Best of the Northwest Free Community Festival Saturday, August 17, 10 am-4 pm Celebrate summer in the Northwest with an array of art experiences. Create a flower rose to help welcome home troops, watch the Iron Artist Competition, and help us get artsy with a community art installation. Starting at 11 am, watch the Iron Artists Competition. Local contestants will decorate bicycle helmets and we need you to vote for your favorite entry. If you are feeling artsy bring your own helmet or bike to decorate alongside the Iron Artist competition! After the festival the helmets will be on display at Tacoma Art Museum in the Community Art Space until September 21. The helmets will be worn by special guests on September 22 during the Downtown to Defiance Sunday Parkways bicycling event. Join Tacoma Art Museum staff, volunteers, and RallyPoint/6 to help create yellow paper roses representing tokens of our affection for returning troops. The roses will be used as stage decoration for Lakewood's RAIDERS RETURN Welcome Home Troops event coming in September. Cost: Museum admission and activities free all day. RallyPoint/6 is a non-profit resource center for veterans. To learn more about RallyPoint/6 visit TheUnfinishedMission.org/community-blueprint/rally-point-6 <http://www.tacomaartmuseum.org/TheUnfinishedMission.org/community-bluep rint/rally-point-6> . Tinkertopia, LLC. works with local businesses, capturing safe, reusable materials from the wastestream, and reimagines these as unusual arts and craft supplies for kids, teachers, makers and tinkerers. To learn more about Tinkertopia visit Tinkertopia.com <http://www.tacomaartmuseum.org/Tinkertopia.com> . Lisa Terry | TACOMA ART MUSEUM Public Relations and Communications Manager 253.272.4258 x3047