Arts & Entertainment Community
Harbor Happenings | Lighted Car Parade, Holiday Village and Santa everywhere
As the clock ticks toward the new year, holiday festivities continue with lit-up cars on parade, musical celebrations and Santa everywhere.
Lighted Car Parade
The annual parade of vehicles bedecked in holiday lights starts at 5 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 20, at the Uptown shopping center. The Lighted Car Parade proceeds to the downtown waterfront and back. Here’s the parade route:
Santa’s Village in Uptown will be open from 4 to 5:30 p.m. that day with treats and games. Bring a donation of nonperishable food, personal items or new, unwrapped toys for donation to Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH Food Bank.
Santa is everywhere
The Holiday Village in the Ancich Park netshed is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Dec. 18 through 21. Santa will be there for photos from noon to 2:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 21 and 22. Free cocoa, cider and treats are available while supplies last.
Santa and his elves will make the rounds in Olalla starting at 10 a.m. Sunday, Dec. 21, on his big green tractor pulling a wagon loaded with goodies. He’ll end the day around 3 p.m. at Olalla Bay Market, where you can also contribute to the food donation bin.
Good little girls and boys can contact Santa at the North Pole by putting their wish-list letters in mailboxes in Skansie Park or at Olalla Bay Market. Every letter will get a personal reply from the jolly old elf if you post your letter by Dec. 20 and include your mailing address in your note.
Santa’s mailbox in Olalla
Curtain going down
The final performances of Ghostlight Performing Arts’ rendition of “A Christmas Carol” take place Friday and Sunday, Dec. 19 and 21, at Nichols Center on Fox Island. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Sunday Purchase tickets here.
Go outdoors
Harbor WildWatch biologists will be on the pier at 7Seas Brewing at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, to identify the underwater critters that divers, equipped with video cameras, film during Pier into the Night.
Potential sightings include feather-duster tube worms; sculpin and gunnels; red rock, kelp and graceful crabs; various nudibranch species; giant Pacific octopus, harbor seals and much more. Watch the divers’ real-time videos on the big video screen set up on the pier and learn how we can play a part in protecting our local waters and the creatures that call them home.
WildWatch staff will lead a low-tide beach walk at the Old Ferry Landing at the mouth of the harbor starting at 9 p.m. Saturday. Dec. 20. They’ll be looking for things that show how the beach changes from day to day and week to week.
Fun and games
The Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance’s gnome hunt continues through Dec. 31. Find all the gnomes hidden along the waterfront and you might win an I Love Gig Harbor blanket and a $50 gift card to a downtown business. Nearly 30 businesses are participating. Get more information here.
The Beer Vault hosts music bingo Wednesday, Dec. 17 starting at 6:30 p.m.
Wednesday is Trivia Night at the Float, 14511 Sherman Drive in Purdy. Gather your friends and compete for prizes while you test your knowledge of all things small and supposedly insignificant, starting at 7:15 p.m.
Hidden Harbor Wine Library, 8805 N. Harborview, Suite 204, has music bingo Saturdays from 4 to 6 p.m.
Solstice celebration
United by Music North America and other bands celebrate the Winter Solstice at the annual Fest 4 All on Sunday, Dec. 21.
Bands will play all day on three stages in Uptown, starting at noon with the Harbor Ukulele Group at Kindship Studio, followed at 1:15 p.m. by the United by Music band, and Kevin Cummings and other singer-songwriters at 3 p.m. Other performers include Gig Harbor Jazz from 1 to 3 p.m. at Sleep Number; and Rob Tudor and Dave McKibbin, Billy Stoops, James Coates and Melanie Vail and Friends at LeLe’s restaurant from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Live music
The Dmitri Matheny Group brings their “Santa’s got a brand new bag” vibe to the Olalla Winery at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19. The group features Dmitri Matheny on flugelhorn, Susan Pascal on vibraphone and Paul Gabrielson on bass. Tickets are $30.
The Profits take the stage at Kimball Coffeeshop at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 19. Free and family friendly. Kimball hosts an open mic Thursdays, with signups at 5:30 p.m.
The Kopachuck Middle School band plays at 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 19, at the Uptown pavilion. Then groups of band members will play carols throughout the shopping center.
At the movies
The 25th Anniversary edition of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” with Jim Carey as the green, Christmas-hating Grinch, screens at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 17, and 1 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 18, at the Galaxy Theatres in Uptown. Tickets are just $5.
The Flashback Cinema movie on Sunday, Dec. 21, is Frank Capra’s classic “It’s a Wonderful Life,” showing at 6:30 p.m. Flashback tickets are just $5.
The Galaxy hosts showings of the Royal Ballet’s performance of “The Nutcracker” on Sunday, Dec. 21, and Monday, Dec. 22. Showtimes are 1 p.m. Sunday and 6:30 p.m. Monday.
