Taste of Tacoma is a very popular annual event offering more than 200 food and specialty vendors as well as many live bands on multiple stages in addition to cooking demos, chef cook-offs, outdoor beer gardens, carnival rides, and more. Whether you enjoy parades, parties, family-friendly activities, good food, or all of the above, you'll definitely want to put this celebration on your calendar! Its goal is to foster pride in the community and celebrate all that the community adds to the city. The Tacoma Pride Festival is the city's largest annual LGBTQ celebration – and it's one you won't want to miss. Those who live in Tacoma can expect plenty of opportunities throughout the year to go out and enjoy all of the amazing natural beauty that the area has to offer. It typically has pleasant and mild summers, with the July high reaching only around 77☏, and colder, wet winters with the January low averaging around 37☏. Tacoma receives approximately 41 inches of rain on average per year, but only about 4 inches of snow. With 500 chapters and more than 200,000 members in the United States, PFLAG plays a critical and important role in providing advocacy, support, and resources to the LGBTQ community. PFLAG is well-known for its mission of supporting LGBTQ people, friends, family, and allies across the country in a wide variety of ways. PFLAG Tacoma is the area’s local chapter of the national PFLAG organization, which is the largest grassroots organization of its kind in the country. It is truly a pillar of Tacoma’s LGBTQ community. For more than 20 years it has touched the lives of many in the community and provided services to thousands of individuals in the Tacoma area. The Rainbow Center is a community center in Tacoma dedicated to education, advocacy and celebration of the city’s LGBTQ community, friends and allies. Tacoma is a city that cherishes and celebrates its LGBTQ community and supports it through a variety of community resources, including: A popular hangout in Tacoma for both tourists and locals is a coffee shop shaped like a teapot.Tacoma was the birthplace of famous American actor and singer Bing Crosby.Two railroads and as many as fifteen steamship lines are serviced from the port. The Port of Tacoma covers more than 2,400 acres and is the 6 th largest port in North America.It's a wonderful city and welcoming to all. It is also a city of opportunity, plenty of arts and culture, and much to see and do. The city has always been an important harbor and railroad hub – although it offers far more than that. Tacoma means "Mother of the Waters," and is a fitting name, given the city's location on Puget Sound. Tacoma eventually came to serve as the western end of the Northern Pacific Railroad, and as a result, grew quite steadily during the 19 th century, and resulting in the city slogan, “Where Rails meet Sails.” The city's name came from Mount Tacoma, which was the original name for Mount Rainier, whose stunning peaks overlook the city. The “City of Destiny” as Tacoma is often called, would truly make a wonderful destination to call home! Tacoma offers abundant natural beauty, plenty to see and do, and opportunity for everyone, all amidst an eclectic, free-spirited, welcoming vibe. In fact, The Advocate named Tacoma the “Gayest City in America” in 2012. Situated on beautiful Puget Sound near Seattle, the Tacoma area is known as one of the most LGBTQ-friendly areas in the country.