Festival

International Day of Peace 2026

Tacoma Sister Cities presents · Sat, Sept 19 · 10am–3pm · Thea's Park

Official event website Full program & how to get there

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Full timed program below — 10:25 welcome · 11:44 keynote · 2:40 Children's Peace Dove Parade

Peace Day opens THE WALL's 2026 Season of HOPE

Children's Parade & Roots & Shoots' Giant Peace Doves

Free · All ages · Thea's Park, 405 Dock St · 10am–3pm

Stars 4 Peace built a giant peace dove for the Children's Peace Dove Parade — an official Jane Goodall's Roots & Shoots Giant Peace Dove puppet — 2:40pm, meet at the stage. Come fly it with us.

See the parade in the program →

Washington's Skoolie Foundation turns retired school buses into mobile shelters, showers and food aid for unhoused neighbors and veterans — and they'll be on site all day. Stop by, say hi, and learn about them — see how a bus becomes a lifeline. Then give. Every dollar goes to beds, showers and hot meals on wheels — Donate to Skoolie now →

Learn about Skoolie The Bus Pass — monthly membership

Donate to the Skoolie Foundation →

The official timed program from the Tacoma Sister Cities board, laid out so you can find your moment fast. Jump to a part below, or add the day to your calendar. Program courtesy of Tacoma Sister Cities.

Morning program on stage

10:25 am – 11:56 am

10:25 am Welcome
Welcome & the Sound of the Shofar
John Lloyd · Frances Lorenz
10:33 am Ceremony
Tacoma Sister Cities Flag Ceremony — "Happy United Nations"
Flag bearers from Tacoma's sister cities
10:45 am Music
"Imagine" (John Lennon)
John Lloyd, trumpet
10:48 am Ceremony
Proclamation from the City of Tacoma
Sarah Rumbaugh, Tacoma City Council Member
10:50 am Welcome
Welcome from Tacoma Sister Cities' President
Drena Sellers
10:54 am Youth
"Light a Candle for Peace"
Fawcett Elementary School Singers · directed by Carla Stoerm
11:00 am Speaker
"Melting the Nuclear Freeze"
Sean Arent
11:07 am Dance
Japanese Dance
M.A.I. Dance Studio · Mai Suratos
11:12 am Speaker
"Invest in Peace: The Deposit is Due"
Melannie D. Cunningham
11:20 am In memoriam
In Memoriam — "Without You"
Lawrence Lambert (Pearls) · Frances Lorenz, reader
Lawrence Lambert, recorded by THE WALL / Stars 4 Peace — we love his work. Watch here or catch him live at 11:20 and again with The Peacemakers at 11:56.
11:25 am Music
"Heal the World" (Michael Jackson)
Miss Pierce County, Paris Moneh
Paris on THE WALL
11:29 am Speaker
"Disagreeing Better"
Lisa Fruichiantie
11:35 am Music
"When We Are We"
Rachelle LaNae
11:38 am Poem
"Pink Skies, Early Mornings"
Mari Griffin, Tacoma Poet Laureate
11:42 am Speaker
Introduction of the keynote
Thomas Heavey, Sr. · founder, Greater Tacoma Peace Laureate Program
11:44 am Keynote
Keynote — "Compassion: The Passing of Peace through Community"
Carol Mitchell
11:51 am Peace Circle
A moment of silence for peace
Rev. Matthew Brecht
11:56 am Music
"Peace Train"
The Peacemakers — John Lloyd (director), Jim Valley, Christina Brewer, Lawrence Lambert, Rachelle LaNae

Noon · lunch & the grounds

12:00 pm – 12:15 pm

12:00 pm Grounds
Lunch & fun on the festival grounds
thanks to our sponsors
Tai Chi · Kid's Zone · food · community tables. Look for the Season of HOPE table from THE WALL & Stars 4 Peace.
12:15 pm Peace Circle
Peace Circle Ritual in the Circle of Trees
Anjali Silva
Trees donated by the Tacoma Tree Foundation. Repeats at 1:15 and 2:00.

Afternoon on stage & in the park

12:30 pm – 2:00 pm

12:30 pm Music
Tacoma Refugee Choir
Orlando Morales
12:50 pm Dance
Tai Chi — Chinese Fan Demonstration
Shen Xioyang & Song Mayo
1:00 pm Music
"Hybrid Roots" · "Sin Embargo" — Cuban music & flamenco
Alejandro Fleites · Marisela Fleites (flamenco)
1:15 pm Peace Circle
Peace Circle Ritual in the Circle of Trees
Anjali Silva
2:00 pm Music
Jim Valley Project
Jim Valley, Billie Odden, Pete Beringer, Russ Salton
2:00 pm Peace Circle
Peace Circle Ritual in the Circle of Trees
Anjali Silva

Children's Peace Dove Parade

2:40 pm – 3:00 pm

2:40 pm Parade
Children's Peace Dove Parade — everyone, meet at the stage
Music: "I See You" by ZuluChoir · Roots & Shoots' giant peace doves
We made a giant peace dove for this. Bring the kids, bring a friend, and fly with us — the parade closes the day.
Our giant peace dove taking shape — Pax Tahoma (@theseartistsrock). Tap the photo to enlarge.
3:00 pm
End of event — thank you, Tacoma
See you at the Holiday HOPE Hop, Dec 18–20
The Season of HOPE continues

Times are approximate and may shift on the day. Peace Circles repeat at 12:15, 1:15 and 2:00 in the Circle of Trees (Tacoma Tree Foundation).

North Star GuideDrink Spiking Signs

Join us for a joyful event filled with music, dance, storytelling, inspiring speakers, art, activities for all ages, food for thought and action, and opportunities to connect with neighbors from around the world! ★ Live music & dance ★ Youth performances ★ Peace Circles ★ Great cultural foods ★ Interactive art ★ Community booths ★ Arts & crafts ★ Without You — In Memoriam Stars 4 Peace and THE WALL join Tacoma Sister Cities on Peace Day with the Children's Parade and Roots & Shoots' Giant Peace Doves — the day our Season of HOPE begins, leading to the Holiday HOPE Hop and the Tacoma Santa Parade in December.

Tacoma Sister Cities presents the International Day of Peace. Schedule, performers and volunteer info live on the official site.

Visit TacomaCienfuegosSisterCity.org →