Arts & Entertainment Community

Harbor Happenings | Pride in the Park celebration is Saturday at Skansie

Posted on June 17th, 2025 By: Charlee Glock-Jackson

The third annual Pride in the Park party celebration takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, June 21, at Skansie Park.

Called “Cirque de So Gay,” the all-ages celebration features live music, food and craft vendors and family-friendly activities that promote diversity, equality and inclusion. Organizers call it “a radiant celebration of love, identity and belonging” with a drag show, aerial acrobatics by Ethereal Arts Northwest, live music and DJ sets, inspiring speakers and a kids carnival of games, crafts and face painting.

Pride in the Park 2024. Photo by Vince Dice

Parking is available at the United Methodist Church on Pioneer Way, or park at the Kimball Drive park-and-ride and take the Waterfront Connector (Pierce Transit Route 101) between downtown, Uptown and the park-and-ride. Pride in the Park is presented by Pride Gig Harbor and it’s free.

Pride Day begins at 8:30 a.m. with a Narrow the Divide bridge walk, starting at 1613 Stone Drive NW.

Pride in the Park 2024. Photo by Vince Dice

Make Music Day

Across town in Uptown, the Summer Solstice Make Music Day is from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday, starting with an all-join-in parade complete with pizza box drums and ukuleles. Throughout the day, local musicians will perform on four stages, including a sing-along-play-along stage where audience members can add their own voices and instruments, or borrow a ukulele and make music together. All activities are free and family friendly. For a complete schedule visit the Fest4all Make Music Day Facebook page.

The Make Music Day parade at Uptown Gig Harbor on Friday, June 21, 2024. Photo by Vince Dice

PenMet rec center opens

PenMet Parks celebrates the grand opening of the new Community Recreation Center from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 21 with music, food and give-aways. The new facility is located at 2524 14th Avenue N.W. Free shuttle service is available from Gig Harbor High School at 5101 Rosedale Street.

‘Hard to Recycle’ day

Peninsula Lutheran Church is hosting a “Hard to Recycle Drop Off Day” from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, June 21. Bring any of following to the church’s parking lot at 6509 38^th Avenue:

fluorescent light bulbs
plastic lids and bottle caps
Styrofoam and packing foam blocks
printer/toner cartridges
loose metal (screws, nails, lids)
cell phones and chargers
electronic cords and holiday lights
empty glass bottles and jars (NO broken glass)
shredded paper (in a paper bag, stapled shut)
plastic bags and bubble wrap

Walk along the waterfront

Join guides from the Downtown Waterfront Alliance, Harbor WildWatch and 7Seas Brewery at 10 a.m. Saturday to explore Gig Harbor’s natural and cultural history on the weekly “Wonders of the Waterfront” walk. The walks start at Donkey Creek Park and end at the Old Ferry Landing. Free and family friendly. Reserve your space here.

Ladies Night Out

Java and Clay Café will have pottery painting, beverages, small bites and prizes at Ladies Night out Friday, June 20. Tickets are $30. All ages are welcome. Reserve your spot here.

Humanities Washington presentation

Learn Washington state history from a Native American perspective at a Humanities Washington presentation at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 24, at Herons Key. John Halliday, a Native American artist of Muckleshoot, Duwamish, Yakima and Warm Springs Indian descent will present “What is a Chief? How Native Values can Teach Resilience.” Herons Key is located at 4340 Borgen Blvd.

Live music

Simply Brass is a traditional five-piece brass quintet from Kitsap County that plays a wide range of tunes from ancient cathedral music to modern pop. They’ll play at the Olalla Winery at 6:30 p.m. Friday, June 20. Buy tickets here.

Polly O’Keary and the Rhythm Method take the stage at Kimball Coffeehouse at 7 p.m. Friday, June 20. Free and family friendly.

Dan and Sherry Wright make music at The Beer Vault, 14004 Purdy Drive, at 7 p.m. Saturday.

At the movies

This week’s Summer Fest movie at the Galaxy Theatres in Uptown is “Leo,” the story of a 74-year-old lizard and his turtle friends, showing at 9:50 am and 3:20 p.m. Wednesday, June 18, and at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Thursday, June 19. Starting Friday, June 20, the Summer Fest movie is “Transformers One” – the story of Optimus Prime and Megatron, who were once best friends, but are better known as sworn enemies. ”Transformers One” showtimes are 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday, June 20; 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 21 and June 22; 10:15 a.m. and 4:15 p.m. Monday, June 23; and 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday, June 24. Summer Fest movies are just $2.

The Flashback Cinema movie at the Galaxy on Wednesday June 18 is “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” Showtimes are 12:25 and 6 p.m. Sunday’s Flashback movie is “Top Gun.” Showtimes are noon and 6 p.m. Sunday, June 22. Flashback movies are just $5.

Civic engagement

The Gig Harbor Planning Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, June 19, to review the Critical Areas Ordinance. On Monday, June 23, from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. the city will host a retirement reception for Police Chief Kelly Busey. Following the reception, the city council will meet at 5:30 p.m. to hold a public hearing on the 2026-2031 six-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and to consider amending council guidelines. City meetings take place at the Civic Center, 3510 Grandview St.