The weekend is here, and the forecast says get out and enjoy it!

Plenty of folks will be taking advantage of the natural beauty of our state during a free weekend at Washington State Parks. On Saturday, not only can you get into the Washington State Parks with no Discovery Pass needed, but it is also the Free Fishing Weekend. That means you can fish for SPECIFIC species of fish, including rainbow trout and bass, rockfish, flounder, and more. However, a license is still required for fishing and harvesting of shellfish, salmon, steelhead, and more. Get more details on what you can and can’t catch right here.

It’s one of my favorite weekends of the year in Tacoma. The Northwest Pinball and Arcade show has returned, and all weekend long, the Greater Tacoma Convention Center turns into the biggest arcade in the Pacific Northwest. Over 400 games will be on the floor and playable with your ticket, in addition to guest speakers, workshops, vendors, and even movie screenings. You’ll find me hanging around the Galaga machine. It also acts like an interactive pinball history museum, with machines from the early days of pinball up to the latest and greatest modern machines. Get details and tickets right here.

That’s not the only nerd theme fun this weekend, in Kent on Saturday, it is the Kent Nerd Party. The event’s website says nerds of all fandoms will find something fun to do, whether it’s larping, the LEGO museum, or miniature painting, and that just scratches the surface. This event is free and runs from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. in downtown Kent.

Seattle weekend activities to celebrate Pride Month

Pride Month is here, and there are plenty of events to celebrate at. Pride in the Park is Saturday from 12 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Volunteer Park on Capitol Hill. It’s free and open to all ages and offers live music, food, drag shows, and lots more. In White Center, over 100 LGBTQ+ friendly vendors will be in downtown White Center for the White Center Pride Street Festival. There will be performances from local musicians, a beer garden, a family play area, and live wrestling. The fun starts at noon and goes until 11 p.m.

The Festál program continues at the Seattle Center, and this weekend’s celebration is the Indigenous Peoples Festival on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be traditional music and dance, weaving demos, poetry, and lots of vendors for art and food. Get the full event schedule right here.

If you are looking for more free fun, Sunday at the Phinney Center is the PhinneyWood Summer Arts Festival, complete with vendors, workshops to help you with your next project, a beer garden, and of course live music and fun for the kids.

If you love to thrift, then you’ll want to head to the Washington State Fair Events Center in Puyallup, Saturday and Sunday for Thriftapalooza. Here you will find a huge selection of second-hand goods, everything from clothes and home goods to toys and collectibles. If you are looking for a gift for yourself or someone in your life, you are sure to find something fun and unique.

If you are a fan of hitting the links, why not try something a little bit different by golfing…at night. Glow Golf is returning to the Meadows Park Golf Course on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the summer. Your ticket will get you a round of golf, complete with a light-up ball to track your shots, a drink ticket, and even glow swag. Get details right here.

How are you soaking up the sun this weekend? Let me know at paulh@kiroradio.com.

SEATTLE — The Seattle Mariners have placed a lot of value on the versatility of their roster this season — both publicly and internally. And the Mariners will use that versatility in Game 2 of a three-game series against the Baltimore Orioles at 6:40 p.m. PT on Wednesday. Gold Glove-winning utility player Dylan Moore will get the nod in right field for Seattle over switch-hitter Leody Taveras against left-handed Baltimore starter Cade Povich.

The switch-hitting ability provided by Taveras allows him to remain in the lineup across the whole game, but Moore’s ability against lefties has been well-documented this season. Entering Wednesday, Moore has hit .283 with five home runs and eight RBIs in 56 plate appearances against left-handed pitchers. Taveras has hit .296 with a double and three RBIs in 29 plate appearances against lefties.

“I think (Moore) handles lefties very, very well. And we’ve known that,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said in a pregame interview Wednesday. “Leody swings the bat well from the right side, too. But, obviously, trying to get as many (at-bats) for guys and keep them fresh. And today’s a chance for (Moore) to get in there. As we know, (Moore) plays everywhere and a chance for him tonight in right field facing a left-handed pitcher.”

Taveras has been Seattle’s starter at right field since the team claimed him off waivers from the Texas Rangers on May 6. In 24 games with the Mariners, he’s scored six runs and has hit three doubles and two homers with eight RBIs in 24 games. He’s slashed .188/.214/.300 with a .514 OPS while with Seattle.

Moore has scored 21 runs and has hit four doubles and eight home runs with 16 RBIs in 45 games. He’s slashed .264/.322/.481 with an .803 OPS.

MARINERS PITCHER GEORGE KIRBY SEEMINGLY FINE AFTER SCARY PLAY: The Mariners starting pitcher was participating with the rest of the team in pregame drills Wednesday just a day after a line drive made contact with his face. CLICK HERE

ANALYSIS: WHICH MARINERS PLAYERS COULD REPRESENT THE TEAM AT THE ALL-STAR GAME: All-Star voting is officially open and the Mariners will likely have several players representing the team at Truist Park on July 15. CLICK HERE

MARINERS OFFENSE STAGNATES IN 5-1 LOSS TO ORIOLES: The Mariners weren’t able to take advantage of the few opportunities they had against the Orioles and had frightening moment involving starting pitcher George Kirby. CLICK HERE

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