# Live Music in Tacoma: Where to Look for Your Next Show

Ballroom shows, downtown theater seats or a South Tacoma music hall: pick a Tacoma music night by room, ticket and age rule.

Canonical URL: https://tacomairl.com/guides/tacoma-live-music-venues/
Section: guides
Area: Downtown and South Tacoma
Author: JD
Published: 2026-11-02
Last fact check: 2026-11-02
Who it suits: Anyone picking a concert night, from touring acts in a ballroom to theater seats downtown.
Duration estimate: Three venues · allow an evening; running times vary by show
Cost basis: Tickets and fees vary by show. Budget for food, drinks and parking too.
Getting around: The downtown theaters and Elks Temple are a drive from Airport Tavern. Plan the ride home before booking a late show.

Start with the show, then plan the night around it. Tacoma's music rooms include a ballroom inside an old lodge, two downtown theaters and a South Tacoma music hall.

For shows on a particular date, start with [upcoming events](https://tacomairl.com/events/), then follow the ticket link.

## 1. Spanish Ballroom

The [Spanish Ballroom](https://www.mcmenamins.com/elks-temple/spanish-ballroom) is inside [McMenamins Elks Temple](https://tacomairl.com/places/mcmenamins-elks-temple/) at 565 Broadway. Its calendar has touring acts and other shows.

Each listing has its own doors, show time, age rule and price, so check them before you plan dinner. The bars elsewhere in the building set their own age rules.

## 2. Pantages or Rialto

[Tacoma City Theaters](https://www.tacomacitytheaters.org/events) books concerts at the [Pantages](https://tacomairl.com/places/pantages-theater/), 901 Broadway, and the [Rialto](https://tacomairl.com/places/rialto-theater/), 310 South 9th Street. Check which theater is on your ticket before you head out.

The theaters post a venue map and seating information. If steps or an accessible route matter to you, ask the box office about that performance before you buy.

Everyone needs a ticket, including kids sitting on a lap. Some events have their own entry rules.

## 3. Airport Tavern

[Airport Tavern](https://tacomairl.com/places/airport-tavern/) is at 5406 South Tacoma Way. It has a Music Hall as well as the bar, and its site links each show to tickets.

The bar's opening time isn't showtime. Check the listing for doors, show time, ages and price. It's a drive from downtown, so plan the ride home when you buy the ticket.

## Before you buy

Check four things on the listing: date, venue, age rule and the total price with fees. If the show you wanted is sold out, [The Grand Cinema](https://tacomairl.com/places/grand-cinema/) makes a good backup.

## Ordered stops

1. Check Spanish Ballroom’s official calendar ([Place details](https://tacomairl.com/places/mcmenamins-elks-temple/))
2. Choose a show at the Pantages or Rialto ([Place details](https://tacomairl.com/places/pantages-theater/))
3. Look at Airport Tavern’s show listings ([Place details](https://tacomairl.com/places/airport-tavern/))

Image: https://tacomairl.com/images/pantages-theater.webp
Alt: The white stone facade of the Pantages Theater, with arched windows, a decorative cornice and its vertical blade sign, seen up the Broadway slope under a grey sky.
Image credit: Photo: Visitor7
Image source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pantages_(Tacoma,_Washington).jpg
Image rights: CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/)
Photo details: https://tacomairl.com/photo-details/pantages-theater/

## Sources

- [McMenamins: Spanish Ballroom (venue address and current concert listings)](https://www.mcmenamins.com/elks-temple/spanish-ballroom)
- [Tacoma City Theaters: concert listings, venue assignments and ticket links](https://www.tacomacitytheaters.org/events)
- [Tacoma City Theaters: directions, parking and venue map](https://www.tacomacitytheaters.org/plan-your-visit/directions-parking)
- [Airport Tavern: address, bar hours, show listings and tickets](https://airporttavern.com/)