Community

Harbor Happenings | Art, music, Waldo and the Bard

Posted on July 14th, 2026 By: Charlee Glock-Jackson

The 40th iteration of Peninsula Art League’s Summer Art Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday, July 18 and 19, with more than 100 artists and crafts people selling baskets, ceramics, fiber arts, garden and glass art, jewelry, mosaics, paintings, photographs, wood items and more.

The festival takes place at Sehmel Homestead Park, 10123 78th Ave NW from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Free parking is available on site, or for those who prefer to park-and-ride, a free shuttle service will run between the festival site and Gig Harbor High School both days.

This year’s event also includes a kids corner and playground, an art-making booth and Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library. Members of the Greater Gig Harbor Literary Society will be on hand to talk about their work and sell autographed copies of their books.

Artist Beth Wright, of Peace Dog, left, sells Amaryllis Johnson a couple of bowties for her eight-month-old dog at the 2025 PAL Summer Art Festival. Photo by Carolyn Bick. © Carolyn Bick

Kimball Coffeehouse is organizing performances by local musicians who regularly participate in weekly open mic events, including Thea Wescott and Steve Feary, Chrissy Dykes and Jacob Vela, Andy Rebsamen and Cathy Curtis, The Gigsters, Mike and Chris Hasbrook, Tim Cox and the Secret Weapons, Joy Ride, Cheaper than Therapy and The Jim Valley Project. Bleacher seating will be available. Music performances are free.

Recent work by PAL members will be on display in a juried show at the Volunteer Vern Pavilion, and food trucks will be on site to keep bellies full and thirsts slaked.

For a site map, vendor list and other information click here.

Olalla Lavender Festival

Eight “Gathering Spots” are linked together in this year’s Olalla Lavender Festival Saturday and Sunday, July 18 and 19.

The Olalla Grange, 7554 SE. Fragaria Road, is the designated “Heart of the Festival” where visitors will find live music, food and craft vendors, activities such as guided nature walks and ecstatic dancing. The Grange is also the place to purchase wrist bands that provide admission to the gardens and other sites including Ooh La La Lavender Farm on Banner Road; Crescent Valley Lavender Farm for u-cut lavender and wreath-making demonstrations; Olalla Winery and Vineyard for sips and strolls through lavender fields; Astrid’s Lavender Farm for wreath making classes, a boutique and a farm tour; Spin Cider for hand-crafted cider, including lavender-inspired flavors; and Red Roof Ranch for u-pick lavender bundles, and lavender-infused ice cream, lemonade and bath products; and Olalla Bay Market for lavender-inspired specials and gorgeous waterfront views on the deck.

Tickets are just $10 for the entire weekend (free for kids under 16) and can be purchased at the Olalla Grange or online here.

Loving print in the digital age

Wednesday, July 15, at Harbor History Museum, University of Washington professor Geoffrey Turnovsky will discuss “Permanent Ink: Why we Love Print in the Digital Age” and why “old fashioned” technologies, like handwritten notes and printed books and newspapers, are still valid – and more popular than ever – in this age of digital overload. The free lecture starts at 6:30 p.m., sponsored by Humanities Washington. Following Turnovsky’s talk, attendees can try their hands at printing on a portable press. The museum is located at 4121 Harborview Drive.

Shakespeare in the park

Ghostlight Performing Arts will present a free performance of William Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” at 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, July 18,19, 25 and 26 in Doris Heritage Park, 10660 Harbor Hill Drive.

Summer kids theater performance

The Gig Harbor High School Summer Theatre Camp will present “Matilda Jr.” at 7 p.m. Friday, July 17. It’s the condensed Broadway Junior adaption of the Tony Award-winning “Matilda The Musical” based on the book by Roald Dahl. Matilda Jr. is the culminating production of this year’s GHHS summer theater camp for students in grades 3–8, and will be presented in the school auditorium at 5101 Rosedale St. Tickets are $5 and available here.

Fox Island market

The Fox Island Summer Arts and Crafts Market takes place from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, July 18, at Nichols Community Center, 690 9th Ave. with paintings, pottery, textiles, jewelry and more. Admission is free.

Sip and stroll

The Greater Gig Harbor Foundation’s annual Summer Sips & Stroll takes place from 3-8 p.m. Saturday, July 18 in Uptown shopping center, 4701 Point Fosdick Dr., with sips, sweet and savory bites and live music by Dave Thomas of The Shy Boys, Budapest West and Sweet Mary. Proceeds benefit the Lu Winsor Environmental Fund for local education, conservation, restoration, stewardship and watershed health. Tickets start at $17.85 and are available here.

At press time, volunteers were still needed to help set up, sell cider and gear, sell tickets and other Sip and Stroll tasks. Want to help? sign up here.

Plein air paint out

Members of the South Sound Plein Air group will have their easels set up along the waterfront and throughout downtown starting about 9 a.m. Saturday, July 18 to paint scenes “outdoors.” The practice was popularized by French impressionists such as Claude Monet and utilizes transportable paints and easels to capture the qualities of natural light and weather. The South Sound group includes watercolor artists, oil painters, urban sketchers and “anyone who loves to be outdoors creating art.” This is the first time the group has brought its Summer Plein Air Paint Out to Gig Harbor.

Indivisible Gig Harbor

Indivisible Gig Harbor is a grassroots coalition of citizens pursuing progressive action to transform the current political climate on the local, state and federal levels. The group will meet at 2 p.m. Sunday, July 19 at PenMet Headquarters, 2416 14th Ave. NW, to discuss how citizens and civic groups can resist threats to the upcoming midterm elections.

Find Waldo

Waldo and the Wizard Whitebeard are hiding in Gig Harbor this month. Stop by Invitation Bookshop, 3119 Judson St., to get a passport, then go looking in places like Harbor History Museum to find where the mini Waldo and his friend are hanging out. Be sure to stamp your passport when you spot them. Collect at least 10 stamps, then return your card to Invitation Bookshop for a prize. There will be a Waldo Party on Aug 1 where a grand prize winner will be drawn.

Also at Invitation Bookshop, authors Ann Putnam and Brenda Miller will read from their books at 1 p.m. Saturday, July 18. Both authors represent a special strand of Pacific Northwest literary culture: women writers who have turned grief into art. The readings are free and open to all.

FISH wish list

Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH Food Bank is asking for help filling the shelves this month with donations of peanut butter and jam; pancake mix and syrup; cooking oil; flour; sugar; cake mixes; nuts; juice, boxed snacks; cookies and crackers. Take donations to 4303 Burnham Dr. during regular business hours Monday through Friday.

At the library

Tacoma Pro Bono attorneys will answer questions about family law, consumer/debt issues, wills and estates, housing and other civil legal issues, from 4 to 5 p.m. Tuesday, July 14 at the library. Another free legal aid pop-up takes place at 10 a.m. Monday, July 20 at the Civic Center, 3510 Grandview St.

At 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 21, the library’s Teen Creative Space program will focus on customizing and upcycling accessories by embellishing them with beads and buttons. Geared to ages 13-18. Use the beads and buttons provided or bring your own. Library programs are free and open to all.

Fun and games

Locust Cider, 3207 57th St. Ct. (next to The Inn at Gig Harbor) hosts a Trivia Night at 6 p.m. every Wednesday. The cidery hosts a pinball tournament Thursday, July 16 with sign-ups at 6 p.m. and flippers-up at 6:30 p.m. It’s an IFPA event, with prizes and giveaways.

The Beer Vault has trivia games at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday. Wednesday, July 22 there’s music bingo at 6:30 p.m. with popular tunes as part of every game. Monday, July 20 is Bunco Night, at 6:30 pm. All are welcome to play for free. The Vault is located at 14004 Purdy Dr.

Ocean5, 5268 Point Fosdick Dr. has trivia at 6 p.m. every Thursday.

Hidden Harbor Wine Library has bingo at 4:30 p.m. every Monday and canasta at 4:30 p.m. every Thursday. Newcomers and long-time players are welcome. The Wine Library is located at 8805 N. Harborview Dr., Suite 204.

The Float, 14511 Sherman Dr. NW in Purdy, has karaoke from 8 p.m. to midnight every Friday. Be a rock star and sing your heart out.

Live music

Chicago Transit Experience pays tribute to 1970s and ‘80s groups like Chicago on Tuesday, July 13 for Summer Sounds at Skansie Park. On July 20, local favorites The Shy Boys and a Girl play a variety of covers at Summer Sounds. Music starts at 6:30 p.m. for the free, family-friendly shows.

KC and the Sound play tunes Wednesday, July 15 at 6:30 p.m. at Sehmel Homestead Park, 10123 78th Ave. NW. Free and family friendly.

Ron Fowler provides the music at the Waterfront Farmers Market Thursday, July 16. The market runs from 1 to 6 p.m., with dozens of flower, produce, crafts and food vendors. Park for free at the Church of Latter Day Saints on Rosedale, or United Methodist Church on Pioneer Way, and ride the free shuttle to the market.

Thursday, July 16, the Michael Crain Band plays classic Elvis and 1980s tunes at the Uptown pavilion, starting at 6 p.m. Uptown summer concerts are free and family friendly.

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

The Dmitri Matheny Group celebrates Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan and Louis Prima with “Louie, Louie, Louie” Friday, July 17 at the Olalla Winery. Music starts at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $30 here.

Northwest Chill plays at the Beer Vault Saturday, July 18 at 6 p.m. at 14004 Purdy Drive.

At the movies

This week’s SummerFest movie at the Galaxy Theatres in Uptown is the DreamWorks Animation’s comedy “The Bad Guys 2,” showing at 12:45 p.m. Tuesday, July 14, Wednesday, July 15 and Thursday, July 16. Starting Friday, July 17, it’s “A Minecraft Movie,” about a world where creativity is essential to survival. Showtime is 10 a.m. Friday, July 17 through Thursday, July 23; and also Friday July 17 at 12:40 p.m. SummerFest movies are just $3.50.

Wednesday’s Flashback Cinema movie at the Galaxy is “Mama Mia” with Meryl Streep heading an all star cast (and music by ABBA). Showtime is 6:30 p.m. on July 15. On Sunday, July 19, the Flashback movie is “The Never-ending Story,” the movie version of the children’s book about an 11-year old boy who loves to read, and his adventures in a magical world. Showtime is 12:40 p.m. Flashback tickets are just $7.

The Friday Night Fright film on July 17 is “The Ring” (2002), about a mysterious video tape that kills anyone who watches it. Showtime is 8:45 p.m. Friday Night Fright movies are just $6.

The Galaxy Classic movie Monday, July 20 at 10 a.m. is “A Streetcar Named Desire” (1951) with Vivien Leigh as an aging, disturbed Southern belle who moves in with her sister and has to contend with her brutal brother-in-law played by Marlon Brando. Classic movie tickets are just $5.

Civic engagement

The city council will hold a study session Thursday, July 16, 3 p.m. at the Civic Center. Tentative agenda items include review of moorage agreements and regulations for the commercial fishing homeport; and review and ranking of the 2027-28 Parks and Streets Capital Projects list.

The Planning Commission will meet Thursday, July 16 at 5:30 p.m. to review the basics of site design. Council and commission meetings are held at the Civic Center, 3510 Grandview St. and can also be viewed online.