How the Grit City Gala Sets the Table for Tacoma

A typical visit to the Tacoma Farmers Market — on Broadway between South Ninth and South 11th streets — might begin with a stop at Cha Boran’s stall for some traditionally inspired Thai coffee or tea. From there, shoppers might find themselves perusing fresh produce from Yakima Valley’s Amador Farms, picking up flowers for a loved one, or stopping by The Apple Guy booth.

Featuring a majority of small businesses, many built upon leaps of faith and passion projects, Tacoma Farmers Market is a weekly celebration of local community and goods. On Aug. 20, the market’s usual vendor stalls will be cleared from Broadway to make space for an even grander celebration than the weekly fair.

Set for nearly 200 guests, the Grit City Gala will transform the downtown corridor into an open-air, multicourse dining experience taking place directly in the heart of Tacoma.

The annual gala serves as both a community dinner and a fundraiser, supporting efforts to keep vendor costs low and market participation accessible for local farmers and businesses. It’s a mission that reflects the lifetime passion of event chair Cathy Satava, who joined the organization’s board in 2025 and will be spearheading the gala again this year.

“I’m a fangirl of all things agricultural. I’ve worked with multiple agricultural nonprofits all over the Northwest, and supporting the farmers on this end was really attractive to me,” Satava said. “I felt so welcomed by Tacoma. You feel like you can be part of things right away. There’s an open door.”

What might look, at first glance, like a formal dinner is carefully designed to feel inviting and communal for those attending. Last year, Satava introduced a new setup that will be used again this August, forgoing a single long table in favor of two, still impressive, though slightly shorter tables, running parallel to each other.

“It brought everybody closer together,” Satava said. “You’re not off in a corner — you’re part of the whole experience.”

Between the two tables is the central stage, from which Alma Villegas, a local Latin singer and this year’s master of ceremonies, will host the event.

Under Satava’s guidance, the gala has also leaned into storytelling, with chefs sharing the cultural inspiration behind each course.

This year, the chef is Blanca Rodriguez, owner of Pimienta Bistro & Bar in Federal Way. Known for European and Latin fusion cuisine, Rodriguez’s has significantly shaped the tone of the evening, with organizers planning a Latin-inspired theme that will extend beyond the menu to include live music and more.

“(Grit City Gala) gives us an opportunity to celebrate the cultures that are such a big part of our food system and our community,” Satava said. “Farming is essential to a community, and sometimes we don’t realize how essential it is. This is one way we can come together and support that.”