Events
The following community events have been generally recognized as being valuable in promoting and preserving the City’s identity, supporting a high quality of life for its residents, and promoting economic development and tourism. View the general information about each event below, posted in order they typically fall yearly; details specific to each year will be posted on the City Calendar.
- Volunteer Appreciation Day
- Parks Appreciation Day
- Concerts in the Park
- Duck Daze
- National Night Out
- Moonlight Movie in the Park
- Cider Squeeze
- Make a Difference Day
- Christmas Tree Lighting
In the early spring the community comes together for an annual dinner to honor the hundreds of University Place volunteers who made a difference in our city by giving of themselves and their time in the previous year.
Past honorees have brought a wealth of energy, participating at events such as Parks Appreciation Day, the Barn Restoration, the Holiday Tree Lighting, and much more.
University Place is lucky and grateful to be teeming with so many active and energetic residents willing to share their time and expertise to give back to our community, and we look forward to a celebration in their honor.
We celebrate Earth Day, Arbor Day, National Parks Week and your local parks in one fun event. This spring-time event is a part of a major county-wide effort with nearly 2,000 other people working in their local parks at the same time.
- Individuals, families, businesses, and neighborhood and community groups are invited to help lend a hand in keeping one of our parks clean and well maintained as part of our annual Parks Appreciation Day activities.
- Plans typically call for a general spruce up, flower planting, mulch spreading, weeding, or more, in one of our local parks.
- Volunteers bring their own rakes, gloves, etc., and dress to get dirty!
So show your U.P. parks some love and come out for a few hours of fun and help “cultivate” our U.P. community spirit at the next Parks Appreciation Day event!
Join your friends and community for great music, food and fun during the Curran Apple Orchard Summer Concert Series!
All concerts are FREE and take place on Thursday evenings. Bring blankets, picnics or enjoy food from a local vendor! (Note: No alcohol allowed in City Parks).
Concerts in the Park occur at the Curran Apple Orchard, 3920 Grandview Dr. W., from 6:30 to 8 p.m. In case of inclement weather, concerts will relocate to the Curtis High School Cafeteria, 8425 40th St. West in University Place.
For more information, visit the Curran Orchard Resource Enthusiasts (CORE) website.
Duck Daze, always the first Saturday in June, kicks off at 10 a.m. with the popular Duck Daze parade. Be sure to secure your spot along the parade route, which starts at the corner of 27th Street and Bridgeport Way and continues south to 37th Street, ending at West Pierce Fire & Rescue's Fire Station 31.
Standard features of the event include, but are not limited to:
- Local vendors in Market Square
- Bike helmet and life jacket fittings by Fire Station 31 personnel during their Open House
- Watermelon eating contest, courtesy of West Pierce Fire & Rescue
- Live music on the square
- Balloons, face painting, activities for kids and carnival treats
A community favorite, be sure to plan your yellow attire or pick up a Duck Daze hat along the parade route to show your Duck-y spirit!
The first Tuesday in August, in the evening, is the time for University Place citizens to turn on outside lights, lock their doors and step outside to join their neighbors in the fight against crime by participating in National Night Out!
National Night Out is designed to:
- Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness
- Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships
- Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back
University Place Police will be caravanning all around the City in police vehicles visiting all University Place neighborhoods that register by Friday, July 23.
To register your neighborhood or for more information, email Jennifer Hales, Public Safety Administrator.
Get ready to swing your hips and have some good old-fashioned family fun when Movie Night in the Park comes to Cirque Park on the first Saturday in August.
The evening’s fun swings into action at 7:30 p.m. with local food options, bounce houses and face painting. The movie begins at dusk.
So make plans to pack up the kids, a blanket or chairs and get ready for a memorable evening of free family fun courtesy of the City of University Place!
Crunchy red apples and delicious golden cider are among the highlights at the annual squeeze. Toss apples into old fashioned cider presses, meet The Big Apple and Johnny Appleseed and enjoy bluegrass music at this long-time free University Place tradition.
Typically held on a Sunday in late August or early September, check out the City's calendar or watch the Headlines newsletter for the date once it's announced.
No alcohol is allowed in the park, which is located at 3920 Grandview Drive West. The public is allowed to pick apples after a specific time, which will be set as the event grows closer. Apples will also be available for sale, along with apple pie and ice cream.
For more information, email us or visit the Curran Apple Orchard website.
Join your friends and neighbors and “Make A Difference” in University Place by pitching in to help improve one of our city’s community parks.
What to Bring
Parks Staff will have all tools needed; volunteers should bring sturdy gloves and wear your boots! This event takes place rain or shine.
Start Time
The work begins at 9 a.m. and go until noon, but as the old saying goes, “Many hands make for light work” so encourage as many people as you can – family, friends, scout groups, co-workers, etc. – to help out and make a difference in our community.
About the Event
Make A Difference Day is one of the largest annual days of service nationwide. It is a national day of neighbors helping neighbors, citizens helping their community. It is estimated that in 2009 over 9 million volunteers came out and made a difference in their communities. Whether you prefer to volunteer as an individual or as a group, it is a great way to become involved with your community. Since 1992, volunteers from communities across the country have participated in Make A Difference Day activities with the singular purpose of improving the lives of others.
Each year the City of University Place Parks Department coordinates work parties and cleanups at various park properties.
For more information, contact the Parks Maintenance Department at 253.460.5432 or 253.460.6493.
This in-person event is cancelled for 2021. But check out the virtual lighting of the City’s Christmas Tree in Market Square, which will be available on our YouTube channel for the entire month of December.
To ensure the public’s safety, City leaders decided to hold the annual tree lighting virtually again this year. And although it may be another year before we can celebrate this annual tradition together again in person, this video reminds us of all that we have to be grateful for in U.P. this holiday season.