Oct. 19, 2026

Join Us to Celebrate Our New Operations and Maintenance Facility

We will celebrate the opening of our new Operations and Maintenance (O&M) Facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Wednesday, Oct. 28, at 1 p.m. The facility is located at 31130 28th Ave. S., next to Steel Lake Park.

The event is free and open to the public and will include remarks from Mayor Jim Ferrell, other local officials, and City staff. Refreshments will be provided, and attendees can take limited self-guided tours of the facility.

Built on the site of the City’s original maintenance building and additional properties, the nearly 43,000-square-foot, $55 million facility brings together staff, equipment, and materials supporting the City’s Public Works and Parks and Recreation departments.

Community members are invited to attend the grand opening and help celebrate this investment in the City’s operations and the employees who maintain Federal Way’s public infrastructure and parks.

Community Center Gets Halloween Season Started with Pumpkin Plunge

It was a pumpkin diving contest over the weekend as the Federal Way Community Center hosted its third-annual Pumpkin Plunge. The event was a new spin on visiting a pumpkin patch, as participants swam to choose their own “splash-o’-lantern” to take home.

Participants of all ages dove into the Community Center pool, which was filled with dozens of floating pumpkins bobbing in the water. Excited kids and families waded through the water, searching for just the right pumpkin to scoop up and decorate.

The Pumpkin Plunge is quickly becoming a favorite fall tradition in Federal Way, bringing together fun, fitness, and a little bit of Halloween magic.

Mayor Ferrell and City Council Members Attend MSC Helps Luncheon

The Multi-Services Center (MSC) hosted its 13th Annual MSC Helps Luncheon last week at the Performing Arts and Event Center. The yearly fundraiser helps raise money for the MSC’s mission of uplifting communities by increasing equitable access to advocacy, opportunities, and well-being.

Mayor Jim Ferrell and members of the City Council attended the event along with a number of other prominent Federal Way community members, volunteers, and public officials. The event featured a keynote from former Seahawk Tight End Garry Gilliam Jr., who spoke on his life and ways to change the lives of those in need.

This year’s Help, Hope, Change Award was given to former Federal Way City Council Member Jesse Johnson.

Mayor Ferrell Attends Good Eggs Breakfast

Mayor Jim Ferrell attended the Good Eggs Breakfast, hosted by King County Councilmember Pete von Reichbauer, last week. The event featured a conversation with Ryan Blethen, the publisher of the Seattle Times, who also served as the paper’s editorial page editor from 2009-11.

The Blethen family legacy at the Times shows their commitment to the Puget Sound community and the first amendment. Blethen discussed the changing world of news and their focus on quality local journalism that matters to people.

Veterans Day Celebration on Nov. 11

at the PAEC

Join us for our Veterans Day Celebration on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Performing Arts & Event Center.

The program runs from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. Doors open at 10:30 a.m.

This year, we will be having the event on 11/11/11, meaning the eleventh day of the eleventh month at the eleventh hour.

We will honor Federal Way area veterans with remarks and performances in collaboration with local organizations.

Featured Upcoming Event

Community Clothing Swap at the South King Tool Library on Oct. 24

Join us for a free community clothing swap on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the South King Tool Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Drop off your adult clothing, accessories, and shoes and take home amazing and new-to-you items while helping reduce textile waste.

Items should be clean, usable, and seasonably appropriate (for fall/winter). Items on hangers appreciated. Donations are not required to shop, and all items not claimed will go to local non-profits for reuse and recycling.

Interested in Starting a Block Watch in Federal Way?

A Block Watch is a group of neighbors who work together to help prevent crime and keep an eye out for one another. It’s about getting to know the people who live around you, recognizing when something doesn’t look right, and knowing when to report suspicious activity to law enforcement.

Interested in starting a Block Watch in your neighborhood? Here’s how to get started:

• Talk to your neighbors. Find out who is interested in participating and discuss any safety concerns in your neighborhood.
• Choose a Block Watch Captain. The captain will serve as the main point of contact and help coordinate communication with neighbors and FWPD.
• Plan a meeting. The Block Watch Captain will coordinate the meeting location, date, time, and agenda.

• Connect with FWPD. Tiffany and an officer will attend the meeting to share crime statistics for your area, provide crime prevention information, and answer questions.

Interested in starting a Block Watch in your neighborhood? Contact Tiffany Clemmings, Community Engagement Coordinator with FWPD, to discuss next steps. She can be reached by phone at (253) 835-6707 or by email at Tiffany.Clemmings@FederalWayWA.gov.

Repair Café at South King Tool Library

on Nov. 7

The City of Federal Way is hosting a Repair Cafe on Saturday, Nov. 7, at the South King Tool Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Bring your damaged furniture, broken small household items, dull knives, and torn clothing.

Our fixers will do their best to make your items usable again!

Questions about broken items? Contact South King Tool Library at info@southkingtools.org.

Food Waste Reduction Workshop on Nov. 12

The City of Federal Way is hosting a free Food Waste Reduction Workshop on Thursday, Nov. 12, at the Federal Way Community Center at 5 p.m.

Turn food scraps into healthy dishes, learn how to use local all of your in-season produce, and maximize your produce longevity.

All participants will participate in food prep demos and leave with recipes to use at home. All ages welcome. Children must be accompanied by an adult to assist with food handling.

Oct. 20. City Council Meeting

What’s Next: The Federal Way City Council meets Tuesday, Oct. 20, 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.

Join Us for Upcoming Public Meetings for the Biennial Budget

Federal Way is updating its Biennial Budget for 2027-28. The public is invited to hear about the process during a series of meetings over the coming months. The entire calendar is published on the city website and includes meetings in September, October, and November.

Budget presentations and deliberations will take place on the following dates (some are on an as-needed basis): Oct. 20, Nov. 4, and Nov. 17.

Upcoming Events and Opportunities

Tricks and Treats at the Federal Way Community Center on Oct. 24

Join us for Tricks and Treats at the Federal Way Community Center on Saturday, Oct. 24.

It will be a spook-tacular Halloween adventure full of haunted games and sweet treats! Fun and frights await kids of all ages in a magically eerie atmosphere.

Admission is $7 for kids when you pre-register.

Don’t miss out on this fun and festive event!

Cops vs. Ballers at Todd Beamer High School on Nov. 13

Join the Federal Way Police Department on Friday, Nov. 13, at Todd Beamer High School for a fun, family-friendly night of basketball.

Cops vs. Ballers is a basketball game between FWPD officers and Todd Beamer students, bringing our community together while raising money for the school.

The game tips off at 6 p.m. and doors open at 5:30 p.m. Suggested admission is $5 per person or $20 per family. All proceeds go to Todd Beamer High School.

Wear your school colors, cheer loud, and come out to support our students and community!

Family friendly. Cheer loud. Community strong.

City Accepting Applications for

Arts Commission

The City of Federal Way is accepting applications for those interested in serving on the Federal Way Arts Commission.

The Arts Commission serves to bring more free or low cost arts opportunities to the community through musical performances, theater, and visual arts festivals.

Interviews for open positions will be conducted before the end of the year, but applications are being accepted now.

Email CityClerk@federalwaywa.gov or call 253-835-2540 if you have questions. More information available online.

An Evening with Celtic Thunder at the PAEC on Oct. 20 & 21

Join the Federal Way Performing Arts & Event Center for An Evening with Celtic Thunder on Oct. 20 and 21.

An Evening with Celtic Thunder is more than just a concert — it’s a journey through the group’s incredible legacy.

Featuring a carefully curated setlist of their greatest hits, this show will showcase the powerful harmonies, soaring ballads, and electrifying performances that have made Celtic Thunder a household name.

PAEC Upcoming Events

The Federal Way Performing Arts & Event Center (PAEC) puts on a wide variety of events year-round. Upcoming events include:

• Oct. 20 & 21: An Evening with Celtic Thunder 2026: Celebrate Your Favorite Songs
• Oct. 23: PAEC Presents: Taikoproject
• Oct. 24: You Should Be Dancing: A Tribute to the Bee Gees
• Oct. 30: The Black Jacket Symphony Presents: Bon Jovi's "Slippery When Wet"
• Nov. 4: PAEC Presents: Cellogayageum

Visit the PAEC event calendar page for a full list of upcoming events.

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow from Centerstage Theatre Oct. 2-25

"The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" from Centerstage Theatre comes to the Knutzen Family Theatre each Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Oct. 2 through Oct. 25.

Step into the eerie woods of Sleepy Hollow, where laughter will give way to gasps of fright in this exciting adaptation of the most enduring Halloween tale in Northeast American literature.

Get swept up in the secrets and suspense of Washington Irving’s incredible story and see for yourself…if you dare. 

General Admission Tickets are $40 in advance (online or over the phone) and $43 at the door. Student, Military, and Senior Ticket discounts are available.

Free Trunk or Treat at Pacific Bonsai Museum on Oct. 31

The Pacific Bonsai Museum is hosting a free Trunk or Treat event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31.

Tiny tree trunks meet big Halloween fun! Hear spine-tingling tales about the museum's most spooky bonsai.

Docents will be handing out treats to visitors in Halloween costumes. This ghoulishly good time also includes bonsai-making demonstrations, docent-led tours, a scavenger hunt, and more!

Fall Foliage Festival and Plant Sale on Nov. 7 at Rhododendron Garden

The Rhododendron Species Botanical Garden is hosting its annual Fall Foliage Festival and Plant Sale from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Nov. 7 and 8.

Explore 22 acres of woodland paths filled with fall color, including Japanese maples, deciduous azaleas, rhododendrons and other seasonal favorites.

Shop for unique plants from the nursery and specialty plant vendors, browse art and handmade goods inspired by nature, and enjoy a children’s scavenger hunt and guided fall-color tours.

Food and beverage vendors will also be on site, offering a variety of options for purchase.