Hi neighbor! Welcome to the first issue of Puyallup Valley Insider. I'm Sarah, and I live right between Puyallup and South Hill. I started this newsletter because it’s surprisingly hard to find local events and happenings that aren’t based in Seattle or Tacoma without checking a dozen different websites or social platforms — there’s actually a lot going on around the valley, but it’s scattered all over the place.
So every week I’ll round up local events, new restaurants and businesses, and a few things happening around the valley that are worth knowing about.
No politics. No crime. Just good stuff happening around Puyallup, South Hill, Sumner, Bonney Lake, Orting, Fife, Edgewood and Milton.
Know someone who lives in the valley? Send it their way!
Sponsored by Susan’s Baubles
This week’s sponsor is Susan’s Baubles, an Etsy jewelry shop run by longtime Puyallup resident Susan, who creates custom bracelets, earrings, and necklaces featuring Swarovski crystals. Her shop has a 4.9-star rating with over 600 reviews and nearly 2,000 sales over 12 years. If you’re looking for a unique gift or something custom, check out Susan’s Baubles on Etsy and support a local maker.
Top 5 things to do this week
It’s rare to find a film these days that almost everyone in your life — both kids and adults — will enjoy, but Project Hail Mary is that movie. Think this generation’s E.T., but smarter. It’s playing at all the local theaters, and worth seeing on the big screen.
Catch Gig Harbor musician Sunny Loudin performing at Rhubarb in Sumner on Thursday, March 26.
If you’ve ever wanted to see baseball star Edgar Martinez, ‘80s pop singer Tiffany, and actor Steve Guttenberg all in the same place, now’s your chance: they are among the many special guests appearing at the Rewind Washington festival this weekend at the Puyallup fairgrounds. VHS tapes not included. (rewindwa.com)
Enjoy Scottish dancing for the whole family at a Tartan ball at the Puyallup fairgrounds on Saturday, March 28. (TheFair.com)
HopeCity church is hosting two free Easter Egg hunts in Pioneer Park in downtown Puyallup on Sunday, March 29 (Instagram), or you can hop over to Sunrise Village in Puyallup and enjoy a petting zoo, games, egg decorating and a scavenger hunt from 11am-3pm (Eventbrite).
In the works: a new playground, budget cuts, and more traffic
The proposed design for the new playground at 531 31st Ave SE in Puyallup
Bradley Lake Park in Puyallup is getting a new playground (pictured above), with construction to start in the fall of 2027. See more details and give feedback here. (The News Tribune)
A pool, three gymnastics teams and librarian-led instructional time for most elementary school students have been spared from the Puyallup School District’s $15 million budget cuts — but 80 to 95 positions across the district will be eliminated or reduced. (The News Tribune)
A new overpass opened near JBLM last weekend — expect delays where I-5 joins Steilacoom-DuPont Road while everyone figures out how to drive again. (The News Tribune)
From the community: the best orange chicken?
Where is the best orange chicken in the area? According to a recent Reddit thread, the top three nominees are Wok and Teriyaki by the River Road Fred Meyer, Dragon Ball in Sumner, or Fry Pan on 156th and Meridian. I’m putting all three on my list to try.
The Roasted Garlic & Rosemary is my favorite
If you like fresh-baked sourdough bread without added ultra-processed ingredients — except the extras you want, like garlic, apricots or gruyere cheese! — head to Balloon Roof Bakery in Fife. They’re a staple at the local Farmer’s Markets, but you can buy their bread directly from their bakery on Saturdays and Sunday mornings; get there before 11am to ensure they’re not sold out.
Make sure to try their cinnamon rolls and Sourdough buttermilk English muffins, too. If you wrap the English muffins in foil and freeze them individually, you can take them out whenever you fancy, and they’ll last a long time. (website)