Arts & Entertainment Community
These are the biggest dates of 2026 in Gig Harbor
It’s not too early to start planning for the biggest events of 2026 in Gig Harbor.
From Restaurant Week to the Maritime Gig Festival to the Christmas tree lighting, there’s something happening every month in the area. Mark down these dates for the year’s events.
See something missing? Email details to [email protected] and we’ll update this list.
February
Feb. 3: Peninsula School District Jazz Night, 6:30 p.m., at Peninsula High School.
Feb. 5 and 6: Quincy Jones Jazz Festival, Olympic College in Bremerton. The Gig Harbor High and Goodman Middle school bands will perform.
Feb. 7: Regional Instrumental Solo and Ensemble Contest, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Peninsula High School.
Feb. 16 through 20: Mid-winter break in the Peninsula School District.
Feb. 23: Gig Harbor Film Festival Monday Movie Night, 6:30 p.m., Galaxy Theatres Uptown
March
March 7: The Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance’s Chowder Fest, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at participating businesses along the downtown waterfront.
March 7: Empty Bowls, the annual fundraiser by Altrusa Gig Harbor, is from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chapel Hill Church, 7700 Skansie Ave. The event raises funds to feed the hungry in our community.
March 8 through 14: The alliance’s Restaurant Week, highlighting restaurants, cafés and tasting rooms along the downtown waterfront.
March 14: Shamrock’n the Harbor, a St. Patrick’s Day-themed fun run staged by the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation.
March 17: Pacific Lutheran University Jazz Festival in Tacoma. The Gig Harbor High School band will perform.
March 30: Gig Harbor Film Festival’s Monday Movie Night, 6:30 p.m., Galaxy Theatres Uptown
April
April 1 through 30: PenMet Parks’ Great Sasquatch Hunt.
April 4: Spring Egg Hunt at Sehmel Homestead Park.
April 4: The Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce’s Fools Run 5K in downtown Gig Harbor.
April 13 through 17: Spring break in the Peninsula School District.
April 14-17: Crew School at the Gig Harbor BoatShop.
April 23: Poetry in the Harbor, a celebration of National Poetry Month at the Gig Harbor campus of Tacoma Community College.
April 25 and 26: The Gig Harbor Paddlers Cup, featuring races for paddlers of all ages and experience levels hosted by the Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Racing Team. The annual Dragon Boat Races are Sunday, April 26.
April 27: Gig Harbor Film Festival’s Monday Movie Night, 6:30 p.m., Galaxy Theatres Uptown.
May
May 7 through 9 and 15 through 17 – “Into the Woods,” a musical produced by Gig Harbor High School. Times vary.
May 16 – Gig Harbor Beer Festival, a fundraiser for the Gig Harbor Kiwanis Club, at Uptown.
May 21: The first Waterfront Farmers Market of 2026, from 1 to 6 p.m. at Skansie Brothers Park. The farmers market continues every Thursday through the end of August.
May 25: Gig Harbor Film Festival’s Monday Movie Night, 6:30 p.m., Galaxy Theatres Uptown.
Asparagus, apples and other produce for sale at a booth at the Waterfront Farmers Market on May 22, 2025. Photo by Vince Dice
June
Farmers Market: From 1 to 6 p.m. Thursdays through the end of August, Skansie Brothers Park.
June 6 and 7: Maritime Gig Festival. The Maritime Gig Grande Parade starts at 10 a.m. June 6. The theme will be Stars and Stripes. Events on Sunday, June 7, include the Blessing of the Fleet.
The annual Gig Harbor Maritime Festival Parade on June 7, 2025.
June 20: Gig Harbor High School graduation, 3 to 4:30 p.m. at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma.
June 20: Peninsula High School graduation, time TBA, at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma.
June 21: Fest 4 All, Summer Solstice Make Music Day, noon to 9 p.m. at Uptown Gig Harbor.
June 23: Last day of school in the Peninsula School District.
June 27: PrideFest takes place at Skansie Brothers Park, time TBA.
June 29: Gig Harbor Film Festival’s Monday Movie Night, 6:30 p.m., Galaxy Theatres Uptown.
July
Farmers Market: From 1 to 6 p.m. Thursdays through the end of August, Skansie Brothers Park.
July 4: A parade and other festivities are planned in downtown Gig Harbor for the 250th anniversary of Independence Day.
July 7: The Summer Sounds at Skansie concert series launches at 6 p.m. at Skansie Brothers Park. The 133d Army Band will perform.
July 8, 15, 22 and 29: PenMet hosts summer concerts from 6:30 to 9:30 on Wednesdays in July at Sehmel Homstead Park.
July 9: The Uptown Gig Harbor concert series, from 6 to 8 p.m.
July 14: Chicago Transit Experience plays during the Summer Sounds at Skansie concert series at 6 p.m. at Skansie Brothers Park.
July 16: The Uptown Gig Harbor concert series, from 6 to 8 p.m.
July 18 and 19: The Peninsula Art League Sumer Art Festival at Sehmel Homestead Park.
July 21: The Shy Boys and a Girl play the Summer Sounds at Skansie concert series at 6 p.m. at Skansie Brothers Park.
July 23: The Uptown Gig Harbor concert series, from 6 to 8 p.m.
July 27: Gig Harbor Film Festival’s Monday Movie Night, 6:30 p.m., Galaxy Theatres Uptown.
People who have come to listen to The Mixed Tape open Summer Sounds fill the water and park. Photo by Carolyn Bick. © Carolyn Bick
July 28: Boogie Blvd plays the Summer Sounds at Skansie concert series at 6 p.m. at Skansie Brothers Park.
July 30: The Uptown Gig Harbor concert series, from 6 to 8 p.m.
August
Farmers Market: From 1 to 6 p.m. Thursdays through the end of August, Skansie Brothers Park.
Aug. 4: The Mixed Tape plays the Summer Sounds at Skansie concert series at 6 p.m. at Skansie Brothers Park.
Aug. 6: The Uptown Gig Harbor concert series, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Aug. 8: The Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance’s annual Chalk the Harbor festival.
Aug. 7, Aug. 14, Aug. 21: PenMet Parks hosts summer concerts from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Fridays in August at the Recreation Center, 2524 14th Ave NW.
Aug. 11: Hair Nation plays the Summer Sounds at Skansie concert series at 6 p.m. at Skansie Brothers Park.
Aug. 13: The Uptown Gig Harbor concert series, from 6 to 8 p.m.
Aug. 18: Brian James Was Here plays the Summer Sounds at Skansie concert series at 6 p.m. at Skansie Brothers Park.
Aug. 23: Gig Harbor Film Festival’s Monday Movie Night, 6:30 p.m., Galaxy Theatres Uptown.
Aug. 25: Non Jovi plays the Summer Sounds at Skansie concert series at 6 p.m. at Skansie Brothers Park.
Chalk the Harbor 2025. Photo by Vince Dice
September
Sept. 2: First day of the 2026-27 school year in the Peninsula School District.
Sept. 12: Harbor Hounds, organized by The Rotary Club of Gig Harbor, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Skansie Brothers Park.
Sept 18 through 20: The Open Studio Tour features free, self-guided tours of local artists’ studios from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Sept. 26: The Asia Pacific Cultural Center hosts the ChuSeok Korean Festival from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Skansie Brothers Park.
Sept. 18 through 20: The USA Stand-Up Paddleboard Championship will be at the Narrows Challenge, hosted by the Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Racing Team.
Sept. 24 through 27: The Gig Harbor Film Festival at the Galaxy Theatres Uptown.
The 5th Annual APCC Korean ChuSeok Festival at the Skansie Family Park in downtown Gig Harbor on Saturday, September 27, 2025.
October
Oct. 3: PenMet Parks’ Scarecrow Festival starts at 11 a.m. at Sehmel Homestead Park
Oct. 23: Trick or Treat with PenMet Parks, 5:30 to 7 p.m., at the Recreation Center, 2524 14th Ave NW.
Oct. 26: Gig Harbor Film Festival’s Monday Movie Night, 6:30 p.m., Galaxy Theatres Uptown
Oct. 30: Master pumpkin carver Russ Leno will carve a giant pumpkin at Uptown Gig Harbor.
Oct 31: Trick or Treat the Harbor, 3 to 6 p.m.
2022 Scarecrow Festival attendees pose in front of the sign at Sehmel Homestead Park on Oct. 1, 2022. Vince Dice
November
Nov. 6: Write in the Harbor, a writers’ conference at the Gig Harbor branch of Tacoma Community College.
Nov 14: Shop the Harbor, the Downtown Waterfront Alliance’s holiday shopping kick-off.
Nov. 26: Turkey Trot, a Thanksgiving day 5K that benefits area food banks.
Nov. 28 and 29: Peninsula High Winterfest, an arts and crafts show that benefits the school’s ASB.
Nov. 30: Gig Harbor Film Festival’s Monday Movie Night, 6:30 p.m., Galaxy Theatres Uptown
December
Dec. 5 and 6: Gig Harbor High’s Tidefest, an arts and crafts show that benefits the school’s ASB.
Dec. 5: Christmas tree lighting at Skansie Brothers Park.
Dec. 5: PenMet Parks’ Jingle Bell Breakfast, 8 a.m. to noon.
Dec. 6: Menorah lighting in Skansie Park
Dec. 12: Lighted boat parade
Dec. 19: Lighted Car parade, starting and ending at Uptown Gig Harbor
The fully lit city of Gig Harbor Christmas tree, as seen from across the harbor. Photo by Chapin Day