cilantro cucumber

• Dessert featuring chocolate ganache cake, red wine reduction, berries, and chocolate rice crispies

  
  

From the first bite to the final toast, the menu was a love letter to local farms, small businesses, and the culinary talent thriving in Tacoma and the greater Puget Sound region.

🌿 Community at the Center of the Table

The Grit City Gala is more than a beautiful dinner — it’s a fundraiser that supports the Tacoma Farmers Market’s mission to create vibrant marketplaces where local farms, small businesses, and organizations connect directly with the community.

Guests enjoyed a relaxed, joyful evening that included:

• A family-style, multi-course dinner

• Two drink tickets per guest

• Red and white wine served at each table

• A no-host bar with additional beverage options

  
  

The atmosphere was warm and celebratory — laughter drifting across Broadway, glasses clinking, and conversations flowing under open skies and city lights. It was a perfect example of how public spaces in Tacoma can be transformed into unforgettable cultural experiences.

📸 Capturing City-Scale Community Events

Events like this highlight the importance of professional photography and videography for city, nonprofit, and community organizations. High-quality imagery allows these experiences to live on — supporting future fundraising efforts, marketing campaigns, grant applications, and storytelling for years to come.

I specialize in documenting:

• City of Tacoma events and programs

• Nonprofit and community fundraisers

• Arts and cultural events across the Pacific Northwest

• Large-scale public gatherings and civic celebrations

• Commercial and promotional photography for local organizations

  
  

My work spans Tacoma, Pierce County, Thurston County, and King County, providing consistent, polished coverage for events of all sizes.

🌇 A Night That Reflected the Best of Tacoma

The Grit City Gala captured what makes Tacoma special — a city that values local food, creative collaboration, public art, and shared experiences. As the sun set and Broadway glowed with conversation and candlelight, it was clear this event wasn’t just a dinner — it was a statement about who we are as a community.

Supporting local farmers.Supporting small businesses.Supporting connection.

And doing it all in the heart of downtown Tacoma.

🎥 Documenting the Moments That Matter

City-scale events like the Grit City Gala deserve thoughtful documentation — photography and video that honors the work behind the scenes and the people who show up to support it.

If you’re planning a city event, nonprofit fundraiser, arts program, or large community gathering in Tacoma, Seattle, Pierce County, Thurston County, or King County, professional visual storytelling can help extend your impact far beyond the day itself.