Exploring Everett - Tygart Media

Tygart Media

Category: Exploring Everett

Everett, Washington is in the middle of something big. A $1 billion waterfront transformation. A Boeing workforce that built the world’s largest commercial jets. A port city with a downtown that’s finally catching up to its potential. A Navy presence at Naval Station Everett. A comedy and arts scene punching above its weight. And neighborhoods — Riverside, Silver Lake, Downtown, Bayside — each with their own identity and story.

Exploring Everett is Tygart Media’s hyperlocal coverage vertical for Snohomish County’s largest city. We cover the waterfront redevelopment, Boeing and Paine Field, city hall, the food and arts scene, real estate, neighborhoods, and everything in between — written for people who live here, work here, or are paying attention to what’s coming.

Coverage categories include: Everett News, Waterfront Development, Boeing & Aerospace, Business, Arts & Culture, Food & Drink, Real Estate, Neighborhoods, Government, Schools, Public Safety, Events, and Outdoors.

Exploring Everett content is also published at exploringeverett.com.

  • Everett’s $10.6M Stadium Design Vote Is an Interfund Loan — Here’s What That Actually Means

    Everett’s $10.6M Stadium Design Vote Is an Interfund Loan — Here’s What That Actually Means

    The line that has received the least attention in coverage of Everett’s April 29 stadium funding vote is also the line that matters most for anyone trying to understand how the city’s general fund works: the money would come as an interfund loan from the general fund balance, not from new outside financing. For residents trying to square the stadium conversation with the $14 million 2027 budget gap the city has been publicly discussing, this is the detail that connects them.

    Here is a plain-language walk-through of what an interfund loan is, what the Outdoor Event Center is asking for on April 29, and why the mechanism matters for the next 18 months of Everett’s budget conversation.

    Quick answer: On April 29, 2026, the Everett City Council will vote on a $10.6 million funding request for downtown stadium design and property acquisition. The money would be transferred as an interfund loan from the city’s general fund balance and repaid from a future stadium bond measure. The city has already spent about $7.2 million on the project, and total projected stadium cost has risen from $82 million in June 2025 to $120 million as of January 2026. Three teams — the Everett AquaSox plus men’s and women’s USL clubs — have committed $17 million upfront and roughly $100 million in 30-year lease payments.

    What an Interfund Loan Is

    Most residents have a mental model of how cities pay for things: taxes come in, they get spent, bonds get issued for capital projects, grants cover specific line items. An interfund loan is a fifth mechanism that does not show up as often in public conversation.

    An interfund loan moves money between accounts the city already owns. In Everett’s case, the city has a general fund — the main checking account that pays for police, fire, parks, and general government — and several special-purpose funds dedicated to projects like capital construction, utilities, and stormwater. When the council authorizes an interfund loan, it moves cash from one of those funds (here, the general fund balance) to another (here, the stadium project fund) with the expectation that it will be paid back from a specific future source.

    What the money is not: it is not a new grant, a new tax, or money the city is borrowing from the public bond market right now. It is existing city cash being lent from one pocket to another.

    What makes the mechanism appropriate in this case, according to the administration’s framing, is that the stadium project will eventually issue a general obligation bond of more than $40 million to fund construction. The interfund loan bridges the gap between today’s design work and the point at which the bond gets issued. When the bond sells, the general fund gets paid back.

    What the $10.6M Actually Funds

    The April 29 request covers two activities:

    Stadium design completion. The stadium — formally the Outdoor Event Center — still requires a completed design package before it can move to construction bidding. The design package translates the 5,000-seat concept, the artificial turf field, the clubhouse that doubles as event space, and the walking perimeter into construction documents detailed enough to price and build.

    Property acquisition. The site requires 15 parcels. Consultant reports shared with the council indicate the city has signed purchase agreements on two parcels, has pending agreements on four more, and is in active negotiations with the owners of eight others. None of the purchases close unless the full stadium project moves forward, but the April 29 funding keeps the negotiation and signed-agreement work moving.

    The main entrance to the completed facility is planned at Wall Street and Broadway.

    What the City Has Spent So Far

    The city has already spent about $7.2 million in capital funds on the stadium project. Adding the $10.6 million request would bring cumulative city spending to approximately $17.8 million before any construction begins.

    Sports-team commitments partially offset that figure. The three teams that plan to call the stadium home — the Everett AquaSox, plus the men’s and women’s United Soccer League franchises — have committed $17 million upfront, with roughly $100 million in 30-year lease payments promised afterward. Teams would handle day-to-day operations. Under the lease terms, the city would need to staff only one employee to oversee stadium operations, a point Mayor Cassie Franklin has highlighted as a lean-operation advantage.

    The city also has other funding sources stacked up:

    • $7.4 million from the state youth athletic fields fund
    • $5 million from Snohomish County phased across 2027 through 2030
    • A planned bond of more than $40 million

    Those sources together leave what consultant Ben Franz described during a recent briefing as approximately a $25 million funding gap relative to the current $120 million projection. Franz framed the city’s strategy this way: “The more upfront capital we’re able to secure, the less debt the city has to issue.”

    Why the Cost Has Moved from $82M to $120M

    When the city first brought a $4.8 million stadium funding measure to council in June 2025, the total project was estimated at $82 million. By January 2026, that figure had climbed to $120 million — a 46% increase over roughly seven months.

    Construction escalation in the Puget Sound region is the usual driver for a jump like that. Labor, steel, and concrete costs have all moved. Design refinements also play a role: as architects translate concept to documents, elements like seating configurations, accessibility requirements, and infrastructure tie-ins often expand the scope. A third factor specific to Everett is that the stadium is on a constrained urban site, not a suburban greenfield, which drives costs for things like utility relocation and site preparation.

    The opening date has slipped from April 2027 to late 2027, with construction now planned to start in September.

    Why the General Fund Connection Matters

    Here is where the interfund loan intersects with the rest of Everett’s civic conversation.

    The city is projecting a $14 million general fund deficit in 2027 and has been publicly evaluating four levers to close it: a regional fire authority, regional library services, another levy lid lift, or annexation of Mariner. Three of those require a public vote.

    An interfund loan from the general fund balance is different from a cut to the general fund. The loan gets repaid when the bond issues. But the balance is temporarily lower while the loan is outstanding, and general fund reserves are also what the city relies on to absorb mid-year surprises. A loan of $10.6 million is meaningful relative to a fund balance that, in most recent audited statements, operates in the low tens of millions.

    This is why the April 29 vote is not just a stadium vote — it is also a budget vote. Council members considering it are implicitly deciding how much short-term general fund flexibility they are willing to trade for keeping the stadium design schedule on track for a late-2027 opening.

    What Happens If the Vote Fails

    If the council declines the $10.6 million request, the design work cannot be completed on schedule, and property acquisition negotiations stall. The project does not die outright — the city would have to return to council with an alternative financing approach — but the late-2027 opening window would be at risk, and the teams that have committed $17 million upfront and roughly $100 million in long-term lease revenue would need to evaluate their position.

    If it passes, the city continues design work, keeps property acquisition conversations live, and heads toward the stadium bond issuance that repays the interfund loan.

    How to Watch the April 29 Vote

    The Everett City Council meets Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers at Everett City Hall, 3002 Wetmore Ave. The April 29 agenda will be posted to the Agenda Center at everettwa.gov/AgendaCenter/City-Council-10. Meetings are livestreamed and archived; residents can also attend in person or submit public comment.

    For residents tracking the stadium conversation alongside the broader budget picture, the interfund loan is the place where the two stories meet.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the Everett City Council voting on April 29, 2026?

    A $10.6 million funding request to complete design of the downtown Outdoor Event Center (the AquaSox/USL stadium) and continue property acquisition on the 15-parcel site. The money would come as an interfund loan from the general fund balance, repaid from a future stadium bond.

    What is an interfund loan?

    A transfer of cash from one city fund to another, with a planned repayment from a specific future source. It is not a tax, grant, or public bond — it is existing city money moving between accounts.

    How much has Everett already spent on the stadium?

    About $7.2 million in capital funds so far. If the $10.6 million request passes, cumulative city spending reaches approximately $17.8 million before any construction starts.

    What is the total projected stadium cost?

    $120 million as of January 2026, up from $82 million in June 2025. Teams have committed $17 million upfront and roughly $100 million in 30-year lease payments. Other funding sources include $7.4 million from the state youth athletic fields fund, $5 million from Snohomish County, and a planned bond of more than $40 million.

    How does the interfund loan affect the general fund?

    The loan temporarily reduces the general fund balance by $10.6 million until the stadium bond is issued and the money is repaid. That is relevant because the city is also projecting a $14 million 2027 general fund deficit and evaluating options including a regional fire authority, library regionalization, a levy lid lift, or annexation.

    When does the stadium open?

    The target has moved from April 2027 to late 2027. Construction is planned to begin in September 2026. The facility is projected to draw 400,000 regional visitors annually.

    Who uses the stadium?

    The Everett AquaSox baseball team, a men’s United Soccer League team, and a women’s United Soccer League team. The teams will handle day-to-day operations, and the lease includes 50 guaranteed public-access days each year.

    How can residents weigh in?

    Attend the April 29 City Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers (3002 Wetmore Ave.), submit written comment through the City Clerk, or watch the livestream archived through the city’s Agenda Center.

  • Mayor Franklin’s 2026 State of the City: Five Priorities Now Shaping Everett

    Mayor Franklin’s 2026 State of the City: Five Priorities Now Shaping Everett

    When Mayor Cassie Franklin took the stage at Angel of the Winds Arena on March 5, 2026, for her ninth annual State of the City address, she framed the year ahead around a single idea: “One Everett.” Seattle Seahawks tackle and Archbishop Murphy alumnus Abe Lucas opened the speech. What followed was a mix of economic confidence, candid acknowledgment of the budget pressure the city is navigating, and a concrete list of initiatives residents can expect to see on the ground in 2026.

    Seven weeks later, several of those initiatives are already moving through City Hall — some toward the council for a vote, others into the permitting pipeline or grant applications. Here is a plain-language breakdown of the five priorities Mayor Franklin laid out, what has happened since, and what each one means for Everett residents.

    Quick answer: Mayor Franklin’s 2026 State of the City address laid out five priorities: long-term sustainable revenue to protect core services, public safety investments in policing and fire response, housing actions including pre-approved backyard cottage plans, a park-upgrade wave at Edgewater, Garfield, and Eclipse Mill, and district-by-district community engagement. The Outdoor Event Center and FIFA World Cup watch parties at Boxcar Park were framed as anchor economic drivers for the year.

    Priority 1: Long-Term Sustainable Revenue

    The revenue priority is the one doing the most work behind the scenes. Franklin told the audience the city needs to “pursue continued economic growth and new pathways to long-term, sustainable revenue to protect core services.” That sentence sounds like standard political language, but it maps directly to the $14 million projected 2027 budget deficit the Finance Department has been discussing publicly since earlier this spring.

    What it means in practice: the city is actively evaluating four levers — forming a regional fire authority, regionalizing library services through a partnership with Sno-Isle, running another levy lid lift past voters, and continuing the annexation evaluation for Mariner. Three of the four require a public vote. The Mayor’s Office has not endorsed a specific path yet; the April 8 council vote that approved $200,000 for a Mariner annexation study and $50,000 for a Casino Road subarea plan was the first real money the city has put behind any of these options.

    For residents, this priority matters because it is the frame every other budget decision will sit inside for the next 18 months. Core services — police, fire, parks, libraries — are what the revenue conversation is designed to protect. How Everett decides to pay for them is the open question.

    Priority 2: Strategic, Community-Focused Public Safety

    Public safety had three sub-priorities in the address: strategic, community-focused policing, fire response capacity investments, and alternative crisis response programs. Each one is tied to staff the city has already hired or programs already running.

    On policing, Chief Robert Goetz — sworn in on January 7, 2026 — has been public about his goal of closing the EPD vacancy gap. Goetz told reporters in January the department was “down to 14, maybe 13 vacancies at this point” and said he hopes to push that number into single digits in 2026. The department promoted eight officers to sergeant, lieutenant, captain, and deputy chief in the two weeks before he was sworn in. Goetz’s stated approach — “I want our officers to get out of the car and visit with our community members because they’re the ones who are providing us with the feedback that we need to be the best police department that we can be” — is what the Mayor’s “strategic, community-focused” language points to.

    On fire response, the city is simultaneously evaluating whether to join a regional fire authority, which would restructure how fire service is funded and delivered. That decision is part of the revenue conversation above.

    On alternative crisis response, the Mayor’s Office has pointed to existing programs pairing behavioral health responders with police, though the address did not announce a new program. The expansion language was more about protecting what already exists through the budget cycle.

    Public safety also intersects with Mayoral Directive 2026-01, signed by Franklin on February 25, 2026. The directive restricts federal immigration agents from accessing non-public areas of city buildings without a judicial warrant, requires Everett police to record interactions at the scene of any immigration enforcement activity they are called to, and reaffirms compliance with the Keep Washington Working Act. The directive was not new policy announced at the State of the City; it is already in effect. But it establishes the guardrails the city will operate inside during 2026.

    Priority 3: Housing — Backyard Cottages and a New Boys and Girls Club

    The most concrete housing announcement was pre-approved backyard cottage plans designed to streamline the permitting process for accessory dwelling units. Pre-approved plans mean that homeowners who use one of the city’s templates can move through permitting faster than if they brought in custom drawings — reducing design costs and review time. The goal is to make ADUs a realistic option for more Everett households.

    Franklin also announced a new Boys and Girls Club at Walter E. Hall Park in Council District 4. That project is a partnership rather than a city-led build, but the site selection and the framing matter: Walter E. Hall Park sits south of the airport in an area the city has identified for family-focused investment.

    Neither the backyard cottage plans nor the Boys and Girls Club is solving housing affordability on their own. They are part of what the administration describes as a supply-side strategy — add more units, reduce friction in the permit process, add more third-place community infrastructure — while the broader Puget Sound housing market works itself out.

    Priority 4: Park Upgrades at Edgewater, Garfield, and Eclipse Mill

    Three parks are getting meaningful work in 2026.

    Edgewater Park sits next to the Edgewater Bridge, which reopens April 28 after an 18-month closure and $34.9 million replacement. The park work is the natural companion to the bridge: new access, improved landings, and waterfront enhancements that make the reopened crossing feel connected to something on the west side.

    Garfield Park in the Riverside neighborhood is getting a major makeover that has been in public-engagement phase with neighbors for months. Exact scope depends on the final design package, but residents have already weighed in on the direction.

    Eclipse Mill Park on the riverfront is the long-timeline project. City staff confirmed earlier this spring that Eclipse Mill is now targeting a spring 2028 opening — later than initial hopes but reflecting both design complexity and funding sequencing. Eclipse Mill is designed to be Everett’s signature riverfront park when it eventually opens.

    Parks are also a quiet revenue story: well-maintained, high-quality parks are one of the more reliable drivers of residential property values, which in turn affect the city’s assessed value and long-term property tax base.

    Priority 5: District-by-District Community Engagement

    The final priority was the least flashy but the most interesting from a civic-engagement standpoint. Franklin announced that community meetings would be scheduled in each City Council district, following the success of the District 2 town hall. For residents, that means the Mayor’s Office is committing to show up in neighborhoods rather than only hosting conversations at City Hall.

    The significance is partly operational — getting seven districts worth of face-to-face feedback in one year is a real lift — and partly political. Three of the four budget levers on the table for 2027 require a public vote. An administration that has already sat down with voters in their neighborhoods has a better shot at explaining those ballot questions when they come up.

    The Economic Anchors: Outdoor Event Center and FIFA 2026

    Woven through the speech were two economic anchors. The Outdoor Event Center — the downtown stadium project that hosts Everett AquaSox baseball, United Soccer League men’s and women’s teams, and community events — is projected to draw 400,000 regional visitors annually once it opens in late 2027. Property acquisition is in negotiation, and a $10.6 million design funding request goes to council on April 29.

    The FIFA World Cup watch parties at Boxcar Park on June 11, 12, 18, and 19 are the shorter-term bet: a free, public fan zone in the waterfront district designed to bring people into Everett during the biggest sporting event of the summer.

    How to Track Progress on These Priorities

    Every initiative Franklin announced has a paper trail. City Council agendas and minutes are posted at everettwa.gov/AgendaCenter/City-Council-10, and the council meets on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. except fourth and fifth Wednesdays, which meet at 12:30 p.m. Mayoral directives are archived at everettwa.gov/1789/Mayoral-Directives. Budget documents and the 2027 budget discussion will run through the Finance Department in the fall.

    The shortest answer to “what is Everett working on in 2026?” is: revenue, public safety, housing, parks, and community engagement — with the stadium and World Cup as economic accelerators. The Mayor’s framing — “Everett’s progress is best measured by how people experience our city every day” — is the test the administration has set for itself.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When was Mayor Franklin’s 2026 State of the City address?

    Mayor Cassie Franklin delivered her ninth annual State of the City address on March 5, 2026. Seattle Seahawks tackle and Archbishop Murphy alumnus Abe Lucas opened the speech.

    What are Mayor Franklin’s five priorities for 2026?

    The address outlined five priorities: pursuing long-term sustainable revenue to protect core services, strategic and community-focused public safety, housing actions including pre-approved backyard cottage plans, park upgrades at Edgewater, Garfield, and Eclipse Mill, and district-by-district community engagement through town halls.

    What is Everett doing about the $14 million 2027 budget gap?

    Four levers are being evaluated: forming a regional fire authority, regionalizing library services with Sno-Isle Libraries, running another levy lid lift past voters, and continuing the annexation evaluation for Mariner. Three of the four require a public vote. The administration has not endorsed a single path.

    How many police vacancies does EPD have?

    Chief Robert Goetz said in January 2026 that the department was down to 13 or 14 vacancies and he hopes to push the number into single digits during 2026. Eight officers were promoted to supervisory roles in the two weeks before Goetz was sworn in on January 7, 2026.

    What is Mayoral Directive 2026-01?

    Signed by Mayor Franklin on February 25, 2026, the directive restricts federal immigration agents from accessing non-public areas of city buildings without a judicial warrant, requires Everett police to record interactions at the scene of immigration enforcement activity, and reaffirms compliance with Washington’s Keep Washington Working Act.

    When do the Edgewater, Garfield, and Eclipse Mill park projects open?

    The Edgewater Bridge adjacent to Edgewater Park reopens April 28, 2026. Garfield Park is in the design/public-engagement phase. Eclipse Mill Park is targeting a spring 2028 opening.

    What are the FIFA World Cup watch parties at Boxcar Park?

    Free, public fan zones hosted at Boxcar Park on the Everett waterfront on June 11, 12, 18, and 19, 2026, during the FIFA World Cup group stage and knockout matches.

    How can I attend a City Council district town hall?

    The Mayor’s Office will schedule community meetings in each City Council district throughout 2026. Details are posted to everettwa.gov and announced through the City’s news flash page at everettwa.gov/m/newsflash.

  • Volunteers of America Western Washington: The Everett Nonprofit Answering 315,000 Requests a Year

    Volunteers of America Western Washington: The Everett Nonprofit Answering 315,000 Requests a Year

    Quick answer: Volunteers of America Western Washington is headquartered in Everett at 2802 Broadway and operates one of the busiest food banks in Snohomish County along with Casino Road food pantries, the Carl Gipson Center for older adults, the Trailside ECEAP preschool, rapid rehousing, and a 24/7 crisis line. The organization responds to more than 315,000 requests for assistance a year, and its Everett food bank requires no documentation — you walk in, you get groceries, grocery-store style.

    Ask around Everett about where people in a hard month go for help, and the same name keeps coming up: VOA. Volunteers of America Western Washington has been part of the fabric of this city for decades, and most of the work they do quietly — housing people out of crisis, feeding families without asking questions, running a preschool for kids whose families can’t afford one, answering the phone at 3 a.m. for someone thinking about ending it.

    This is a local’s guide to what VOAWW actually does in Everett, where it does it, and how to find help or plug in.

    The Headquarters and What It Means Locally

    VOAWW’s administrative headquarters sits at 2802 Broadway in Everett, with the main phone line at (425) 259-3191. That’s the front door for everything else — if you don’t know which program you need, the team there can route you. The mailing address for donations or referrals is PO Box 839, Everett, WA 98206-0839.

    Everett being the operational home of a nonprofit of this size matters. According to VOAWW, the organization receives more than 315,000 requests for assistance a year — and a large share of that volume runs through Everett facilities, Everett staff, and Everett neighbors showing up for their neighbors.

    The Everett Food Bank: No Paperwork, Just Groceries

    The VOAWW Everett Food Bank operates out of 1230 Broadway, a few blocks north of headquarters. Two facts about this food bank are worth emphasizing because they shape who walks in:

    1. There is no eligibility check. You don’t prove income. You don’t bring documentation. You don’t explain your situation. You walk in. The official language on VOAWW’s materials is blunt about this: “There are no eligibility or documentation requirements to receive food.” That’s intentional — it’s designed to remove every barrier between “I’m running short this week” and “I have food on the table tonight.”

    2. It’s grocery-store style, not a handed-out bag. Guests walk through and select what they actually need, which matters more than it sounds. Dietary restrictions, cultural foods, allergies, what your kids will actually eat — those matter. A grocery-style model respects the dignity of the person shopping.

    Hours for groceries:

    • Monday, Wednesday, Thursday — 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
    • Second and fourth Tuesday — 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

    Donations of food are accepted Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The food bank phone number is (425) 259-3191 ext. 13014, and the email is food@voaww.org.

    Casino Road Food Pantries

    In addition to the Broadway food bank, VOAWW operates two Casino Road food pantries that put food distribution inside the neighborhood that needs it most. These are small, local, and hyper-predictable — the same days every month so families can plan:

    • The Village — 14 E Casino Rd, Everett, WA 98208. Second, fourth, and fifth Tuesdays, 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.
    • Bible Baptist Church — 805 W Casino Rd, Everett, WA 98204. First and third Tuesdays, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

    Same no-documentation rule applies. This is one of those quiet things that makes Casino Road what it is — the neighborhood showing up for itself, with VOAWW as the backbone.

    The Carl Gipson Center: 50+ Community

    The Carl Gipson Center at 3025 Lombard Avenue is VOAWW’s membership-based community home for adults 50 and older, veterans, people with disabilities, immigrants, and underserved communities more broadly. The phone is (425) 818-2744.

    The Gipson Center is where Everett older adults go for classes, meals, social connection, and a consistent community hub. For many members, it’s the anchor point of their week. For Everett more broadly, it’s one of the most concrete answers to the question “where do older adults in this city find community?”

    Housing: Rapid Rehousing and Stability

    VOAWW’s housing programs span short-term rental assistance to long-term stabilization services. The practical version: if someone in Everett is at risk of losing housing, or has lost it, VOAWW is one of the first places to call. Short-term rental assistance helps people obtain housing quickly and stay housed. Longer-term case management connects families with the services they need to remain stable.

    This is the kind of program that doesn’t make headlines because its success looks like nothing happening — someone didn’t become homeless, because the help arrived in time.

    Early Learning: Trailside ECEAP Preschool

    VOAWW operates Trailside ECEAP at 1300b 100th Pl SE, Everett, as part of Washington’s Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program — free preschool for eligible families. The contact is (425) 212-2941.

    ECEAP is Washington’s answer to the research consensus that high-quality preschool changes educational trajectories, especially for kids from lower-income families. Trailside is one of the local versions of that answer, and it’s serving Everett families who would otherwise not have access to preschool at all.

    Disability Services and Crisis Support

    Two more VOAWW programs worth naming because Everett residents call them often:

    Supported Living — In partnership with Washington State DSHS, this program helps adults with developmental disabilities live in their own homes in the community with the right support. That’s independence without isolation, which is an unusual and valuable thing to offer.

    Crisis Services — VOAWW provides 24/7 crisis support for people considering suicide and for people who want to help someone else get care. This program is one of the regional anchors for behavioral health crisis response.

    How to Help

    If you want to plug in locally, there are four front doors:

    Donate food. The Broadway food bank accepts donations Monday through Friday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Non-perishables, fresh produce, and culturally relevant foods are all welcome — Casino Road serves large Latino and Southeast Asian communities, and food that reflects that makes a difference.

    Volunteer. The Everett Community Food Bank regularly needs volunteers to stock shelves, welcome guests, and help run distribution. Start at volunteer.voaww.org.

    Donate money. Every program listed above runs partly on public contracts and partly on private donations. Recurring monthly giving is the single highest-leverage way to help because it stabilizes staffing.

    Refer someone. The easiest help to give is knowing the 2802 Broadway phone number — (425) 259-3191 — and passing it to a neighbor, coworker, or family member who could use it. VOAWW will triage and route.

    The Through-Line

    The reason VOAWW shows up in conversations about every Everett issue — housing, hunger, older adults, early learning, mental health, disability — is that the organization built its footprint to address the full stack of what actually makes a city work for its most vulnerable residents. You can’t fix housing without food security. You can’t fix food security without early learning. You can’t fix early learning without behavioral health. VOAWW treats those as one problem, which is the whole point.

    Everett is the headquarters for a reason.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where is the Volunteers of America Everett Food Bank?
    At 1230 Broadway in Everett. It is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

    Do I need to prove income or bring documents to get food?
    No. VOAWW’s Everett food bank and Casino Road food pantries have no eligibility or documentation requirements. You walk in and you are served.

    Where are the Casino Road food pantries?
    The Village at 14 E Casino Rd (second, fourth, and fifth Tuesdays, 2–5 p.m.) and Bible Baptist Church at 805 W Casino Rd (first and third Tuesdays, 3–5 p.m.).

    What is the Carl Gipson Center?
    A membership-based community center at 3025 Lombard Avenue in Everett serving adults 50 and older, veterans, people with disabilities, and other community members. The phone is (425) 818-2744.

    How do I reach VOAWW’s main office in Everett?
    Call (425) 259-3191 or visit 2802 Broadway. The mailing address is PO Box 839, Everett, WA 98206-0839.

    How can I volunteer or donate?
    Volunteer sign-ups are at volunteer.voaww.org. Food donations are accepted at the Broadway food bank Monday–Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monetary donations can be made through voaww.org.

    Does VOAWW run a preschool in Everett?
    Yes — Trailside ECEAP at 1300b 100th Pl SE, Everett, part of Washington’s free Early Childhood Education and Assistance Program. Contact: (425) 212-2941.

  • Living in View Ridge-Madison: Everett’s Hillside Neighborhood With Port Gardner Bay Views

    Living in View Ridge-Madison: Everett’s Hillside Neighborhood With Port Gardner Bay Views

    Quick answer: View Ridge-Madison sits on the hills south of downtown Everett between Pigeon Creek No. 1 and Pigeon Creek No. 2, home to roughly 7,400 residents, two elementary schools, and some of the best Port Gardner Bay views in the city. Its neighborhood association meets monthly at View Ridge Elementary’s library (202 Alder St.), and Niche currently rates it a “B” and ranks it among Everett’s top three neighborhoods to live in.

    If you’ve ever driven Mukilteo Boulevard on a clear afternoon, dropped down toward Howarth Park, and caught yourself staring out at Port Gardner Bay instead of the road — you were probably cutting through View Ridge-Madison. It’s one of those Everett neighborhoods that hides in plain sight. People who live elsewhere know the name vaguely. People who live here tend to stay for decades.

    This is the full local’s guide: what the neighborhood actually is, where the boundaries run, what the association is working on in 2026, the schools, the parks next door, and what longtime residents say keeps them here.

    Where Is View Ridge-Madison, Exactly?

    View Ridge-Madison sits on the rising ground south of downtown Everett, perched on the western slope above Puget Sound. According to the City of Everett’s neighborhood page, the boundaries run:

    • North: Port Gardner Bay
    • South: Madison Avenue
    • East: Pigeon Creek No. 1
    • West: Pigeon Creek No. 2

    Translated into drive-around terms: you’re west of Broadway, south of Hewitt, and you pick up elevation fast as you head toward the water. The neighborhood earned its name from the view — you can stand on certain blocks along Rucker, Grand, and Dogwood and see straight across Port Gardner Bay to Hat Island and the Olympics behind it.

    Forest Park borders View Ridge-Madison on its southern edge, which means residents have one of Everett’s best urban greenspaces essentially as a backyard. Howarth Park, with its beach access to Puget Sound, sits just to the west.

    Who Lives Here

    View Ridge-Madison is home to around 7,436 residents, according to the Niche neighborhood profile. Per Homes.com’s local guide, most residents own their homes, the median home value sits around $555,506, and the median rent is roughly $1,635. Homes tend to be older — a lot of 1940s through 1970s construction with mature trees — on larger lots than you’d find in newer Everett developments.

    Niche grants the neighborhood an overall B grade and currently ranks it among Everett’s top three neighborhoods to live in. The ratings that drive that score are public schools, outdoor activities, and commuting — which anyone who lives here would immediately recognize as the real reasons people stay.

    The Association: How Neighbors Actually Get Things Done

    Like all 21 Everett neighborhoods, View Ridge-Madison has a recognized neighborhood association that meets regularly and serves as the connective tissue between residents and City Hall. Under the Office of Neighborhoods, associations handle things like traffic-calming requests, block parties, input on development proposals, and the annual cleanup and safety events that keep a neighborhood feeling like one.

    The View Ridge-Madison association meets at 7 p.m. in the library at View Ridge Elementary, 202 Alder St., Everett, WA 98203. The 2026 meeting schedule, per the city’s neighborhood page:

    • Thursday, Jan. 15
    • Thursday, Feb. 12
    • Thursday, March 19
    • Thursday, April 16
    • Thursday, May 21

    Meetings resume after a summer break, with no meetings in July, August, or December. If you want your boundary map, an introduction to the association leadership, or help finding which association covers your block, the City’s Office of Neighborhoods is reachable at (425) 257-7112.

    The Schools

    View Ridge-Madison is a neighborhood where your elementary school is a five-minute walk, not a fifteen-minute drive. Two Everett Public Schools elementaries sit inside the boundaries:

    • View Ridge Elementary — 202 Alder Street. The association’s meeting home and the namesake of half the neighborhood.
    • Madison Elementary — the other half of the neighborhood name.

    Middle and high school students feed into Everett Public Schools’ secondary network — generally Evergreen Middle School and then Everett High School or Cascade High School, depending on where your block falls in the boundary map. Both high schools earned outsized attention this year: Everett Public Schools hit a record 96.3% on-time graduation rate, and Cascade recently rolled out its IB program. If you’re a young family checking out View Ridge-Madison, the school story here is a legitimate part of the pitch.

    The Parks Next Door

    You don’t need a big park inside View Ridge-Madison, because two of Everett’s best parks touch it on two sides.

    Forest Park sits along the southern edge, offering 198 acres of forested trails, the Animal Farm, a swim center, and more than a century of Everett history layered into its grounds. It’s the neighborhood “big park” in every practical sense.

    Howarth Park, on the west, gives residents rare direct access to Puget Sound beach — a pedestrian bridge over the railroad tracks drops you onto one of the quieter stretches of sand in the region. On a warm weekend, View Ridge-Madison residents are the people walking dogs on the beach there while the rest of Everett is hunting parking.

    Inside the neighborhood itself, the City notes several smaller green spaces and the scenic overlook streets that gave the neighborhood its name.

    What Longtime Residents Say Keeps Them Here

    Three themes come up again and again at association meetings and on local Facebook groups, and they’ll sound familiar if you know this part of town:

    The views. Specific streets — along Grand, Rucker, and Dogwood especially — have unobstructed Port Gardner Bay sightlines that real estate listings haven’t fully priced in yet. On a summer evening, you get the Olympic silhouette and ferries moving across the bay.

    The walkability. Mature sidewalks, gentle grid blocks, and two elementary schools inside the boundaries mean kids walk to school and adults can loop Forest Park trails before dinner. Commuting into downtown Everett or onto I-5 is still fast.

    The stability. The housing stock is older, which means original owners and families who’ve stayed for 20–30 years. The neighbor who knows everyone is not a cliché here; it’s the norm.

    Getting Involved

    If you live in View Ridge-Madison and have never been to an association meeting, the easiest first step is to show up at the next one at View Ridge Elementary — no commitment, just pull up a chair. If you’re not sure whether your block is in View Ridge-Madison or a neighboring association like Delta, Lowell, or Port Gardner, call the Office of Neighborhoods at (425) 257-7112 and they’ll send you a boundary map.

    The association also keeps a public Facebook group where residents share lost-pet posts, bear sightings (yes, really, sometimes), traffic-calming requests, and the occasional “someone’s selling a free trampoline” thread.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where is View Ridge-Madison in Everett?
    View Ridge-Madison sits on the hills south of downtown Everett, bordered by Port Gardner Bay to the north, Madison Avenue to the south, Pigeon Creek No. 1 to the east, and Pigeon Creek No. 2 to the west. Forest Park runs along its southern edge and Howarth Park sits just west.

    When does the View Ridge-Madison Neighborhood Association meet in 2026?
    At 7 p.m. on Jan. 15, Feb. 12, March 19, April 16, and May 21, at the library in View Ridge Elementary, 202 Alder St., Everett, WA 98203. No meetings July, August, or December.

    What schools serve View Ridge-Madison?
    The neighborhood includes View Ridge Elementary and Madison Elementary, both part of Everett Public Schools. Older students typically feed into Evergreen Middle and either Everett or Cascade High School depending on attendance boundaries.

    How many people live in View Ridge-Madison?
    About 7,436 residents, per the Niche neighborhood profile. Most are homeowners, and the neighborhood skews family-heavy.

    Is View Ridge-Madison a good place to live?
    Niche rates it a B overall and currently ranks it among Everett’s top three neighborhoods. The core pitch is schools, outdoor access via Forest Park and Howarth Park, and Port Gardner Bay views — all within a walkable, stable, grid-block layout.

    How do I find out which neighborhood association I’m in?
    Call the City of Everett’s Office of Neighborhoods at (425) 257-7112 or email nwebber@everettwa.gov for a boundary map.

  • If You Missed Emo the First Time, Everett’s Bringing It Back — EMO Prom Lands at Tony V’s Garage May 30

    If You Missed Emo the First Time, Everett’s Bringing It Back — EMO Prom Lands at Tony V’s Garage May 30

    When and where is the EMO Prom at Tony V’s Garage?
    My Chemical Fauxmance presents The EMO Prom at Tony V’s Garage, 1716 Hewitt Ave in downtown Everett, on Saturday, May 30, 2026, from 8:00 PM to 11:30 PM. Tickets are sold through Eventbrite.

    If you spent any part of the mid-2000s drawing lyrics on your Chuck Taylors, this one’s for you. On Saturday, May 30, 2026, Tony V’s Garage turns 1716 Hewitt Avenue into a full-on time machine: My Chemical Fauxmance is throwing The EMO Prom, and on paper it might be the most purely fun night the downtown Everett music scene has on its spring calendar.

    The tag line from the organizer is, as it should be, unsubtle: “a night full of nostalgia, tears, and epic tunes.” Black eyeliner is not required, but it is extremely encouraged.

    The show at a glance

    • Date: Saturday, May 30, 2026
    • Time: 8:00 PM – 11:30 PM
    • Venue: Tony V’s Garage, 1716 Hewitt Ave, Everett, WA 98201
    • Host / band: My Chemical Fauxmance
    • Tickets: Eventbrite (search “My Chemical Fauxmance Presents The EMO Prom”)
    • Refund policy: Refunds available up to 7 days before the event, per the Eventbrite listing
    • Ages / bar policy: Tony V’s runs both 21+ and all-ages (bar with ID) nights; check the Eventbrite listing for this specific show’s designation

    Three and a half hours is a real commitment from a tribute-format band, which tells you exactly what kind of night this is. This isn’t a set and a soundcheck. This is a theme party with a live soundtrack — somewhere between a prom, a karaoke bar, and a Warped Tour flashback, all compressed onto the dance floor of the best small music room in downtown Everett.

    Why this show matters for the Hewitt Ave scene

    Tony V’s Garage has quietly become one of the most consistently interesting live music rooms north of Seattle, and that’s not a small claim. In the last few weeks alone, the venue has stacked a Tsunami Bomb all-ages punk show, an all-female Black Sabbath tribute, a night with Tony Foresta of Municipal Waste, and an Altered 90s tribute set on its calendar. This is a bar on Hewitt that will book Fall Out Boy tributes, actual hardcore legends, rock-and-roll burlesque, and emo prom nights on back-to-back weekends — and the crowd shows up for all of it.

    The EMO Prom fits that pattern perfectly. It’s themed, it’s social, it’s designed to fill the room, and it leans into the part of live music that Tony V’s does better than any other spot in Everett: it gives people a reason to show up together, in costume, ready to sing every word.

    If you haven’t been, a quick orientation: Tony V’s is a 21+ and all-ages dual-use rock room on Hewitt with a long bar along one wall and a sightline to the stage that’s surprisingly good even when the room is packed. Tickets sell through Eventbrite or at the door, and the venue’s own FAQ is blunt about it: don’t buy off secondary markets; they can’t help you if something goes wrong.

    What to actually expect from an “emo prom”

    Let’s be honest about the bit. My Chemical Fauxmance is, by name, a My Chemical Romance–forward tribute project. Emo Prom nights in the broader DIY touring circuit typically pull from the same handful of 2005–2012 anthems every serious fan can recite in their sleep: MCR, Fall Out Boy, Paramore, Taking Back Sunday, Jimmy Eat World, Dashboard Confessional, All Time Low, Panic! At The Disco. Exact setlist hasn’t been publicly posted yet, and we’re not going to invent one for you — but if you grew up on any of that era, you’re in the target demographic and you already know what songs are going to wreck you when the chorus hits.

    The “prom” framing is the point. Dress the part. Bring a date — or don’t, emo nights are extremely fine alone. Take one good photo before the mascara gives up. That’s the night.

    A few things worth knowing before you go

    • Get there early. Tony V’s recommends arriving early for good sightlines, and themed nights like this one historically sell faster as the date approaches.
    • Will call is at the door when doors open. Print the ticket or pull it up on your phone.
    • The bar is separate from the all-ages floor on mixed-age nights — pay attention to the Eventbrite designation for this specific show.
    • Parking on Hewitt is street meters plus the Everpark Garage a few blocks away. Plan a ride home if you’re drinking.

    What else Tony V’s is running around this show

    If EMO Prom isn’t your exact speed but the Tony V’s model is, there’s more on the spring calendar worth circling:

    • UNVEILED – A Rock Show for Change is listed on the venue’s Eventbrite for Saturday, May 2, 2026 at 8 PM. The organizer is framing it as a benefit-style rock night; we’d suggest confirming the cause and lineup directly on the Eventbrite listing before you buy.
    • Altered 2ks with Centuries (a Fall Out Boy tribute) hits the stage Saturday, June 6, 2026 at 8 PM — so if you want to extend the 2000s pop-punk reenactment one more week past the EMO Prom, the venue is already set up for it.
    • Polkadot Cadaver and Angry Toons play a Thursday night slot on June 11, 2026 — a real left turn from the tribute-night crowd and worth the detour if you like your rock heavier and weirder.

    That three-show stretch, plus the EMO Prom itself, is a pretty complete picture of what Tony V’s Garage does when it’s at its best: a mix of themed nostalgia nights, working tribute acts, and genuinely off-center touring bands, all landing on the same Hewitt Avenue floor.

    The take

    EMO Prom is one of the easiest recommendations we’ve had to make all month. It’s themed, it’s affordable, it’s local, it’s at the right venue, and the ceiling on “how much fun is this going to be” is basically set by how committed the room gets. Based on every other theme night Tony V’s has thrown in the last year, that ceiling is high.

    Put Saturday, May 30 on the calendar. Find the black jeans. We’ll see you on Hewitt.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the EMO Prom at Tony V’s Garage?

    It’s a themed live music night presented by My Chemical Fauxmance at Tony V’s Garage in downtown Everett on Saturday, May 30, 2026, running from 8:00 PM to 11:30 PM. The event is billed as an emo-era nostalgia party with a live performance.

    Where is Tony V’s Garage?

    Tony V’s Garage is at 1716 Hewitt Avenue, Everett, WA 98201, in the heart of downtown Everett’s bar and music corridor.

    How much are tickets to the EMO Prom?

    Tickets are sold through Eventbrite. Exact pricing may vary by tier, and service charges apply to online purchases per Tony V’s official policy. Check the official Eventbrite listing for current pricing.

    Is the EMO Prom 21+ or all-ages?

    Tony V’s Garage hosts both 21+ and all-ages (bar with ID) shows, and each Eventbrite listing specifies which format a given show follows. Check the EMO Prom Eventbrite page for the age policy on this specific night.

    Who is My Chemical Fauxmance?

    My Chemical Fauxmance is a themed tribute-style act built around My Chemical Romance and adjacent emo-era material. They’re the billed performer and producer of the EMO Prom night at Tony V’s Garage.

    What time do doors open?

    The event page lists the start at 8:00 PM. Tony V’s recommends arriving early for good sightlines. Will-call tickets are available at the entrance once doors open.

    What should I wear to an EMO Prom?

    The organizer’s own language: “black eyeliner and Converse sneakers.” Anything 2005–2012 emo-era is on-theme — band tees, skinny jeans, studded belts, messy side-parts. Prom formalwear with an emo twist works too.

    Are refunds available?

    Per the Eventbrite listing, refunds are available up to 7 days before the event. Tickets are otherwise non-refundable and non-transferable per Tony V’s Garage policy.

  • Everett’s FIFA 2026 World Cup Fan Zone at Boxcar Park: Four Match Days, Free Shuttle, and What to Expect

    Everett’s FIFA 2026 World Cup Fan Zone at Boxcar Park: Four Match Days, Free Shuttle, and What to Expect

    When is the Everett FIFA World Cup 2026 Fan Zone?
    Everett’s Waterfront Watch Parties at Boxcar Park run on four match days: Thursday, June 11 (Mexico vs. South Africa, opening match, fan zone opens 10 AM, kickoff noon); Friday, June 12 (USA vs. Paraguay, fan zone opens 4 PM, kickoff 6 PM); Thursday, June 18 (Mexico vs. South Korea, fan zone opens 4 PM, kickoff 6 PM); and Friday, June 19 (USA vs. Australia — the Seattle-hosted match — fan zone opens 10 AM, kickoff noon). Free shuttle from Everett Station and downtown Everett.

    Seven weeks out and counting. The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off June 11, and Everett is officially on the host-city party map. The Port of Everett’s Boxcar Park is the city’s designated Waterfront Watch Party site for four matches in the opening rounds of the tournament — and now we finally have the match-day schedule nailed down.

    The short version: Everett is hosting watch parties on June 11, 12, 18, and 19, anchoring around two USMNT group-stage matches and both Mexico group-stage matches. And because the Seattle-hosted USA vs. Australia match on June 19 is a hometown game for the Pacific Northwest, that one is going to be a scene.

    The Match-Day Schedule

    Thursday, June 11 — Mexico vs. South Africa (Opening Match)

    Everett’s Fan Zone opens at 10 AM. Match kicks off at noon. This is the opening match of the entire tournament — the first time the World Cup has been co-hosted by three countries, and Mexico gets the ceremonial first kick. If you want to be at Boxcar Park for the moment the whole thing starts, this is the morning.

    Friday, June 12 — USA vs. Paraguay

    Fan Zone opens at 4 PM, kickoff at 6 PM. The USMNT’s tournament opener. In Everett, on the waterfront, under a spring-into-summer sky. It’s hard to imagine a better setting for a group-stage USA match.

    Thursday, June 18 — Mexico vs. South Korea

    Fan Zone opens at 4 PM, kickoff at 6 PM. Mexico’s second group-stage game. The Mexico fan community in Snohomish County is substantial, and this will be one of the best atmospheres of the whole Fan Zone run.

    Friday, June 19 — USA vs. Australia (Seattle-Hosted Match)

    Fan Zone opens at 10 AM, kickoff at noon. This is the marquee day. The match itself is being played in Seattle at Lumen Field, and Everett’s Fan Zone will be the closest spot north of the city to experience the game without making the drive. Expect the biggest crowd of the tournament at Boxcar Park for this one.

    What’s at Boxcar Park

    The Fan Zone experience is being put together by the City of Everett, Port of Everett, and the Snohomish County Sports Commission. The lineup includes:

    • Large outdoor match screenings at Boxcar Park, the Port’s signature waterfront green space with views of Port Gardner Bay
    • Local food and beverage vendors — the vendor application window closed April 9, so the roster is now being finalized
    • Music between matches
    • Family-friendly activities — this is designed as a full-day waterfront festival, not just a big-screen TV
    • Community celebrations reflecting the diversity of the competing nations
    • Free shuttle operated by Everett Transit with stops at Everett Station, downtown Everett, and Boxcar Park

    Boxcar Park is at the northern edge of Waterfront Place, with direct access to restaurants and shops at Fisherman’s Harbor. If you’ve been to a concert or event at the Port waterfront in the last two years, you know the setup. If you haven’t, the combination of bay views, walkable restaurants, and a large outdoor green space makes Boxcar Park as good a World Cup Fan Zone site as any in the region.

    Getting There: The Free Shuttle

    Parking on a World Cup match day near the waterfront is going to be tight. The organizers know it, and the solution is Everett Transit’s free shuttle. Stops include:

    • Everett Station (for Sounder commuter rail and Amtrak Cascades arrivals)
    • Downtown Everett
    • Boxcar Park

    If you’re coming from Seattle for the June 19 USA match and want to experience it from the Everett Fan Zone rather than dealing with Lumen Field crowds, Sounder to Everett Station plus the free shuttle is the smart move.

    Why Everett Landed a Fan Zone

    Seattle is one of the 11 U.S. host cities for the 2026 World Cup, and the Pacific Northwest got six matches at Lumen Field — a mix of group-stage games, a Round of 32 match, and a Round of 16 match. But the host-city footprint extends well beyond Lumen. The SeattleFWC26 organizing committee announced official Fan Zones across Washington State, with Everett’s Boxcar Park among the flagship sites north of Seattle.

    For Everett specifically, the Fan Zone is the kind of event that puts the city’s waterfront transformation on a national stage. Restaurants and hotels along Waterfront Place, Hewitt Avenue, and the Port of Everett core are going to see a meaningful surge in June foot traffic — especially on the June 19 USA match day.

    What Everett Fan Zone Days Look Like

    Here’s the honest take on what to expect at Boxcar Park on one of these match days: a mid-sized crowd of 2,000-5,000 people, a festival vibe that ramps up as kickoff approaches, kids chasing a ball on the lawn while parents get a beer from a local vendor, big screens showing the match, and — when the USA scores, or when Mexico scores — a roar you can probably hear across Port Gardner Bay.

    It’s community soccer the way community soccer should be done in 2026: free, outdoors, waterfront, with a big screen and a local beer in your hand.

    What’s Still Being Finalized

    • Food and beverage vendor lineup — applications closed April 9; the final list should be announced before the June 11 opener
    • Music and entertainment schedule — typically announced about a month before match days
    • Additional Fan Zone expansions — SeattleFWC26 has continued to add Fan Zone locations across the state; more may be announced between now and June

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Where is Everett’s FIFA 2026 Fan Zone?

    Boxcar Park at the Port of Everett, on the north side of Waterfront Place.

    What match days are Everett’s Fan Zone hosting?

    Thursday June 11, Friday June 12, Thursday June 18, and Friday June 19, 2026.

    Is the Fan Zone free?

    Yes. The Waterfront Watch Parties are free to attend.

    Is parking available?

    Limited on-site parking. A free Everett Transit shuttle connects Everett Station, downtown Everett, and Boxcar Park on match days — the recommended way to get there.

    What’s the USMNT schedule for Everett’s Fan Zone?

    USA vs. Paraguay on June 12 at 6 PM kickoff, and USA vs. Australia (the Seattle-hosted match) on June 19 at noon kickoff. Both air on the Boxcar Park big screens.

    What about Mexico matches?

    Two Mexico group-stage matches will be shown at the Fan Zone — June 11 vs. South Africa (the tournament opener) and June 18 vs. South Korea.

    When does Everett’s Fan Zone open on match days?

    Two hours before noon kickoffs (10 AM) and two hours before 6 PM kickoffs (4 PM).

  • AquaSox Host Spokane Indians for Six-Game Homestand: April 21-26 at Funko Field

    AquaSox Host Spokane Indians for Six-Game Homestand: April 21-26 at Funko Field

    When is the AquaSox home series against Spokane Indians?
    The Everett AquaSox host the Spokane Indians at Funko Field for a six-game home series running Tuesday, April 21 through Sunday, April 26, 2026. Game times are 7:05 PM PT Tuesday through Saturday and 1:05 PM PT on Sunday. It’s the first time these two Northwest League rivals meet at Funko Field in 2026 after the AquaSox opened the season on the road in Spokane.

    Rivalry week at Funko Field. The Everett AquaSox and Spokane Indians are back in each other’s faces for a six-game home series that runs Tuesday, April 21 through Sunday, April 26, 2026 — and if you’ve been waiting for the AquaSox to come home for a long homestand, this is the week to get to Broadway.

    The Indians took the season-opening series in Spokane at Avista Stadium earlier this month, which gives this homestand an instant edge. Short-season High-A baseball doesn’t always generate grudge series, but this one has the bones of one.

    Series Schedule

    • Tuesday, April 21 — Spokane at Everett, 7:05 PM PT
    • Wednesday, April 22 — Spokane at Everett, 7:05 PM PT
    • Thursday, April 23 — Spokane at Everett, 7:05 PM PT
    • Friday, April 24 — Spokane at Everett, 7:05 PM PT (Fireworks Friday)
    • Saturday, April 25 — Spokane at Everett, 7:05 PM PT
    • Sunday, April 26 — Spokane at Everett, 1:05 PM PT

    All six games are at Funko Field, 3900 Broadway in Everett. First pitch times are subject to change in the event of weather; check the AquaSox site the day of the game if the forecast looks rough.

    Why This Series Matters

    Early-season Northwest League baseball sets the tone for the rest of the summer. The AquaSox are a Mariners High-A affiliate, which means the names you see in the lineup card this month are the names you’ll see in Seattle lineups in 2028 and 2029. The Indians are a Colorado Rockies affiliate — and the same rule applies. These are the prospects both organizations want to evaluate under Northwest League lights, and every inning counts against the prospect-on-prospect matchups that make High-A ball worth watching.

    It’s also the first real test of the AquaSox’s home field advantage in 2026. Funko Field is one of the most fan-friendly parks in the Northwest League, and the AquaSox front office has put together what looks like a strong early-season promotional calendar around this homestand.

    AquaSox Prospects to Watch

    The 2026 AquaSox roster is loaded with Mariners farm-system names worth keeping tabs on as the season builds. The front-office goal of a High-A affiliate is to keep the pipeline moving, and this group is built to do exactly that.

    Watch how the starting rotation handles a full six-game series against the same opponent — it’s a different test than opening against a fresh team every week, and how the AquaSox adjust game-to-game against Spokane’s lineup is worth paying attention to. On the position-player side, at-bats against the same pitching staff over six games will separate the guys who are making real adjustments from the guys who are getting by on talent alone.

    Funko Field: The Fan Experience

    If you haven’t been to Funko Field in a while, it’s still one of the most underrated fan experiences in the Puget Sound region. The ballpark seats about 3,500, which means there isn’t a bad seat in the house. The concessions lean hard into the “local” side of minor league baseball: Everett-brewed beers from Scuttlebutt and other Snohomish County breweries, a solid food lineup, and the general atmosphere of a small ballpark where the players’ families are in the stands and you can hear the infield chatter from behind home plate.

    The downtown stadium conversation continues to build around the AquaSox’s long-term future home, but for 2026, Funko Field is the show. And the show is very much worth your Tuesday night.

    Getting to Funko Field

    Funko Field is at 3900 Broadway in Everett. Parking is free on site. If you’re coming from downtown Everett, it’s a 10-minute drive or a 15-minute bus ride on Everett Transit. Gates typically open an hour before first pitch. Tickets are available through the team’s website, Ticketmaster, or the box office on game day.

    Kids under 5 are free, and the AquaSox’s family-friendly atmosphere — on-field games between innings, in-game contests, post-game autographs on select nights — makes this one of the best affordable family outings in Snohomish County.

    Spokane Indians: Who’s Coming to Town

    The Indians are the Rockies’ High-A affiliate and bring a handful of top-30 organizational prospects into Everett for this series. They were strong in the season-opening set in Spokane and will want to keep that momentum rolling into this homestand. The Indians and AquaSox see each other several more times in 2026, but early-season head-to-head sets up the pecking order for the rest of the summer.

    What to Watch For This Series

    • Tuesday: Which rotation arm the AquaSox send out to open the homestand — early-season starting-pitcher usage tells you a lot about organizational plans.
    • Wednesday-Thursday: How both lineups adjust after seeing each other’s top arms. Minor league scouting reports evolve fast.
    • Friday (Fireworks): The marquee night of the series. Expect the biggest crowd of the homestand and the best atmosphere at Funko Field so far this season.
    • Saturday-Sunday: Bullpen usage and depth. Six games in six days asks a lot of the relief corps in both organizations.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    When does the AquaSox-Spokane series start?

    Tuesday, April 21, 2026, first pitch at 7:05 PM PT at Funko Field.

    Is the whole series at Funko Field?

    Yes. All six games, April 21-26, are home games for the AquaSox at Funko Field.

    What time are the games?

    7:05 PM PT Tuesday through Saturday, 1:05 PM PT on Sunday.

    Is there a fireworks night?

    Friday, April 24 is the traditional Fireworks Friday night, typically the most-attended game of each home series.

    Where is Funko Field?

    3900 Broadway, Everett, WA. Parking is free on-site.

    How can I get tickets?

    Through the AquaSox team website, Ticketmaster, or the Funko Field box office on game day.

    Who are the AquaSox affiliated with?

    The Seattle Mariners. The AquaSox are the Mariners’ High-A affiliate in the Northwest League.

  • Silvertips vs. Penticton Vees Western Conference Final Preview: Two Games at Home This Weekend

    Silvertips vs. Penticton Vees Western Conference Final Preview: Two Games at Home This Weekend

    When and where is Silvertips vs. Penticton Vees Game 1?
    Game 1 of the 2026 WHL Western Conference Final is Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 7:05 PM PT at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett. Game 2 is Saturday, April 25, at 6:30 PM PT, also in Everett. The Silvertips host the expansion Penticton Vees in a best-of-seven series, with the winner advancing to the WHL Final and a Memorial Cup berth in Kelowna.

    Two wins away from the WHL Final. Four wins away from the Memorial Cup in Kelowna. And it all starts Thursday night at Angel of the Winds Arena.

    The Everett Silvertips open the Western Conference Final at home against the Penticton Vees on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at 7:05 PM PT. Game 2 follows Saturday, April 25, at 6:30 PM PT. Both games are at Angel of the Winds Arena in downtown Everett, and if you’ve been waiting all season for the playoff run to come home, this is the weekend to be there.

    How the Silvertips Got Here

    Everett’s road to the Western Conference Final started with the best regular season a WHL team has posted in more than a decade. The Silvertips finished 57-8-2-1 with 117 points — the most a WHL club has recorded in 12 years — and captured the Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as the league’s regular-season champion.

    They carried that form straight into the playoffs. Round 1 against the Prince George Cougars was a sweep. Round 2 against the Kelowna Rockets went five games and ended with one of the most memorable goals of the Silvertips’ season: defenseman Landon DuPont walking off Kelowna with an overtime winner 29 seconds into the extra frame, sending Everett through 4-1 in the series.

    Carter Bear broke the deadlock in that Game 5 with a shorthanded goal in the third period. Raymond Miller stopped 30 of 31 shots. And DuPont — a finalist for WHL Defenseman of the Year — added another chapter to what is becoming a trophy-case season.

    Meet the Penticton Vees

    The Vees are the first-year WHL expansion team, and nothing about their first postseason has looked tentative. They beat the Prince George Cougars in six games in the Western Conference Semifinal, closing out the series in overtime on a goal from Jacob Kvasnicka, a New York Islanders prospect and Penticton’s only NHL draft pick.

    Head-to-head in the regular season, Everett took three of four from Penticton, including both games in Penticton at the South Okanagan Events Centre. DuPont led the Silvertips scoring against the Vees with six points in those four games. Kvasnicka piled up eight points (1 goal, 7 assists) against Everett and is the guy Silvertips fans should be watching every shift.

    But regular season head-to-head means exactly what it always means in playoff hockey: a little, and not nearly as much as you’d like. The Vees already took down a top team in Prince George. They’ve earned the right to be called a threat.

    Silvertips Players to Watch

    Through two playoff rounds, Carter Bear and Landon DuPont each had 10 goals in the 2026 WHL playoffs — among the league leaders. Bear’s six-goal outburst in Round 1 against Kelowna was the kind of performance that rewrites an NHL Draft evaluation in real time. DuPont has been a complete player: offense, defense, and now overtime heroics.

    Goaltender Raymond Miller has been steady through two rounds, including the 30-save performance in Game 5 that held a 2-1 lead against Kelowna when it mattered most. And shout-out to Steve Hamilton, a finalist for WHL Coach of the Year, who has this team playing the best hockey in the league from October through April.

    What’s on the Line

    The winner of this series heads to the WHL Final against either Prince Albert or Medicine Hat. The winner of that series heads to Kelowna for the 2026 Memorial Cup — the Canadian Hockey League championship and the biggest stage in junior hockey. The Silvertips have been to the WHL Final before. They have not won a Memorial Cup. A 117-point regular season and two decisive playoff rounds say this is the year to finish the job.

    Tickets, Parking, and Getting to the Game

    Game 1 and Game 2 tickets are available through Ticketmaster and the Angel of the Winds Arena box office. Puck drop is 7:05 PM PT Thursday, 6:30 PM PT Saturday. The arena is at 2000 Hewitt Avenue in downtown Everett, and downtown parking fills up early on big playoff nights — plan to be there by 6:15 PM for Thursday’s game if you want to grab a pre-game bite at one of the Hewitt Avenue spots first.

    If you’re new to Silvertips playoffs: the atmosphere at Angel of the Winds Arena on a big night is one of the best sports environments in the Puget Sound region. Loud. Local. Kids in hockey jerseys. The orange towels come out. If you’ve been telling yourself all year that you’d get to a game, this is the one.

    Series Schedule

    • Game 1: Thursday, April 23 — Penticton at Everett, 7:05 PM PT
    • Game 2: Saturday, April 25 — Penticton at Everett, 6:30 PM PT
    • Game 3: Wednesday, April 29 — Everett at Penticton (if necessary)
    • Game 4: Friday, May 1 — Everett at Penticton (if necessary)
    • Game 5: Saturday, May 2 — Penticton at Everett (if necessary)
    • Game 6: Wednesday, May 6 — Everett at Penticton (if necessary)
    • Game 7: Friday, May 8 — Penticton at Everett (if necessary)

    Schedule per Silvertips and WHL. Game times for later games in the series may shift slightly; confirm before heading out.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Who do the Silvertips play in the Western Conference Final?

    The expansion Penticton Vees, who won Round 2 against the Prince George Cougars 4-2 on a Jacob Kvasnicka overtime goal.

    Where is Game 1?

    Angel of the Winds Arena, 2000 Hewitt Avenue, Everett, WA. Puck drop Thursday, April 23 at 7:05 PM PT.

    What was Everett’s regular season record?

    57-8-2-1, 117 points — the best WHL regular season in 12 years and the 2025-26 Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy.

    Who should I watch on the Silvertips?

    Carter Bear and Landon DuPont each had 10 playoff goals through two rounds. DuPont is a finalist for WHL Defenseman of the Year. Raymond Miller in net has been sharp.

    What’s at stake?

    The series winner goes to the WHL Final for a chance at the 2026 Memorial Cup in Kelowna — the Canadian Hockey League championship.

    How did Everett and Penticton fare in the regular season?

    Everett won three of four meetings, including both games in Penticton. DuPont led Everett scoring; Kvasnicka led Penticton.

    Where can I buy tickets?

    Ticketmaster or the Angel of the Winds Arena box office. Both Thursday and Saturday tickets are on sale now.

  • Where Everett Veterans Can Get VA Claims Help in 2026 After the Vet Center’s Service Officer Schedule Changed

    Where Everett Veterans Can Get VA Claims Help in 2026 After the Vet Center’s Service Officer Schedule Changed

    Quick answer: As of February 20, 2026, VFW Veterans Service Officers no longer hold weekday hours inside the Everett Vet Center at 1010 SE Everett Mall Way. Veterans seeking VA claims help in Snohomish County now have three primary in-person options: monthly visits from VBA staff at the Vet Center (by appointment), the Snohomish County Veterans Assistance Program at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue in Everett, and the VFW Department of Washington office one suite over at 1010 SE Everett Mall Way, Suite 101.

    If you’re a veteran in Everett or anywhere in north Snohomish County and you’ve been used to walking into the Vet Center on a weekday to get help filing a VA claim, you may have noticed the signs and the schedule changed earlier this spring. The Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Veterans Service Officers who used to hold regular weekday hours inside the Everett Vet Center on Everett Mall Way are no longer there during the workweek. The change took effect February 20, 2026, and the Vet Center has updated its public information to reflect a new claims-support pattern: monthly visits from Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) staff at the same location, available by appointment.

    For most veterans this is a manageable change. For some it is a real wrinkle. The point of this guide is to make sure no one in Snohomish County misses a benefit they earned because they showed up at the wrong door on the wrong day.

    What actually changed

    The Everett Vet Center, located at 1010 SE Everett Mall Way, Suite 207, is part of the national Vet Center program run by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Vet Centers exist primarily to provide readjustment counseling — confidential, no-cost mental health and family support for combat veterans, survivors of military sexual trauma, and family members of service members who died on active duty. Counseling is the Vet Center’s core mission.

    In addition to that core mission, the Everett facility had hosted VFW-credentialed Veterans Service Officers (VSOs) on weekdays as a partner service. A VSO is an accredited representative who can sit down with a veteran, walk through the VA disability claim or appeal process, prepare documents, and submit them on the veteran’s behalf — at no charge. Walk-in or scheduled VSO appointments at the Vet Center had been a quiet but heavily used resource for years, especially for veterans north of Seattle who don’t want to drive to the VA medical center on Beacon Hill.

    According to the Vet Center’s current public-facing information, that arrangement ended February 20, 2026. VFW VSOs are no longer staffing the Everett Vet Center on weekdays. In its place, VBA staff — federal employees of the Veterans Benefits Administration — visit the Vet Center monthly to take claims appointments. Walk-ins for benefits help should not be assumed; the Vet Center publishes its updated visit schedule and recommends calling ahead.

    The counseling services at the Vet Center are not affected. PTSD counseling, military sexual trauma counseling, family and couples therapy, bereavement support, and the existing veteran group programs continue on the same Monday-through-Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. schedule. Non-traditional hours are available by arrangement, and the after-hours Vet Center Call Center remains 877-927-8387.

    What changed is specifically the day-to-day, walk-in-style availability of trained claims help inside that building.

    Why this matters in Snohomish County

    The Everett Vet Center serves a wide chunk of north Snohomish, Skagit, and Island Counties. For a sizable population of veterans living in Marysville, Lake Stevens, Mill Creek, Mukilteo, and the Smokey Point/Arlington corridor, the Vet Center is the closest VA-affiliated building they ever set foot in. The Everett VA Outpatient Clinic on Smokey Point Boulevard handles primary and mental health care, but it is not a benefits office. The full VA Regional Office is in Seattle. The Snohomish County Veterans Services office is downtown, which is fine if you live in Everett proper but not as convenient if you live to the north.

    For veterans without reliable transportation, with mobility limitations, or with PTSD-related anxiety about new environments, the loss of a familiar, non-clinical place to walk in and ask for claims help is a real friction point. The fix is not to give up on filing — the fix is to know where to go now.

    The three best in-person options today

    There are three places in Snohomish County where a veteran can sit down with an accredited person, in a familiar Everett-area setting, and get free claims help. They are listed below in order of how most veterans should think about them.

    Option 1: VBA monthly visits at the Everett Vet Center (by appointment)

    This is the closest direct replacement for what used to be there. VBA — the part of VA that processes disability claims, appeals, education benefits, home loan certificates, and survivor benefits — sends staff to the Everett Vet Center on a recurring monthly schedule. These are appointment-based visits, not drop-in hours.

    • Location: Everett Vet Center, 1010 SE Everett Mall Way, Suite 207, Everett, WA 98208
    • Best for: Existing VA benefits questions, claim status checks, eligibility questions, help understanding a decision letter
    • How to schedule: Call the Everett Vet Center to confirm the next VBA visit date and reserve a slot
    • Cost: Free

    If your situation is straightforward — you need to ask a clarifying question about a recent claim, you got a decision letter you don’t fully understand, you want to confirm whether something qualifies for an appeal — the monthly VBA visit is often the right first call.

    Option 2: VFW Department of Washington — Everett Office (Suite 101, same building)

    Veterans who specifically want a VFW-accredited Service Officer experience can still get one in the same building, just downstairs. The VFW Department of Washington maintains a Service Officer presence at 1010 SE Everett Mall Way, Suite 101 — one suite over on the ground floor of the same complex that houses the Vet Center.

    • Location: 1010 SE Everett Mall Way, Suite 101, Everett, WA 98208
    • Phone: (425) 740-2706
    • Best for: Filing a new VA disability claim, preparing an appeal, getting an accredited VSO to represent you
    • How to schedule: Call ahead. The VFW operates by appointment as a rule
    • Cost: Free; no VFW membership requirement to receive accredited claims help

    For veterans who started a claim with a VFW VSO, who already have a VFW representative on file with VA, or who simply prefer working with a veteran-led service organization, this is the most direct continuity.

    Option 3: Snohomish County Veterans Assistance Program

    Snohomish County operates its own Veterans Assistance Program out of the Drewel Building on the county campus in downtown Everett. This is a county-funded program separate from VA, and it is the Swiss Army knife of veteran help in this county. The Veterans Assistance Program has accredited staff who help veterans and dependents file VA claims, file appeals, request rating upgrades, and navigate emergency financial assistance, food assistance, homelessness services, and senior or disabled veteran case management.

    • Address: Snohomish County Campus, 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, Lower Level, Drewel Building (Administration Building East), Everett, WA 98201
    • Intake line: 425-388-7255
    • Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    • Best for: Veterans who need claims help PLUS another type of support (utility assistance, emergency vouchers, housing help, food, employment support, or case management)
    • Cost: Free for eligible Snohomish County veterans and dependents

    If your situation is layered — say, you’re trying to file a disability claim while also dealing with an eviction notice or a utility shutoff — the County program is built for exactly that. They can do both pieces in one visit instead of sending you to three different offices.

    Counseling at the Vet Center is unchanged

    It’s worth restating clearly because the schedule change can be confusing. The Everett Vet Center still does what Vet Centers across the country are designed to do: confidential, no-cost readjustment counseling.

    Services available there continue to include individual counseling for combat-related PTSD, depression, and anxiety; military sexual trauma counseling; couples and family counseling with licensed marriage and family therapists onsite; bereavement counseling for survivors of service members who died on active duty; substance use disorder referrals; and group programs including art therapy, meditation, and Vietnam veteran groups.

    Eligibility is broad. Veterans and current service members do not need to be enrolled in VA health care to use the Vet Center. They do not need a service-connected disability rating. Family members of eligible veterans, and surviving family members of service members who died on active duty, also qualify.

    The Vet Center building itself still has a large, well-lit parking area in front, and is on regular Community Transit lines. The phone is (425) 252-9701 during business hours and 877-927-8387 for the 24/7 national Vet Center Call Center.

    What to bring to a claims appointment

    Whichever of the three options above you choose, the appointment goes faster and the chance of getting an answer that day goes up if you bring documentation. A short checklist:

    • DD Form 214 (Certificate of Release or Discharge from Active Duty), or DD-215 if amended
    • A photo ID
    • Any VA decision letters you have received (denials, ratings, appeal responses)
    • A list of medical conditions you believe are connected to service, with approximate dates of onset
    • Names and locations of any military or VA medical providers who treated the conditions
    • Any buddy statements or lay evidence you have already gathered
    • For survivors: a copy of the DD-1300 (Casualty Report) or VA dependency decision

    A VSO or VBA representative cannot guarantee the outcome of a claim. What they can do is make sure the claim is filed correctly, that the right evidence is attached, and that nothing on the form leaves money on the table.

    A note on online and phone options

    Not every veteran needs an in-person appointment. The VA has invested heavily in the va.gov claims portal, and many straightforward filings — initial disability claims, supplemental claims, increased rating requests, dependency adjustments, secondary claims — can be filed entirely online by the veteran or by a representative on the veteran’s behalf.

    For veterans who are comfortable with the technology, the online path is usually the fastest. For veterans who want a person, want a second set of eyes on the form, or have a complicated situation involving an existing rating or appeal — the in-person options above are the right move.

    The 24/7 VA Benefits hotline is 800-827-1000. The 24/7 Veterans Crisis Line is dial 988, then press 1, or text 838255. Both are free and confidential.

    The bottom line for north Snohomish County veterans

    Nothing about the February 2026 change at the Everett Vet Center reduces the benefits a veteran is entitled to. It is a process change, not a benefits change. The accredited help is still in the county; it just sits in three places now instead of one. If you’re starting a new claim, the VFW office in Suite 101 of the same Vet Center building is the most direct path. If you have an existing claim or decision letter and need a quick conversation with VA staff, the monthly VBA visit at the Vet Center — by appointment — is the right call. If you need claims help plus any other kind of support, Snohomish County’s Veterans Assistance Program at 3000 Rockefeller is built to handle both at the same time.

    The Everett Vet Center itself is still what it has always been: the place to walk in for confidential counseling. That door is still open Monday through Friday.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Did the Everett Vet Center close?

    No. The Vet Center at 1010 SE Everett Mall Way, Suite 207 remains open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., for counseling and family support services. What changed is that VFW Veterans Service Officers no longer hold weekday office hours inside the building. Counseling, group programs, and family services are unchanged.

    Where do I go now if I need to file a VA disability claim in Everett?

    Three good options: schedule an appointment with a VFW Veterans Service Officer at 1010 SE Everett Mall Way, Suite 101 (call 425-740-2706); request an appointment with VBA staff during their monthly visit to the Everett Vet Center; or visit the Snohomish County Veterans Assistance Program at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue (call 425-388-7255). All three are free.

    Do I have to be a VFW member to use the VFW Service Officer?

    No. Accredited Veterans Service Officers — whether they work for VFW, American Legion, DAV, or another Veterans Service Organization — provide claims help at no cost to any eligible veteran, regardless of membership.

    How often does VBA staff visit the Everett Vet Center?

    The Vet Center’s current public information says monthly. Specific dates and slot availability vary, so the Everett Vet Center recommends calling to confirm the next visit date before you go. Call (425) 252-9701 during business hours.

    Can the Snohomish County Veterans Assistance Program help with more than just claims?

    Yes. In addition to VA claims and appeals support, the program offers emergency financial assistance, emergency vouchers, housing and homelessness services, case management, alcohol and drug referrals, senior and disabled veteran services, incarcerated veteran outreach, and employment support. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. at 3000 Rockefeller Avenue, lower level of the Drewel Building.

    Is there an after-hours number if I’m in crisis?

    Yes. The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7: dial 988 and press 1, or text 838255. The Vet Center Call Center is also 24/7 at 877-927-8387. Both are free and confidential.

    Will counseling at the Vet Center cost me anything?

    No. Vet Center readjustment counseling is provided at no cost to eligible veterans, current service members, and family members. Eligibility does not require VA health care enrollment or a service-connected disability rating.

  • Inside Boeing’s Future of Flight Tour in 2026: New Exhibits, Seven-Day Operations, and What’s Actually Worth the Ticket

    Inside Boeing’s Future of Flight Tour in 2026: New Exhibits, Seven-Day Operations, and What’s Actually Worth the Ticket

    Q: Is Boeing’s Future of Flight open every day in 2026?
    A: Yes. Boeing expanded its Future of Flight Aviation Center and the Everett factory tour to seven days a week, Monday through Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., starting in early 2026. General admission tickets start at $14, and the add-on Everett factory tour starts at $42. New exhibits include a Wisk autonomous air taxi and a Boeing space-exploration engineering zone.

    The Everett Factory Tour Is Open More Than It’s Ever Been

    If you live in Everett and you’ve never actually taken the Future of Flight tour, you are not alone. It’s the thing you drive past on 526 and tell out-of-town family members to go see. That might be shifting in 2026.

    Boeing has expanded hours at the Future of Flight Aviation Center in Mukilteo and the Everett factory tour that runs out of it — from five days a week up to all seven, starting in early 2026. The center sits at 8415 Paine Field Boulevard, right at the south edge of the Boeing Everett factory, and it’s the only way the general public gets inside the world’s largest building by volume.

    The expanded schedule is a real change, not a press release. Tickets that used to require planning around a Wednesday-through-Sunday window now work for a Monday morning off. For a city whose economy runs on the factory 5,000 feet away, this is one of the easier ways to reconnect Everett residents with what the 42,000-person Boeing workforce is actually doing inside the building every day.

    What’s New at the Future of Flight in 2026

    Boeing added two significant new exhibit pieces at Future of Flight heading into 2026, both of which point at where the aerospace industry is headed, not just where it’s been.

    Wisk autonomous air taxi. Wisk Aero is Boeing’s all-electric, self-flying air taxi program. The Future of Flight gallery now includes a display model. If you’ve ever wondered what “urban air mobility” actually looks like on the ramp — as opposed to in a marketing video — this is your chance to see one at ground level. For Everett families, the display is notable precisely because Wisk is a bet on a category of flight that doesn’t yet exist at scale: short-hop electric air travel over metropolitan areas.

    Boeing space exploration zone. The new engineering zone highlights Boeing’s work beyond commercial jets — the Starliner crew capsule, space station hardware, and the deep-space engineering that happens at other Boeing sites but draws on the same broad engineering talent base that staffs Everett and the Puget Sound region. It’s a useful reminder that Boeing is more than the 737 MAX news cycle.

    These pieces join the existing Future of Flight staples: the photo-ready commercial engine displays, the kid-friendly flight simulator zone, the gallery of Boeing program history, and the balcony vantage over the 777/777X final assembly floor that is the actual reason most visitors are there.

    What the Factory Tour Actually Includes Right Now

    The factory tour itself is an 80-minute guided experience built around the Boeing Everett Factory balcony. In practical 2026 terms, here’s what that means:

    777 and 777X final assembly. Visitors see the 777 production line and — critically for anyone paying attention to Boeing’s 2026 news cycle — the 777X aircraft currently moving through production. Several 777X airframes, including the one destined for launch customer Lufthansa, have been on the factory floor this year as Boeing targets its first production-standard 777X flight from Paine Field in April. Whether a given tour happens to catch that specific airframe is luck of the draw, but the line is active and visible.

    767 line, in its final commercial chapter. The same factory floor that hosts the 777 line also hosts the 767 final assembly line, which is running through its last commercial 767-300F freighters for FedEx and UPS before pivoting to KC-46 tanker-only production in 2027. For anyone who wants to see a 45-year-old Everett program in its final year, the tour is currently one of the only legal, scheduled ways to do it.

    The 737 MAX North Line — eventually. The new 737 MAX North Line is targeting a midsummer 2026 activation in Everett. Once that line is active, it will be visible as part of the tour route. Boeing has already toured its CEO through the line and begun staff training. Tour routes are updated periodically as production configurations change.

    Practical Info for Everett Locals

    For residents who have never done the tour or who have done it once and forgotten the logistics, a short refresher:

    • Location: 8415 Paine Field Boulevard, Mukilteo, WA — about a 10-minute drive from downtown Everett.
    • Hours: Monday through Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Closed on certain federal holidays.
    • General admission: From $14. Includes Future of Flight gallery and exhibits.
    • Add-on factory tour: From $42. Covers the 80-minute guided experience inside the factory.
    • Age minimum: The factory tour has a minimum age and height requirement. Check Boeing’s official Future of Flight site for the current rules before booking with kids.
    • Photos: Allowed in the Future of Flight gallery. Not allowed inside the factory itself — you’ll stow your phone at the tour’s start.
    • Parking: On-site, free for visitors. Large lot that is rarely full outside peak summer weekends.

    Why This Matters for Everett’s Tourism Story

    There’s a broader economic angle that’s easy to miss if you live here. The Future of Flight is one of the Everett region’s few nationally recognized tourism assets — an attraction that pulls visitors off I-5 who would otherwise drive past Everett on their way between Seattle and Vancouver. The expansion from five to seven operating days and the new exhibit investment signal that Boeing sees Future of Flight as something worth continuing to fund as a public-facing front door to its industrial base.

    For Everett’s hotel, restaurant, and retail operators along Broadway and the waterfront, a Future of Flight operating at seven-day capacity is a reliable, year-round volume of aerospace-curious day-trippers. Those visitors don’t just disappear after the tour — they eat lunch, grab coffee, and sometimes extend into an overnight. In a city that has been deliberately rebuilding its waterfront hospitality economy, every additional operating day at Paine Field Boulevard matters at the margin.

    And for the tens of thousands of aerospace workers whose families have never actually seen what the second shift builds, a weekend Future of Flight visit is now easier to schedule than it has been in years.

    What to Expect If You Haven’t Been Since 2023

    The Future of Flight reopened in October 2023 after a two-year COVID-era closure, with a revised tour script and updated route. Visitors returning in 2026 for the first time since that reopening will notice:

    • Expanded galleries with the new Wisk and space exhibits.
    • A tour route that reflects current production configurations, not the pre-closure era.
    • Extended weekly operating days.
    • Active 777X production visible on the floor, which was not the case during the earliest reopening months.

    If the last time you took the tour was pre-pandemic, this is a different experience — the tour script is different, the exhibits are different, and the active programs visible on the factory floor are different. It’s worth a second visit.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How much does the Boeing Everett factory tour cost?

    General admission to the Future of Flight Aviation Center starts at $14. The add-on guided factory tour starts at $42. Prices vary by age, group size, and package. Boeing’s official Future of Flight booking site has the current, full pricing.

    Is the Boeing factory tour open every day in 2026?

    Yes. Starting in early 2026, the Future of Flight Aviation Center and the Everett factory tour are open seven days a week, Monday through Sunday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. They close on certain federal holidays.

    What airplanes can I see on the Boeing Everett factory tour?

    The tour provides views of the 777 and 777X final assembly line, the 767 line (in its final commercial chapter through 2027), and — once the new 737 MAX North Line is operational later in 2026 — single-aisle 737 MAX production as well. Specific aircraft visible on any given tour depend on the production schedule that day.

    Can I take photos inside the Boeing Everett factory?

    No. Photography is not permitted inside the factory itself. You’ll stow phones and cameras at the start of the factory tour. Photography is allowed inside the Future of Flight gallery and exhibit areas.

    How old do you have to be to take the Boeing factory tour?

    The factory tour has a minimum age and height requirement set by Boeing for safety reasons. Check the current requirement on Boeing’s Future of Flight site before booking with young children, as the exact threshold is updated periodically.

    How long is the Everett factory tour?

    The guided factory tour portion is about 80 minutes. Allow at least two to three hours for the full Future of Flight visit if you want to explore the exhibits before or after the factory tour.

    Is the Future of Flight worth it if I live in Everett?

    For local residents who haven’t been since the 2023 reopening, the refreshed tour script, new Wisk and space-exploration exhibits, and the active 777X and upcoming 737 MAX North Line production all give longtime locals a reason to revisit. It’s also one of the most concrete ways to help visiting family understand what the 42,000-person Boeing Everett workforce actually builds.