Arts & Entertainment Community

Harbor Happenings | Volunteers sought for Parks Appreciation Day

Posted on April 28th, 2026 By: Charlee Glock-Jackson

Volunteers will tidy up six local parks for Parks Appreciation Day on Saturday, May 2.

Parks receiving attention include DeMolay Sandspit Park on Fox Island, Sehmel Homestead Park, Tubby’s Trail Dog Park, Wilkinson Farm Park, Grandview Forest Park and Soundview Forest Park. PenMet Parks and city of Gig Harbor staff need volunteers to help with pruning, trimming, planting, raking, weed-pulling, trail building and other tasks.

Work starts at 9 a.m. and takes place rain or shine. Tools, coffee and treats will be provided, but bring your own water and gloves. Sign up here to participate.

Canoe documentary

The Harbor History Museum will show the film “Makers on the Tide: The Willits Brothers Canoe Company” at 5 p.m. Saturday, May 2. The filmmakers will answer questions following the movie. Click here to read our story about the film from 2025.

Admission is free to museum members or $10 for non-members. RSVP is required by emailing [email protected].

The Willits brothers outside their Day Island shop in 1960. Willits Collection, Tacoma Public Library

On stage

Ghostlight Performing Arts’ production of Neil Simon’s female version of “The Odd Couple” continues at the Nichols Community Center on Fox Island.

Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday, May 1 through 3. Tickets cost $20 for adults or $15 for seniors and kids 12 and under. Buy them here.

Ghostlight Performing Arts actors rehearse “The Odd Couple.”

Sasquatch hunt ends

PenMet Parks’ Great Sasquatch Hunt ends Thursday, April 30, at McCormick Forest Park, where five sasquatches are hiding. Pick up a passport at the park, then mark it with the stamp attached to each sasquatch. When you’ve found all five sasquatches, turn in your passport at the PenMet Recreation Center, 2524 14th Ave. NW, for a prize.

Click here for information and clues. McCormick Forest Park is open from 7 a.m. to dusk at 10301 Bujacich Road NW.

Paintings and poems

Ebb Tide Gallery’s Ars Poetica, a show that ties together poems and the artworks that inspired them, continues through Thursday, April 30. The gallery is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 7809 Pioneer Way.

Across town, photographer Emily J. Won’s work is on display at Tacoma Community College’s Gig Harbor campus through June 12. The school will host a reception for Won from 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday, April 30. TCC is located at 3993 Hunt St.

Plants for moms

Wilco hosts a Mother’s Day planting event at noon Saturday, May 2. Kids ages 5 to 12 can plant a free flower for mom. Flowers and pots will be provided. Kids must be accompanied by an adult. Wilco is at 3408 Hunt St. NW.

Book discussion

The Gig Harbor Literary Society meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, at Harbor History Museum to discuss “Black Cake” by Charmaine Wilkerson. It’s a multigenerational saga about estranged siblings who inherit a traditional Caribbean black cake and a series of voice recordings that reveal shocking family secrets. All are welcome at Literary Society discussions whether or not you’ve read the book.

At the library

Professional songwriter Jeff Saxon will lead a songwriting workshop for teens from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 28, at the Gig Harbor library, 4424 Point Fosdick Dr.

The library’s Dungeons & Dragons club meets at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, May 3, for STEAM games, geared to kids ages 9–12.

Adult-oriented activities at the library include yoga at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 2, and a four-session introduction to Tai Chi at 10:30 a.m. on Sundays, May 3, 10, 17 and 24. Register for the Tai Chi classes here.

Kiwanis diaper drive

The Gig Harbor Kiwanis Club is accepting donations of new, unopened packages of diapers at Kimball Coffeeshop and other locations.

BoatShop summer camps

Registration is open for the Gig Harbor BoatShop’s four-week summer camps, which include hands-on learning and on-the-water experiences. The camps are geared to kids age 7 to 13. Register here.

Fun and games

The Hop Pharm, 3216 Judson St. Unit B, hosts bingo at 6 p.m. Wednesday, April 29, with five rounds and five chances to win prizes.

Play music bingo at the Beer Vault, 14004 Purdy Drive, at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 29.

The Beer Vault will host a cribbage tournament for seasoned pros, casual players and beginners at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 3. Bring your board and join the friendly competition.

Ocean5, 5268 Point Fosdick Dr., hosts Trivia Night at 6 p.m. Thursday. Bring your team and test your knowledge of pop culture, history, science and more. All ages are welcome.

Hidden Harbor Wine Library, 8805 N. Harborview Dr. Suite 204, has bingo at 4:30 p.m. Mondays and canasta at 4:30 p.m. Thursdays.

Locust Cider, 3207 57th St. Ct. (next to the Inn at Gig Harbor) has a candle making class at 1 p.m. Saturday, May 2. The $40 fee includes all supplies and instruction in the melt-and-pour process. Register here.

Belt out your favorite tunes at the Floatation Device’s karaoke night from 8 p.m. to midnight Fridays. The Float is at 14511 Sherman Dr. NW in Purdy.

Live music

The Triple Time string trio, featuring violinists Mary Manning and Gwendolyn Taylor and cellist Margaret Thorndill, will present an hour of classical music at 3:30 p.m. Friday, May 1, at Gig Harbor Audio, 3019 Judson St. The program includes selections from Bizet’s “Carmen,” selections from Handel’s “Water Music,” and wedding favorites like Bach’s “Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” and Pachelbel’s “Canon in D.”

Friday is singer/songwriter night at Olalla Winery with Angelina Adams, Thea Wescott, Lawrence “Pearls” Lambert and Kevin Cummings sharing their songs. Music starts at 6:30 p.m. Reserve tickets here.

Annie Eastwood’s Allstar Band provides the tunes at 7 p.m. Friday, May 1, at Kimball Coffeeshop, 6659 Kimball Dr. Kimball also hosts an open mic Thursday, April 30, with signups starting at 6 p.m.

At the movies

The Flashback Cinema movie at the Galaxy Theatres in Uptown on Wednesday, April 29, is “Speed Racer” showing at 2:30, 6 and 9:10 p.m. Sunday’s Flashback Movie is “Monty Python and the Holy Grail” with the British comedy troupe applying their humor to the legend of King Arthur and his Knights of the Roundtable. Showtime is 12:30 p.m. Flashback movies are just $5.

The Galaxy’s SummerFest movie series starts Friday, May 1 with “Minions: the Rise of Gru.” Showtimes are 10:15 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Friday, May 1; 10:15 a.m. Saturday, May 2; 10 a.m. Sunday, May 3; and 10:15 a.m. and 12:45 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, May 4 and 5. SummerFest movies are just $3.50

The Galaxy horror movie Friday, May 1 is “Carrie” starring Sissie Spacek as a timid 17-year old girl who discovers she has telekinesis and gets pushed to the limit by a prank on prom night. Also starring John Travolta. Showtime is 8:45 p.m. Tickets are just $5.

The Galaxy will show a Mystery Movie Sunday at 2 p.m. May 3. It’s a surprise movie for people who like to take a chance and discover something new, because the title won’t be announced until showtime. Mystery movies are just $5.

Civic engagement

City of Gig Harbor Public Works staff will host an open house from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 5, at Peninsula Baptist Church to discuss the upcoming 38th Avenue road project. The project is scheduled to start this spring and combines roadway, stormwater and sewer upgrades into a single project that will require complete closure of sections of the road for several months. Learn more about the project here.

The Gig Harbor City Council meets for a study session at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 30, to discuss proposed developments in Gig Harbor North and their impact on the roundabout at Borgen Boulevard/Burnham Drive/Canterwood Boulevard/Highway 16. Also on the agenda: updates to the city’s sign code; impacts of special events on city staff and recommended code changes; and updates to the city’s Strategic Plan. The meeting will be held at the Civic Center, 3510 Grandview St. and is also available on Zoom.