Arts & Entertainment Community

Harbor Happenings | Happy birthday, America

Posted on June 30th, 2026 By: Charlee Glock-Jackson

Gig Harbor will wish a happy 250th birthday to the U.S.A. with a day of fun and games on Saturday, July 4.

The festivities begin at 10 a.m. with a kids and pets parade led by Ghostlight Performing Arts. Bring your bikes, strollers, wagons and pups bedecked in their best red, white and blue get-up. (Pets can receive a commemorative bandana while supplies last.) The parade starts on Judson Street and proceeds to Skansie Park. Registration costs $10 here.

A “patriotic flag-raising” begins immediately after the parade at Skasie Park. A pie-eating competition starts at 11:15 a.m. with contests for kids, adults and a “police vs. firefighters showdown.” No forks allowed – just full-face fun in a race against the clock. Register for the pie-eating contest here.

The festivities also include a pie-baking contest; a kids’ corner with games and hands-on crafts like finger-painting a giant American flag; a flag-themed public art project; live music, hot dogs and popcorn.

The Harbor Sounds of Freedom band, made up of members of the Puget Sound Veterans Band and Harbor Winds, will provide music.

Organizers of the party include the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance, Kiwanis Club, PenMet Parks, Tom Taylor Family YMCA and the city of Gig Harbor.

Click here for more information about this year’s Fourth, including local fireworks rules.

Guided beach walks

Join Harbor WildWatch to discover sea stars, crabs, sea anemones and other creatures that live on our local beaches and learn how to protect them. This week’s beach walks include:

Tuesday, June 30: 11 a.m. at Sunrise Beach, 10015 Sunrise Beach Dr.
Wednesday, July 1: 12:30 p.m. at the Fox Island fishing pier, 203 Third Ave.
Thursday, July 2: 12:30 p.m. at Penrose Point State Park, 321 158th Ave. SW in Lakebay.
Thursday, July 2: 12:30 p.m. at Manchester State Park, 7767 E. Hilldale Road in Port Orchard.

A Discover Pass is required in State Parks.

These programs are free, but donations are accepted.

Rachel Easton takes a picture of the mottled sea star during a low tide beach walk. Photo by Carolyn Bick. © Carolyn Bick.

Waterfront tours

Take a guided walk along the downtown waterfront from Harbor History Museum to the corner of Pioneer Way and Harborview Drive at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 1. Skiffs to Spirits tour leaders describe the rich history of Gig Harbor and point out cultural landmarks along the way. Walkers must arrange transportation back to the museum.

Row the Porpoise

The Gig Harbor BoatShop invites volunteers to help row the Porpoise, a 10-oared replica of the captain’s gig that “discovered” Gig Harbor more than 180 years ago, every Sunday. It’s a unique way to see the bay and the shoreline aboard the kind of boat that gave Gig Harbor its name. The community rows are free, but reservations are required.

The Porpoise rows toward the Tides Tavern. Photo by Chapin Day

Book discussion

The Gig Harbor Literary Society meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 7, at Harbor History Museum, 4121 Harborview Dr. to discuss “The Lager Queen of Minnesota” by J. Ryan Stradal. It’s the story of estranged sisters, separated when their father leaves his entire farm to the younger one who builds a beer empire, while the other struggles financially. Their paths cross decades later when a granddaughter breaks into the craft beer scene. Book discussions are free and all are welcome, whether or not you’ve read the book.

Altrusa free lunches

Altrusa Gig Harbor and Food 4All will provide free, nourishing sack lunches on Tuesdays and Thursdays starting July 7 for kids who usually receive free lunches at school. Lunches will be provided at noon at the Gig Harbor Library, 4424 Point Fosdick Dr. Interested in contributing to this effort? Altrusa’s wish list is here.

At the library

Teens can build model space shuttles and landing rovers and learn how scientists study space, Monday, July 6 at 2:30 p.m. at the library, 4424 Point Fosdick Dr.

Fun and games

Locust Cider, 3207 57th St. Ct., hosts trivia at 6 p.m. Wednesdays. On Thursday, July 9, it’s a Women’s Pinball Tournament with prizes and giveaways. Signups are at 6 pm. Games start at 6:30 p.m.

Hidden Harbor Wine Library has bingo at 4:30 p.m. Mondays; canasta at 4:30 p.m. Thursdays; and GlobeTilt Trivia at 6 p.m. Fridays. The Wine Library is at 8805 N Harborview Dr. Suite 204.

The Beer Vault, 14004 Purdy Dr., hosts a World Cup watch party at 5 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, when the U.S. Men’s National Team takes on Bosnia and Herzegovina . The Vault has trivia at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays. A cribbage tournament is planned for 2 p.m. Sunday, July 5, for seasoned players, beginners, and those who just want to learn the game. Monday, July 6 is Bunco night, starting at 6 p.m.

The Float, 14511 Sherman Dr. NW in Purdy, has karaoke from 8 p.m. to midnight Fridays.

Live music

KC and The Sound and Sarah Tweet provide the music at the Waterfront Farmers Market at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., respectively, on Thursday, July 2.

The Summer Sounds at Skansie concert series kicks off Tuesday, July 7 with a patriotic musical tribute to America’s 250^th birthday by the 133D Army Band (also known as the U.S. Army National Guard Band). Music starts at 6 p.m.

Kimball Coffeeshop hosts an open mic every Thursday, with signups at 5:30 p.m. and performances starting at 6 p.m.

Shawn Pratt of Northwest Chill hosts hosts open mic night on Friday, July 3, at The Beer Vault, 14004 Purdy Dr. All ages and skill levels are invited to share their musical talent.

Harbor Ukulele Group meets at 11 a.m. Saturdays at the library, 4424 Point Fosdick Dr., to share tunes. All are welcome.

At the movies

The SummerFest movie at the Galaxy Theatres in Uptown is “Dog Man” showing at 10 a.m. Tuesday and Wednesday, June 30 and July 1. Starting Friday, July 3 it’s “TMNT,” aka Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Showtime is 12:30 p.m. Friday, July 3; Saturday, July 4; Sunday, July 5; and Monday, July 6. SummerFest movies are just $3.50.

Wednesday’s Flashback Cinema movie at the Galaxy is “Spaceballs,” Mel Brook’s spoof of “Star Wars.” Showtime is 6 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, July 4 and 5 it’s “Jaws,” Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster about a killer shark terrorizing vacationers with a trio of shark hunters in pursuit. Showtime is 12:30 p.m. Flashback tickets are just $7.

The Friday Night Fright film on July 3 is “The Conjuring” (2013.) Showtime is 8:45 p.m. Fright Night tickets are just $6.

The Galaxy Classic movie Monday, July 6 is “Cool Hand Luke” (1967) starring Paul Newman. Classic tickets are just $5.

Civic engagement

The city of Gig Harbor Parks Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 1, to review a proposal from the Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance for an installation of artistically embellished buoys in Ancich Park. The commission will also select a representative for a stormwater park feasibility study. The meeting will be held at the Civic Center, 3510 Grandview St., and can also be accessed online.