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Harbor Happenings | Time to start searching for Round Rock entries

Posted on July 1st, 2025 By: Charlee Glock-Jackson

Wanted: round rocks.

It’s time to start looking for stones for the 74^th annual Round Rock contest. The Harbor History Museum, which sponsors the contest, will begin accepting submissions July 23.

The Round Rock contest began in 1951 when Charles Elvin (C. E.) Shaw, a fun-loving Gig Harbor resident, had the idea that searching for the roundest rock might be a way to bring the community together in friendly competition. Shaw was also the brainchild behind the famous Rooster Races of the 1930s and ’40s.

Round Rock contest rules are simple, and anyone can enter:

Rocks must have been found in Washington state.
Rocks must be naturally formed and have their natural surface — not scratched or shaped in any way.
Rocks must be – approximately – no smaller than a ping-pong ball and no larger than a softball.
Rocks must be “of such hardness that they cannot be scratched with an ordinary pocket knife.”
One entry per person.
One winner per household.

Rocks must be submitted to the history museum by Saturday, Aug. 2, with an official entry form. Click here for an entry form.

Round Rock Contest entries in the lobby of the Harbor History Museum in Gig Harbor. Photo by Tonya Strickland.

Prizes will be awarded to the five roundest rocks: First prize is $100, second prize is $50, third prize is $25, fourth prize is $15 and fifth prize is $10.

Several previous Round Rock contest winners are on display in the museum lobby.

A promotional image from the original Round Rock contest. Photo courtesy of Harbor History Museum

Book group meeting

The Gig Harbor Literary Society’s book group will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 1, at the Harbor History Museum to discuss “Educated” by Tara Westover. It’s the true story of Westover’s Idaho upbringing in a family of survivalists.

She was 17 when she first set foot in a public school classroom, but when one of her brothers managed to get into college, Westover decided to try for a new life. That desire eventually took her to Harvard and Cambridge University. All are welcome at book group discussions whether or not you’ve read the book.

The museum is at 4121 Harborview Dr.

All about orcas

Want to learn more about our iconic killer whales? Join Harbor WildWatch at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 2, for a two-hour presentation with orca expert Bri Gage. Learn how to identify orcas, their preferred environment and other interesting facts. This event takes place at WildWatch’s Marine Life Center, 3207 Harborview Drive. Free, but donations are appreciated.

Take a walk on the waterfront

Every Thursday from 2 to 3 p.m. during the Waterfront Farmers Market, WildWatch volunteers lead walks along Jerisich Dock to talk about the critters that live on, around and under the pier. Each week there’s a different theme. Stop by the WildWatch booth at the market to learn more.

On Saturday, July 5, WildWatch hosts two events:

The weekly Wonders of the Waterfront walking tour starts at 10 a.m. at Donkey Creek Park, 8714 North Harborview Drive, and continues along the waterfront to the Old Ferry Landing. Along the way you’ll learn about the harbor’s natural history, the creatures that call the Salish sea home and other family friendly things. Free, but donations are welcome.
At 10 a.m. join the “Dirtiest Beach Day Cleanup” at Purdy Split and help clean up the debris left from 4^th of July celebrations. Bring a bucket and gloves, or use those provided. All ages are welcome and students can earn service hours. Sound Surfrider is partnering with WildWatch in this event.

The power of comic books

Comic book artist Josh Tuininga will present a program titled “Sequential: The Storytelling Power of Comic Books” at 1 p.m. Tuesday, July 8. Tuininga will discuss comic books as powerful art forms that can challenge readers, especially young readers. This Humanities Washington presentation takes place at Herons Key, 4340 Borgen Blvd.

Wine tasting

Stop by Two Loons Winery Saturday, July 5 between 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to sample this week’s featured vintages, including the winery’s 2023 field blend, 2018 syrah, 2018 petit verdot, 2019 Loon Labs merlot and the 2016 Loon Labs 50/50. Two Loons is located at 9422 22nd Ave NW.

At the BoatShop

There are still a few spaces left at the BoatShop’s summer camps where kids can learn a variety of maritime skills in the BoatShop’s classroom and on the water. There are camps for kids of all ages from pre-school to middle school. Register here.

Live music

Sarah Tweet provides the first set of music at the Waterfront Farmers Market on Thursday, July 3 at 1 p.m. Then Jesse Remmen takes the market stage at 3 p.m.

Friday, July 5, Lakin plays at Hidden Harbor Wine Library, 8805 N. Harborview Drive, Suite 104. Music starts at 4 p.m.

Chrissy Dykes brings a mix of country, folk, rock and soul to the Beer Vault Saturday, July 5 at 7 p.m. The Vault is located at 14004 Purdy Drive.

Summer Sounds at Skansie kicks off the 2025 music season Tuesday, July 8 at 6 p.m. with classic rock, country, pop and R&B by The Mixed Tape. The Summer Sounds continue every Tuesday evening through August. Bring a picnic or purchase food at a local eatery and enjoy a musical summer evening on the downtown waterfront.

At the movies

This week’s Summer Fest movie at the Galaxy Theatres in Uptown is “The Bad Guys,” playing at 10:15 a.m. and 4:25 p.m. Tuesday, July 1; 10 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, July 2; and 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Thursday, July 3. Starting Friday, it’s “The Garfield Movie” showing at 10 a.m. July 4 and 5; 9:45 a.m. Sunday, July 6; and 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Monday, July 7 and Tuesday, July 8. Summer Fest movies are just $2.

The Galaxy’s Flashback Cinema movie Wednesday, July 2 is the original “Ghostbusters.” See it Wednesday at 12:30 and 6 p.m. July 2m. Sunday’s Flashback movie is “Dirty Dancing,” the story of a rich girl (Jennifer Grey) who falls for a working-class dance instructor (Patrick Swayze) at a summer resort. Showtime is 12:30 p.m. on July 6. Flashback movies are just $4.