Auburn, WA, Knows How to Put on a Show

Auburn, WA, has discovered what many communities spend years searching for. People visit Auburn for all kinds of reasons.

Some visitors come for horse racing. Others dress up in inflatable T-Rex costumes and race 100 yards around the track. Some bring their Corgis from far away for a 40-yard dash. Others cross state and national borders to join one of the country’s most unique horse relay traditions.

Auburn welcomes events you won’t find just anywhere. The city lets organizers, businesses, and community partners create experiences that stand out from a typical Pacific Northwest weekend. Emerald Downs is a big part of this, but Auburn’s approach goes beyond the racetrack.

These unique events make Auburn a place where tourism can be surprising, competitive, family-friendly, and sometimes a bit quirky. That’s part of what makes it special.

Auburn Builds Around Events People Remember

The 2026 T-Rex World Championship Races may be the clearest example.

The event started in 2017 as a team-building activity for TriGuard Pest Control, but now it draws hundreds of competitors each year. In 2026, the races had divisions for kids, teens, men, women, and people 55 and older. Each championship heat had 12 runners.

The event has also been shown on national television. Emerald Downs expanded its partnership with ESPN, and the 2026 T-Rex World Championships appeared on ESPN for the second time.

The event stands out and draws attention, but it also gives people a reason to visit Auburn in person. Participants sign up, travel, spend time at the track, and get to know the city while they’re here.

The Corgi World Championship Races work the same way. In 2026, people came from across the western United States — most from Washington, but some from Arizona and Montana. The races ran all afternoon, with eight heats leading up to the championship. ESPN2 also covered the event, giving Auburn a chance to reach viewers far beyond the region.

These events succeed because Auburn, WA, doesn’t try to make them ordinary.

Emerald Downs Gives Auburn, WA, a Unique Platform

Emerald Downs creates a setting where Auburn can support established traditions while making room for new ideas. The Muckleshoot Gold Cup Indian Relay shows what's possible.

The 10th annual event in 2026 brought 21 teams from seven states and two Canadian provinces to Auburn. Teams competed for $85,000 in prize money in a relay that combines horsemanship, speed, and precise exchanges between riders and horses.

This event also links Auburn to a tradition with deep cultural roots. Families travel together, representing their tribes and passing the sport down through generations. Over the past 10 years, the event has attracted more than just Native communities, bringing in new fans of Indian relay racing.

The city is not simply hosting another horse race. It is providing a venue where visitors from all backgrounds can experience a sport and cultural tradition they may not encounter in their home communities.

Other events at Emerald Downs add even more variety to Auburn’s event scene:

• T-Rex World Championship Races bring national attention and a highly unusual competition.
• Corgi races attract participants who travel with their dogs from outside Washington.
• The Muckleshoot Gold Cup brings teams from across the United States and Canada.
• Grandparents' races create a participatory experience for families and older residents.
• Fiesta Premio Esmeralda combines horse racing with live music, traditional dances, and family activities.

All these events together show Auburn as a place where you can watch, compete, or bring the whole family for a fun experience.

Auburn Invests in the Experiences That Bring People Here

Auburn’s approach also helps the local economy. The city uses its lodging tax program to support tourism and cultural events. Auburn’s hotel and motel excise tax is 1% of qualifying lodging charges.

The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee advises the Mayor and City Council on how to use the tax dollars for tourism. The committee includes people from businesses that collect the tax and groups that benefit from tourism funding.

That creates a direct connection between visitors staying in Auburn and the community's ability to support events that attract more visitors.

The city’s current LTAC grant program seeks projects and events that bring visitors to Auburn and support the local tourism economy. The 2027 application welcomes both established events and new ideas that can introduce visitors to Auburn’s events, businesses, and attractions.

For Auburn, WA, tourism is part of a bigger plan for economic growth. Events give people reasons to visit. Visitors create demand for hotels, restaurants, shops, and other services. These businesses help the community keep investing in the experiences that bring people here.

Auburn Can Keep Defining Its Own Event Identity

The opportunity ahead is to keep building on what already works. Auburn does not need every event to appeal to every visitor. The strongest events give people a specific reason to choose Auburn.

That might mean racing in an inflatable dinosaur costume, traveling with a Corgi, watching teams switch horses at top speed during the Muckleshoot Gold Cup, or bringing grandparents onto the track for their own race.

These experiences help Auburn stand out from other communities competing for visitors, tourism dollars, and regional attention.

They also give residents a chance to join in, not just watch. A community stands out when its events show the character it wants to build. Auburn can keep building a reputation for events that are welcoming, unique, and worth the trip.

Bring Your Tourism Idea to Auburn

Auburn has shown that tourism doesn’t have to follow a set formula. The community can honor traditions and also welcome new events that give visitors fresh reasons to come.

If you have a unique tourism idea, event, or experience that could bring people to Auburn, contact Auburn Economic Development. The city welcomes ideas that attract visitors, support local businesses, and add something special to Auburn’s event calendar.