Arts & Entertainment

Whether you’re looking to be entertained or enlightened, Gig Harbor Now covers fun and informational events taking place in the community.

Day Tripper | Tacoma’s Museum District

Feb 28, 2024 | By: Mary Williams

Many of us think of Tacoma as the town where Highway 16 merges with Interstate 5, allowing us to travel north to Seattle or south to Olympia and beyond. And many of us of a certain age still harbor memories of the days when you knew you were in Tacoma because of the infamous “aroma

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Harbor Happenings | Delicious soup, beautiful bowls and a good cause

Feb 27, 2024 | By:

Buy a bowl, fill it with soup and know that you’re contributing to a good cause on Saturday, March 2, during the Empty Bowls event staged by the Gig Harbor chapter of Altrusa International. Local potters have created more than 800 bowls and a dozen restaurants are donating soup. Empty Bowls participants buy a handmade

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Gig Harbor Now and Then | Cold, hard facts about ice delivery in 1931

Feb 26, 2024 | By: Greg Spadoni

Our previous column’s subject transitioned from a failure to deliver fire to the successful delivery of ice. The Gig Harbor Now and Then local history question was: What was the name of the ice delivery man in Gig Harbor in 1931? Answer: Let’s see, what are the most obvious possibilities? Ice, Icicle, Cold, Chill, Cool,

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Harbor Happenings: Get out on the water with Pier Into the Night, Dock Walk

Feb 20, 2024 | By:

There are plenty of options this week for entertainment, education and civic engagement. Join Harbor WildWatch at 6 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22, at 7Seas Brewery for Pier into the Night, and see what’s lurking in the waters below the dock. Divers carry cameras into the harbor, while staff biologists and trained volunteers interpret what they

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Two in Tow & On the Go | Local places to take kids over mid-winter break

Feb 16, 2024 | By:

When we first moved to Washington, our family was surprised to find that many school districts here offer mid-winter break — a bonus five days off school around President’s Day each February. Given that we just had two weeks off school during the holidays for regular ‘ol winter break, we couldn’t believe this break was

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Harbor Happenings | Exploring local links to Steinbeck and a famous journey

Feb 14, 2024 | By:

Most locals know about the connection between Gig Harbor’s early settlers and Croatia. But the city also is connected with Monterey, California and Mexico’s Sea of Cortez. Historian Michael Kenneth Hemp will discuss the links and historical timelines of West Coast settlement, migration, first peoples, fisheries, local boat building and world-famous literary events at 2

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Two in Tow & On the Go | ‘Manhunt,’ bonfire and more DeMolay memories (Part II)

Feb 10, 2024 | By:

I first visited Fox Island’s Tacoma DeMolay Sandspit Park in 2021, when the kids and I were still the seeking out the Puget Sound’s elusive “real sand” beach after moving here from California. At the time, I’d never heard of the word “DeMolay” before. But I figured it was the last name of a local

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Two in Tow & On the Go | The history of the DeMolay club behind this PenMet park (Part I)

Feb 09, 2024 | By:

The sandspit is a slice of Washington geography that’s truly special around here — and unlike any place we’ve ever been. But, did you know this nature preserve also has a uniquely interesting social history filled with mystery and intrigue? Namely, in its past relationship to … a secret society. Have I got you hooked yet? Read on.

Have I go

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Harbor Happenings: More than 200 get a Night to Shine this week

Feb 07, 2024 | By:

More than 200 people with special needs will be treated like royalty with an evening of dancing, food, karaoke, limo rides and more at the annual Night to Shine celebration at the Tom Taylor YMCA on Friday, Feb. 9. The free, prom-like fun starts at 5 p.m. with an on-site hair-and-makeup-styling salon, flower corsages for

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City Council reinstates Creative Endeavor grants

Jan 30, 2024 | By:

The city of Gig Harbor’s $35,000 Creative Endeavor grants program is back on.  During a study session in November 2023, the council unanimously agreed to suspend the five-year-old grant program, which supports the arts. But a crowd turned out to criticize the move at the Dec. 11, 2023 council meeting. Many others emailed or called

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