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Holiday Happenings | ‘Tis the season. Here’s how to celebrate in Gig Harbor
From secular to sacred and from creative to contemplative, the Gig Harbor area is overflowing with holiday activities.
Fairs, festivals and holiday markets
The holiday season begins with the 33rd annual Winterfest Arts and Crafts show at Peninsula High School on Saturday, Nov. 29, and Sunday, Nov 30. More than 150 artists and crafts people will sell their work. The school’s clubs will also be on hand selling food and other goods.
The event also features music and other holiday-themed entertainment. Winterfest hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. PHS is located at 14105 Purdy Dr. NW.
Gig Harbor High School’s TideFest is Dec. 6 and 7.
Gig Harbor High School follows suit on Dec. 6 and 7 with the annual TideFest arts fair. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 pm. Saturday and 11 am. to 4 p.m. Sunday. GHHS is located at 5110 Rosedale St. NW. Admission is $5.
Proceeds from both art fairs support school clubs and activities.
Gnomes and more
The Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance hid dozens of gnomes at businesses in the downtown area. Find them all and you might win an I Love Gig Harbor blanket and a $50 gift certificate. The month-long hunt starts Dec. 1. Click here for details on this year’s There’s Gnome Place Like Home scavenger hunt.
Harbor History Museum hosts a holiday market Saturday, Dec. 13, and Sunday, Dec. 14, with crafts vendors, museum store specials and photos with Father Christmas. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free.
Artist Mardi Rees opens her studio for a Christmas Show from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 7. Browse her art and enjoy hot cocoa and cookies at 13515 82nd Ave. NW
Tree lighting
The city of Gig Harbor will light its Christmas tree at Skansie Park on Saturday, Dec. 6, during an evening filled with music and merriment. Festivities start at 4:30 p.m. and include live music, holiday vendors and free cookies and cocoa. Mayor Mary Barber will turn on the tree’s lights.
The city of Gig Harbor tree lighting celebration in 2023. Photo by Julie Warrick Ammann
Lighted boat and car parades
Dozens of boats decorated with colored lights brighten the harbor starting at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Good viewing locations for the Lighted Boat Parade include Skansie Park, Jerisich Dock, the Maritime Pier, Ancich Waterfront Park, the Bogue Viewing Platform and waterfront restaurants.
Lighted Boat Parade attendee Cathy Grisdale, right, admires Marty Hobbs’ boat. Photo by Carolyn Bick © Carolyn Bick 2024
The following Saturday, Dec. 20, Uptown hosts the annual lighted car parade and Santa’s Village. The Village is open from 4 to 6 pm. at the pavilion; the parade starts at 4 p.m., with 100 decorated vehicles proceeding to the downtown waterfront and back to Uptown. Click here to register your vehicle for the parade.
St. Lucia Festival
The Harbor History Museum celebrates Gig Harbor’s Scandinavian roots during St. Lucia Festival from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 5. The event features children’s procession, games, Swedish treats and live music. Admission is free to museum members or $6 per person for ages 5 and older. The museum is at 4121 Harborview Drive.
Holiday village
Stop by the netshed at Ancich Waterfront Park to visit six holiday-themed displays that make up this year’s Holiday Village. The village will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the three weekends before Christmas: Dec. 6 and 7; Dec. 11 through 14; and Dec. 18 through 21. Santa will be there from noon to 2:30 p.m. Dec. 13, 14, 21 and 22.
The Holiday Village at Donkey Creek Park in 2024. Photo by Vince Dice
Live theater
Ghostlight Performing Arts presents an adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol” at the Nichols Center on Fox Island, on Dec. 5, 6, 7, 12, 14, 19 and 21. Ticket prices are $20 general admission; $15 for seniors and kids under 12. Order them here. The Nichols Center is located at 690 9th Ave. on Fox Island.
Santa is everywhere
When he’s not greeting good little girls and boys at the Holiday Village, Santa will tour local neighborhoods aboard a Gig Harbor Fire and Medic One truck Dec.1 thru 5, collecting non-perishable food and toys. Click here to find Santa’s tour schedule.
Enjoy a Jingle Bell breakfast and visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus starting at 8 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 13, at Swift Water Elementary School. Click here to reserve your time for photos with the jolly old elf and his lovely wife. It’s free, but there’s a suggested donation of $5 per person or $20 per family. Registrations are required.
On Sunday, Dec. 21 Santa and his elves will make the rounds of Olalla on his big green tractor handing out goodies to good little girls and boys. A map of Santa’s route will be published on the Fans of Olalla Facebook page.
It won’t be difficult to find Santa and Mrs. Claus in Gig Harbor.
Santa’s BoatShop
The Gig Harbor BoatShop will transform into Santa’s BoatShop, where kids ages 3 and up can build and paint model boats, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6. The fee ($20 for BoatShop members; $25 for non-members) includes all materials. Reserve your space here.
Also at the BoatShop on Dec. 6, kids 4 and younger can hear stories about boats and also “The Cajun Night Before Christmas” at a special edition of Tales at the BoatShop. There will also be a craft-making activity. Tales takes place at noon and 2 p.m. It’s free, but kids must be accompanied by an adult.
Harbor Lights boat tours
See the holiday lights from the water aboard a 42-foot private sailboat. Each hour-and-a-half tour includes music, hot chocolate and adult beverages and cookies. Cruises take place Saturday, Dec. 6 through Tuesday, Dec. 23 and can accommodate up to six people. Prices start at $295. Reserve space here.
Wine tasting
The Kiwanis Club will host a holiday wine tasting at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 6, at the Gig Harbor Yacht Club, 8209 Stinson Ave.
Cookie decorating
The Beer Vault will have a cookie decorating party at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. The $60 fee covers cookies, decorating materials, instruction and a fancy box for your goodies. Reserve space here.
Religious services
Chabad Pierce County will host an all-invited celebration to light a giant menorah in Skansie Park at 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14. Free latkes and donuts will also be served. Please RSVP here so Chabad can prepare enough food.
Lamplighters light the Chanukah menorah at Skansie Brothers Park in Gig Harbor, Washington, on Dec. 29, 2024. Photo by Carolyn Bick. © Carolyn Bick
Chabad will host a Chanukah Village in the downtown district from 3 to 5:45 p.m. Dec. 14, with select shops providing hands-on Chanukah activities and special treats. Cost is $20 per child. Reservations are required for Chanukah village events.
Numerous churches will host candlelight services on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24:
- St. Nicholas Catholic Church, 3510 Rosedale St.: at 3, 6 and 10 p.m.
- Gig Harbor United Methodist Church, 7400 Pioneer Way: 4 and 7 p.m. Gig Harbor UMC will also have a “Blue Christmas” hour of peaceful music, candlelight and rest at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec.18.
- Peninsula Lutheran Church, 6509 38th Ave.: 4 to 5 p.m.
- Peninsula Christian Fellowship, 3114 45th St. Ct.: Joint candlelight service with Calvary Fellowship, 7 p.m.
- St. John’s Episcopal Church, 7701 Skansie Ave.: 5 and 8 p.m. The 5 p.m. service includes a children’s pageant.
- Discovery Bible Church, 4902 Gustafson Dr.: 6 p.m.
- Chapel Hill Church, 7700 Skansie Ave.: 2, 4, 6 and 8 p.m.
- Harbor Covenant Church, 4901 Gustafson Dr.: 4 p.m. Harbor Covenant also has a Jingle Jam at 4 p.m. Dec. 14.
- Discovery Bible Church, 4902 Gustafson Dr. hosts The Living Nativity, a free walk-through Christmas experience, from 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 6 and 7.
Live music
The Goodman Middle School Bands will play a Jingle and Mingle winter concert at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 11. Goodman is located at 3701 38th Ave NW.
Celebrate the season with an afternoon of holiday music performed by the Peninsula Community Chorus at 3 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 13. Dubbed “Christmas Time is Here” the concert will feature classic Christmas favorites and songs that capture the spirit of the holidays. The concert takes place at Peninsula High School, 14105 Purdy Drive. Tickets are $10 general admission or $7 for seniors and students.
Mary Manning’s violin and viola students will present a winter recital at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 14 at Agnus Dei Lutheran Church, 10511 Peacock Ave.
Harbor Winds plays a holiday concert at 3 p.m. Sunday, Dec.14 at Gig Harbor High School, 4905 Rosedale Street. Key Peninsula residents can take a free shuttle to and from the concert. Admission is free with suggested donation of $10. RSVP here.
The Kopachuck Middle School band will play a free concert at the Uptown pavilion at 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18.
Celebrate the winter solstice on Sunday, Dec. 21 at Make Music Day with musicians playing holiday selections and other tunes throughout Uptown. The music starts at noon and continues through the evening.
At the movies
The Galaxy Theatres in Uptown will celebrate the season with “Elf,” showing Dec. 6, 7 and 10; and the annual Toys for Tots Polar Express extravaganza on Saturday, Dec. 6.
The Flashback movie on Dec. 21 and Christmas Eve is the classic “It’s a Wonderful Life.”
Ballet lovers will enjoy the Royal Ballet’s performance of “The Nutcracker” showing Sunday, Dec. 21 and Monday, Dec. 22.
