Arts & Entertainment Community

Harbor Happenings | Weekend will be chalk full of fun

Posted on August 11th, 2026 By: Charlee Glock-Jackson

Chalk art will turn Gig Harbor’s waterfront sidewalks into a blocks-long art gallery during Chalk the Harbor from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15.

The event, sponsored by the Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance, includes live music, a community-created art project and appearances by the Puget Sound Glassblowing mobile hot shop and professional chalk artist Raziah Roushan. Roushan will create a huge maritime-themed mural at Skansie Park.

Chalk the Harbor 2025. Photo by Vince Dice

Skansie Park will also host a “Buoy Oh Buoy” community art project made up of fishing floats and nets embellished with hand-painted, nautical-themed tags. Pick up a blank tag, paint it and add it to the installation.

The park is also place to register for the chalk art competition and pick up free chalk. Registration will be open from 9 a.m. to noon in youth, teen, family, adult and group categories.

There will also be face painting, a tattoo station, art demonstrations by Ebb Tide Gallery members and a Float-a-Boat game to create, float and race your personal boat. Musicians will perform throughout the day, culminating in a finale showcase featuring musicians, theater groups and dancers.

Click here to read more Gig Harbor Now coverage of Chalk the Harbor.

Live theater

Ghostlight Performing Arts presents the rousing, fast-paced “Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged (again)” during the weekends of Aug. 15 and 16 and Aug. 22 and 23 at Sehmel Homestead Park, 10123 78th Ave. NW.

The free performances compress all of the Bard’s plays into a single, 90-minute romp. Showtimes are 6:20 p.m. all four nights.

Ghostlight Performing Arts stages “The Complete Works of Shakespeare Abridged (again)” at Sehmel Homestead Park.

Artists at the library

Meet painter Henry Caserotti and photographer Gay L. Johnson from 2 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at the Gig Harbor Library, 4424 Point Fosdick Dr. They’ll talk about their collaborative “Companion Plants” show currently on display. The exhibit features Caserotti’s paintings of flowers with Johnson’s flower photographs. One of Caserotti’s large paintings has been duplicated in a 1,000-piece puzzle that’s set out on the library’s puzzle table for visitors to work on.

Artist reception at TCC

Tacoma Community College’s Gig Harbor branch hosts a reception for artist Hugo Moro from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12. Moro’s up-cycled furniture and found art constructions are on display through Aug. 20. Moro’s work pays homage to his Cuban childhood, where he learned to create playthings from discards and weave together their stories. The show and reception are free and open to the public at 3993 Hunt St.

Round rocks and family fun

Harbor History Museum executive director Stephanie Lile will discuss the origins of Gig Harbor’s Round Rock contest, and the geology and history of round rocks, on Saturday, Aug. 15. Winners of this year’s contest will be announced and prizes awarded during this Humanities in the Harbor event that begins at 3:30 p.m. at 4121 Harborview Dr.

The museum hosts a family fun day at the Midway schoolhouse Wednesday, Aug. 12, with “day-at-school in 1915” sessions at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Throughout the day in the museum galleries, there will be story time, old-time crafts and games, a history scavenger hunt, hands-on artifacts and more. It’s all free with museum admission.

Midway School at Harbor History Museum.

Crescent Creek garden tidy-up

Volunteers will meet at 9:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 14, at Crescent Creek Park to tidy up the Native Habitat Demonstration Garden. Bring your gardening tools and help remove invasive plants, weed, prune and share plant care information.

Watershed field trip

The KGI Watershed Council will tour Thistledown Farm and the Pierce County Master Gardeners demonstration Garden on Wednesday, August 12. Meet at 9:45 a.m. at Sehmel Homestead Park, 7809 101st St. NW to carpool to Thistledown to learn about hügelkultur and row cover gardening techniques that improve soil health conserve water and support a healthy ecosystem. All are welcome to join the free field trip. Sign up here.

Master Gardeners also will discuss the Pierce County Conservation District’s farm program and sustainable techniques for home gardens.

Penrose Park adventure

Join local naturalists and historians for an evening of adventure and storytelling at Penrose Point State Park campground amphitheater at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15. Learn about the park’s human history and features like eelgrass meadows and huge old-growth trees. The park is located at 321 158th Ave SW. in Lakebay. The event is free, but a Discover Pass is required in state parks.

Waterfront walks

Volunteers from the Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance lead weekly and monthly walks along the downtown waterfront during the summer months.

The mile-long Skiffs to Spirits tour takes place at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12, and goes from Harbor History Museum to 7Seas Brewing, exploring Gig Harbor’s rich cultural history.

This month’s Pints, Myths and Maritime Spirits walk starts at 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, at Direction Apparel and ends at 7Seas Brewing. Tour guides offer an insider’s view of Gig Harbor’s industries and social life before and after prohibition. Tickets are $30 for adults or $10 for kids 12 and under.

Saturday’s Wonders of the Waterfront walk begins at 10 a.m. Aug. 15 at Donkey Creek Park, 8714 N. Harborview Dr. It focuses on the diversity of life and natural history of the waterfront. This free walk is approximately 1.5 miles long.

Walkers must arrange return transportation after these events.

Fox Island beach walks

Harbor WildWatch naturalists will lead free hands-on explorations of the near-shore environment at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, at two Fox Island locations: the boat launch at 203 Third Avenue, and the fishing pier at 1453 Ozette Drive. Walkers will discover the diversity of marine life, learn beach etiquette and have an opportunity to examine sea stars, crabs, sea anemones and other creatures that inhabit the low-tide zone.

Write in the Harbor

Early registration is open for Tacoma Community College’s annual Write in the Harbor workshop, scheduled for Nov. 6 and 7 at the Gig Harbor branch. This year’s event features author Suzanne Morrison. Get information here.

Row the Porpoise

The Gig Harbor BoatShop sponsors a free “row the Porpoise” experience every Sunday through Labor Day. Volunteers pull oars on a replica of the traditional gig used by the explorers who “discovered” Gig Harbor. It’s a unique way to see the harbor from the perspective of the sailors who named our town. Sign up here.

Food bank needs

Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH Food Bank needs the following items this month: cereal, rice, tuna, pasta and pasta sauce, canned proteins meats and mac and cheese. Take donations to the foodbank at 4303 Burnham Dr. during regular business hours.

Fun and games

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

The Beer Vault has trivia night at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays at 14004 Purdy Drive.

Ocean5 has trivia night at 6 p.m. Thursdays at 5268 Point Fosdick Drive. Ocean5 hosts a kids workshop for making handprint stepping stones for the garden, flowerbed or back yard at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12. The class costs $15. Sign up here.

Locust Cider hosts a women’s pinball tournament at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13. It’s an IFPA event with prizes and giveaways. The cidery also has trivia games at 6 p.m. Wednesdays and a crushed glass art party at 2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16. Prices for the art party range from $45 to $60 and include instruction and materials. Sign up here.

Play bingo every Monday and canasta every Thursday at Hidden Harbor Wine Library, 8805 N. Harborview, Suite 204. Games start at 4:30 p.m.

Live music

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

Hair Nation plays ’80s rock during at this week’s Summer Sounds concert starting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11 at Skansie Park.

Spanish flamenco guitarist El Colonel provides the tunes Thursday, Aug. 13 at the Waterfront Farmers Market in Skansie Park. The market runs from 1 to 6 p.m. Park free at the Church of Latter Day Saints parking lot on Rosedale and the Methodist Church on Pioneer Way and take the free shuttle to and from the market.

The Shy Boys and a Girl play classic rock at Uptown Gig Harbor’s final summer concert at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13.

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

PenMet Parks hosts My Guilty Pleasure, at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, at Harborstone Field at the PenMet Recreation Center, 2524 14th Ave. NW.

Ian Ayers plays laid-back island and reggae tunes at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14 at the Beer Vault, 14004 Purdy Dr.

Vaughn singer-songwriter Robbie Vee provides the music in the vineyard at Olalla Winery at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14. Tickets are $20 here.

Hidden Harbor Wine Library, 8805 N. Harborview Dr., Suite 204, has music by Lankin at 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15.

Joe Hayes performs an all-ages show at 6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at Locust Cider, 3207 57th St. Ct.

At the movies

The SummerFest movie at the Galaxy Theatres in Uptown this week is “The Wild Robot,” showing at 10 a.m. and 12:40 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, Aug. 11 through 13. Starting Friday, Aug. 14 it’s “Wonder,” the true story about a boy whose facial differences prevented him from attending mainstream school, until he enters the fifth grade and becomes an unlikely hero. Showtimes are 10 a.m. and 12:50 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14; 10:45 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 15; 10 a.m. Sunday, Aug. 16; and 10 a.m. and 12:50 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Aug. 17 and 18. SummerFest movies are just $3.50.

The Flashback Cinema movie at the Galaxy on Wednesday, Aug. 12, is “The Goonies.” Showtime is 6:15 p.m. At 2:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16 it’s “Dirty Dancing.” Flashback movies are just $7.

“From Dusk till Dawn” (1966) is Friday’s Fright Night movie at the Galaxy, with two criminals and their hostages who unknowingly seek temporary refuge in a truck stop populated by vampires. Showtime is 8:45 p.m. Fright Night tickets are just $6.

The Galaxy Classic film at 10 a.m. Monday, Aug. 17, is “East of Eden” (1955) starring James Dean. Tickets are just $5.

Civic engagement

The Gig Harbor City Council meets for a study session at 3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, to hear a tourism update from Visit Gig Harbor and discuss a Judson Subarea Plan and a proposed Multi-Family Tax Exemption (MFTE) program. See the agenda here.