The weekend is here, the sun is shining and there is plenty to do! 

At the Port Defiance Aquarium it's Sharks and Rays weekend! Their website says you can come face to face with these creatures of the Sea and there will be activities throughout the weekend as well that will teach you all about sharks, including eating habits, how their teeth work and other fun facts! The Tropical Reef portion of the aquarium has been recently renovated as well, so you will see something new if you haven't been in a while! Get tickets at pdza.org

Pride celebrations continue in Tacoma with the 2024 Tacoma Pride Festival! This is Saturday from 12-6 at Fireman's park, and will feature booths, food trucks, live entertainment and more! You can also find a spot to watch the parade along Pacific Ave. Parking will be impacted in the area so plan ahead! Get more details at tacomapride.org

It's the Ballard Seafood Fest this weekend! Along Market St and Ballard Ave there will be lots of tasty treats from the sea from food trucks and local restaurants. The food isn't the only star of the show as Festi-Bowl is back and bigger than ever. Festi-Bowl as described on the event's website "showcases organized skateboarding in a positive environment and highlights the unique attributes of the sport." There will be a variety of competitions that are for all ages and open to all skill levels. The event is free, runs today through the weekend and more details can be found at seafoodfest.org

Tonight at Cal Anderson Park you can catch the film Mama Mia at 8:30 PM for free! This is part of the Center City Cinema program and is free to attend! Bring a chair and some snacks, but in case you forget, food trucks will be onsite. You can see the full schedule of films and other locations for free movies throughout the summer on the Seattle Parks website. 

At the Fantagraphics Bookstore on Saturday, it's the 11th annual Hot Off the Presses Book Fair! Over 50 artists from across the region and nation are showing off their comics, art and more. There will also be live music and plenty of artists, authors, publishers and more to talk about your work or the cool stuff you've seen! The Book Fair runs from 5-9 PM and details can be found on fantagraphics.com

If you are looking to beef up your record collection you might want to head to the Clock-out Lounge in Beacon Hill on Sunday. From 12-5 PM multiple vendors will be selling your next favorite album and if you strike out on your search? You can enjoy some pizza, drink specials and some tunes. This event is free, so no need to buy a ticket.

In West Seattle, there's live music, local food, and family fun all weekend long. It's the West Seattle Summer Fest at the West Seattle Junction! In addition to vendors, music, food and a beer garden, there will be inflatables for the kids, as well as a foam party, arcade, soccer and even drivable robotics! It's free to attend but be prepared to pay for some, but not all, of the kids activities. Get details at westseattlesummerfest.com

In South Lake Union this weekend it's the 3rd Annual Seeking Cultura Mexican Filipino Tianguis (tian-guis) Block Party. This event will of course have food and music, but also fun for the family, community outreach opportunities and a wellness bar. You can details at seekingcultura.com

This is just a small sample of all the things going on this weekend, and as always, if you know of even more cool things going on in the area, Let me know at PaulH@kiroradio.com 

Paul Holden, KIRO News Radio.