Celebrate the Fourth of July with Red, White, & Blues at Celebration Park | | |
Join us at Celebration Park on Saturday, July 4, for our annual Red, White & Blues Festival. Enjoy live music, food vendors, and family fun all day. The main stage lights up at 4 p.m. with diverse performers. Don’t miss the fireworks at 10:15 p.m.
Bring lawn chairs and blankets for comfort. Admission and parking are free for all. Let’s celebrate America together!
| | Mayor Ferrell and Council Recognize Student Claire Kim at AWC Conference | | |
Mayor Jim Ferrell and members of the City Council attended the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Annual Conference last week. AWC’s Annual Conference is the premier training event for mayors, councilmembers, city managers and administrators, and other senior-level municipal staff in Washington state.
The festivities included scholarship recognition for Federal Way Youth Commission Chair Claire Kim. The AWC Center for Quality Communities Scholarship supports high school seniors who are active in leadership in their city government, community, or school and plan to pursue higher education.
Claire received the scholarship for her efforts on the Youth Commission, a strong record of volunteering in the community, and a robust academic record. She will be attending Stanford University beginning this fall.
Congratulations Claire!
| | Friendship Theatre Brings Frozen Jr. to Life on Stage | | |
Federal Way Parks & Recreation’s Friendship Theatre recently featured a production of "Frozen Jr." at the Knutzen Family Theatre.
Friendship Theatre is an inclusive performing arts program that welcomes performers with developmental and intellectual disabilities to shine on stage. Under the guidance of veteran director Sharon Boyle, the performers dedicated months of effort to creating an unforgettable production of this beloved Disney story, delivering heart and energy from beginning to end.
Friendship Theatre is a space for connection, creativity, and confidence-building, where each participant has the opportunity to grow, express themselves, and be celebrated for who they are.
| | Federal Way Amateur Radio Club Hosts Field Day at Lakota Park | | |
The Federal Way Amateur Radio Club hosted its annual National Ham Radio Field Day at Lakota Park on Saturday, joining more than 31,000 amateur radio operators across North America in the largest annual on-the-air operating event.
Each June, ham radio enthusiasts set up temporary transmitting stations in parks, schools, and other public spaces to showcase the science, technical skill, and public service role of amateur radio.
At Lakota Park, club members transformed the site into a fully functioning emergency communications center, demonstrating how amateur radio can provide reliable communication when traditional systems fail.
Throughout the day, operators made voice, Morse code, and digital contacts with stations across the country, highlighting both the versatility of ham radio and the club's readiness to assist with emergency communications when needed.
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REMINDER: Fireworks are Illegal in
Federal Way
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Except by special permit, it is unlawful for any person to possess, use, sell, discharge, or explode fireworks of any kind within the city of Federal Way.
Violations are punishable by fines of $615. Any person who discharges or uses a firework in a reckless manner that creates a substantial risk of serious physical injury to another person or damage to the property of another is guilty of an arrestable offense.
Police will have extra patrols conducting fireworks enforcement as Independence Day approaches. Legal penalties aside, we invite you to be courteous to your neighbors, pets, wildlife, and the fire department by not igniting any celebration device that creates a spark or makes a loud noise.
To report fireworks violations, please call the police at 253-835-2121. (Press "0" for immediate assistance.) Let’s keep Federal Way safe and peaceful for all!
| | Community Members Bring Broken Items for Repair Café | | |
We hosted our Repair Café at the South King Tool Library on Saturday. Our volunteer repair experts were on-hand to fix damaged furniture and other small household items, sharpen knives, and repair torn clothing for Federal Way residents at no cost.
In total, 86 residents brought 146 items to the event to be repaired or sharpened.
If you were unable to make it to the Repair Café but still have items that need fixing, King County provides a repair business directory of local businesses in 18 different categories that offer repair services for a fee.
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The Miles for Meso WA Memorial 5K Run/Walk will return for its 12th year on July 4 at the Federal Way Community Center.
This event is held in memory of Dick Dyhrman, a geologist with Weyerhaeuser Company; Bud Hatley, Federal Way School District Athletic Director; Bob Stewart, Federal Way High School teacher and coach; and other Washington residents who have lost their lives to mesothelioma.
The mission of this event is to raise awareness for mesothelioma, a cancer caused by asbestos.
| | FWPD Records Supervisor Amanda Hewer Receives National BlueBridge Award | | |
The Federal Way Police Department (FWPD) is proud to share that Records Supervisor and BlueBridge Agency Program Director Amanda Hewer has been named the 2025 BlueBridge Agency Program Director of the Year. This national award recognizes her leadership in bringing BlueBridge to Federal Way and building it into a trusted community resource.
Amanda was presented the award by BlueBridge Co-founder and CEO Brian Spracklen on June 9 in recognition of her leadership in launching the program locally and strengthening it through partnerships with officers, community members and local businesses.
BlueBridge is a community-supported program that helps officers quickly connect individuals with immediate, short-term assistance during times of unexpected need, including food, clothing, transportation, gas, or temporary shelter when other options are limited.
What makes Amanda’s work especially notable is that she identified BlueBridge as a valuable tool for officers and took the initiative to bring it to FWPD. While programs like this are traditionally led by sworn command staff, Amanda stepped forward as a civilian supervisor to lead the effort and build it from the ground up.
FWPD is proud to see Amanda recognized nationally for the work she is doing right here in Federal Way. Learn more about the BlueBridge program today.
| | City Accepting Applications for Senior and Planning Commissions | | | | |
The City of Federal Way is accepting applications for those interested in serving on city boards and commissions.
The City is planning to conduct interviews at upcoming council meetings with a focus on filling open positions on:
- Senior Commission
- Planning Commission
Don’t miss your chance to have a say in what’s happening in Federal Way!
Email CityClerk@FederalWayWA.gov or call 253-835-2540 with questions.
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PAEC Hosting Team USA Livestream Event
on July 1
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The Federal Way Performing Arts & Event Center is hosting a livestream for the next Team USA match on Wednesday, July 1, at 5 p.m.
The game will be broadcast in the theater, and the PAEC is accepting reservations at The Pitch, a pop-up pub-style restaurant with multiple viewing screens.
Reservations for The Pitch will be accepted beginning 30 minutes before the match starts.
| | July 7 City Council Meeting | | | | |
What’s Next: The Federal Way City Council meets Tuesday, July 7, 2026, for a regular meeting at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers.
How to Attend: Attend in person at Federal Way City Hall, 33325 8th Ave. S. or watch live on Zoom, the City's YouTube channel, or FW Channel 21.
| | Upcoming Events and Opportunities | | Community Festival on Aug. 8 | | |
The Federal Way Diversity Commission and the City of Federal Way are excited to host the next iteration of community connection with the Federal Way Community Festival on Saturday, Aug. 8. from 12-4 p.m. at Town Square Park.
Federal Way will come alive with the sights and sounds of one of the most diverse populations in the region as we celebrate the cultures and communities that make Federal Way a vibrant place to live, work, and play.
This family-friendly, free festival will feature kids’ activities, food vendors, an entertainment stage, and exhibitors sharing information about employment opportunities, health care access, financial and educational services, and a variety of other business resources, nonprofit organizations, and area craft makers.
| | National Night Out in Federal Way on Aug. 4 | | | | |
Registration for National Night Out opened last week, and nearly 20 neighborhoods have already signed up to join the fun!
This annual community event brings neighbors together with the Federal Way Police Department, the Mayor, the City Council, city officials, and public safety partners for an evening of connection, conversation, and community spirit.
Whether you are planning a neighborhood gathering or a business event, no matter small or large, now is the perfect time to get involved.
| | Movies in the Park on July 25 | | |
Join us for a fantastic evening at Federal Way's free community movie night at Town Square Park on Saturday, July 25. The showing will include free popcorn for attendees.
On July 25, we will be showing "Superman," a reboot of the classic DC Studios hero, who gets drawn into conflicts at home and abroad, his actions questioned, giving tech billionaire Lex Luthor the opportunity to get the Man of Steel out of the way for good.
Bring your blankets and lawn chairs, and don’t forget to invite your friends and family.
| | Free Pressure Washing Workshop at South King Tool Library on July 11 | | | | |
The City of Federal Way is hosting a free Pressure Washing Workshop on Saturday, July 11, at the South King Tool Library from 1-2:30 p.m.
Participants will learn how to efficiently clean outdoor surfaces like driveways, decks, siding, and fences using high-pressure water.
The class will also cover safety tips and maintenance practices to ensure optimal performance and longevity of your pressure washer.
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Take the Diversity Commission's
Community Engagement Survey
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The City of Federal Way Diversity Commission wants to hear from you!
Please take just a few minutes to share your thoughts in this short Community Engagement Survey.
Your feedback will help us reach more in our community and help us to make our city even more welcoming and connected for everyone.
| | Take it to the Limit: The Music & Legacy of the Eagles on Nov. 16 | | | | |
The Federal Way Performing Arts & Event Center (PAEC) is hosting Take it to the Limit: The Music & Legacy of the Eagles on Monday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m.
Eagles fans! Get ready for an unforgettable night of live music when acclaimed EAGLES TRIBUTE, “Take It To The Limit” makes a spectacular return to the PAEC.
Revisit all the timeless Eagles hits like Hotel California, Heartache Tonight, Desperado, all performed 100% live!
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The Federal Way Performing Arts & Event Center (PAEC) puts on a wide variety of events year-round. Upcoming events include:
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Aug. 23: Jane Lynch & Kate Flannery: The Trouble with Angels.
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Sept. 17: Queen: It's Kinda Magic
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Oct. 17: ABRA Cadabra - Celebrating the Music & Magic of ABBA
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Oct. 20: An Evening with Celtic Thunder 2026: Celebrate Your Favorite Songs
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Nov. 16: Take it to the Limit - The Music & Legacy of the Eagles
Visit the PAEC event calendar page for a full list of upcoming events.
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