THURSDAY, APRIL 10 2014 >>>

1. Last year, we sat above the fairgrounds in a wobbly umbrella-covered enclosure, surging over that precarious point in the Ferris wheel where we swore to corn dog we would be pitched over, knocked off balance with our missing partner, and die a horrible death. We didn't, and we will freely admit that yes, we are a ride-wuss (and afraid of heights, to boot!). Even still, there is more to be enjoyed at the Washington State Spring Fair than rides. We also saw the baby animals, which included the sweetest 5-week-old pygmy goats ever, as well as freshly hatched chicks, and adult animals such as a huge male pig, sheep, dancing horses and cattle. Oh, he said herpetology? Whew. See, touch and learn about captive raised turtles, frogs, lizards, snakes and insects from around the world at Brad's Reptile World Show. The four-day Spring Fair  - which opens at 2 p.m. - will include carnival rides, music, food, animal shows, fashion show, monster trucks, pig races, dockdogs and much more.

2. More than 40 downtown Gig Harbor waterfront businesses will be open from 5-8:30 p.m. offering special offers, activities, demonstrations, refreshments and live music at the inaugural Thursday Night Out. A complimentary Thursday Night Out shuttle bus will be on the scene.

3. What Moondog Matinee lack in innovation they make up for in execution. Though their professed influences are a staggering assembly of just about every musical touchstone of the past 50 years (Talking Heads, the Band, Nick Cave, the White Stripes, Arcade Fire, and Edith Piaf [of all people], just to name a fraction of them), it's clear that they mostly take their cues from heavy blues, approached with an admirable widescreen expansiveness. Catch the band with Fox and the Law and Our Burgundy at 7 p.m. in Le Voyeur.

4. Based in Portland, Ore., BodyVox dance group marries dance, athleticism, theatrics and humor. Both complex and refreshingly simple, BodyVox's Reverie is inspired by the impressionist era and builds from an overriding belief in the power of beauty. Check it out at 7:30 p.m. in the Washington Center.

5. Tom Cotter finished second on America's Got Talent in 2012.Cotter lost to a dog act, but don't hold that against him; he was the first comedian ever to be a finalist on the show and was the highest finishing human being on the show that year. Welcome Cotter to the Tacoma Comedy Club at 8 p.m.

LINK: Thursday, April 10 arts and entertainment events in the greater Tacoma and Olympia area

Filed under: 5 Things To Do, Puyallup, Events, Music, Olympia, Gig Harbor, Comedy, Arts, Theater, Tacoma,