Arts & Entertainment Community

Harbor Happenings | A discussion of pioneer families and a historic boat

Posted on July 22nd, 2025 By: Charlee Glock-Jackson

Of all the treasures in Harbor History Museum’s collection, perhaps the most impressive is the purse seiner Shenandoah.

The boat was built in Gig Harbor’s Skansie Brothers shipyard, but its story goes back to the island of Brac, Croatia. That’s where the Dorotich, Skansie, Kazulin, Gilich, Bez and Janovich families, all Gig Harbor pioneers, came from.

Museum Director Stephanie Lile will discuss the ways those families are tied to each other and the iconic fishing boat on Thursday, July 24. The presentation, dubbed “Journey from Old World to New: The Shenandoah’s Croatian Roots,” takes place at 6:30 p.m. at the museum, 4121 Harborview Drive. Admission is free to museum members; $5 for non-members. Make reservations here: [email protected].

The Shenandoah inside the newly enclosed Maritime Gallery at Harbor History Museum on Saturday, April 26. Photo by Vince Dice

Round Rock Contest opens this week

Entries in the museum’s annual Round Rock Contest can be turned in at the museum starting Wednesday, July 23. All entries must be found in Washington state, be naturally formed, no smaller than a ping-pong ball and no larger than a softball.

Submissions will be accepted from July 23 to Aug. 2. Winners will be announced Aug. 8, with several cash prizes awarded: $100 first prize; $50 second prize; $25 third prize; $15 fourth prize; $10 fifth prize. Learn more and download an entry form here.

Round rock winners of the past: first through fifth place rock display at the Harbor History Museum. Photo by Tonya Strickland.

Free lunches for kids

Food Backpacks 4Kids and the Gig Harbor Altrusa Club provide free, nutritious sack lunches to kids and teens every Tuesday and Thursday from noon until the lunches run out. Lunches are available at the skate park on Grandview Street (next to the Civic Center) and at the Gig Harbor Library at 4424 Point Fosdick Drive. Lunches are also available on the Key Peninsula at Gateway Park, 10405 Highway 302; Home Park, 17220 Eighth Ave. Ct.; and at the Key Peninsula Civic Center, 17010 S. Vaughn Road.

Low tide beach walks

Join Harbor WildWatch for guided walks on several local beaches this week:

Wednesday, July 23, 9:30 a.m.: Fox Island fishing pier, 1453 Ozette Dr.
Thursday, July 24, 10:30 a.m., Fox Island boat launch, 203 3rd Ave.
Friday, July 25, 11:30 a.m.: Penrose Point State Park, 321 158th Ave SW, Lakebay (Discover Pass required)
Saturday, July 26, 9:30 a.m.: Fox Island fishing pier, 1453 Ozette Dr.

WildWatch volunteers also lead walks on Jerisich Pier every Thursday during the waterfront farmers market. The walks take place from 2 to 3 p.m.

Wes, left, and Harbor WildWatch’s operations coordinator, Liz Racine, right, check out some barnacles attach to a rock. Photo by Carolyn Bick. © Carolyn Bick.

Live music

Seattle-based DJ Mia Maya provides the music for this week’s Summer Sounds at Skansie Park concert on Tuesday, July 22. Next Tuesday, July 29, Joel Gibson Jr. plays Northwest-style country and rock at the park. The music starts at 6 p.m. Free and family friendly.

The Profits play this week’s Summer Concerts in the Park at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 23, at Sehmel Homestead Park. Free and family friendly.

Taylor Eno plays at this week’s Waterfront Farmers Market at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 24. The Fabulous Murphtones play at 3:30 p.m. The market takes place from 1 to 6 p.m. every Thursday at Skansie Park.

On Thursday, July 24, the Shy Boys and a Girl play at the Uptown Pavilion at 6 p.m. Bring a donation of non-perishable food for the FISH collection box.

The Hook Me Up band plays pop, rock, jazz, Latin and blues at Olalla Winery at 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 25. Make reservations here.

Kevin Cummings plays covers of classic blues, country and more at 7 p.m. Saturday, July 26, at the Beer Vault, 14004 Purdy Drive.

Locust Cider has an open mic from 6 to 9 p.m. every Monday, with signups at 5 p.m. On Friday, July 25, it’s Cider and Salsa with dancing and beverages from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at 3207 57^th St. Ct.

Kimball Coffeehouse’s open mic is from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, with signups at 5:30 p.m.

At the movies

The Gig Harbor Film Festival’s Monday Movie for July is “Friendship” showing at 6:30 p.m. July 28 at the Galaxy Theatres in Uptown. It’s about trying to make friends as a socially awkward adult when the craziness of family dysfunction creates a fine link between insanity, absurdity and hilarity. Get tickets here.

This week’s Summer Fest movie at the Galaxy is “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” playing at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 22; 10 am. and 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 23; and 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Thursday, July 24. Starting Friday, July 25, it’s “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.” Showtimes are 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday, July 25; 10 a.m. Saturday, July 26; 9:45 a.m. Sunday, July 27; and 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Monday and Tuesday, July 28 and July 29. Summer Fest movies are just $2.

The Flashback Cinema movie at the Galaxy on Wednesday, July 23 is “Batman Forever” with Val Kilmer in the title role and Jim Carrey as The Riddler. Showtime is 6 p.m. On Sunday, July 27 the Flashback movie is “Mama Mia” with the music of Abba and an all-star cast headed by Meryl Streep. “Mama Mia” plays at 12:30 p.m. July 27.

For opera lovers, the Met’s summer encore of Verdi’s timeless tragedy “La Traviata” plays Wednesday, July 23. Showtimes are 1 and 6:30 p.m.

Civic engagement

The Red Cross will host a blood drive from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday, July 28, at the Civic Center on Grandview Street. Appointments are encouraged, but walk-ins are welcome as space allows. Click here to schedule a donation time.

The Gig Harbor City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, July 28, in the Civic Center. The agenda includes a resolution to put a Cultural Access program sales tax on the Nov. 4 ballot; first reading of an ordinance regarding a new sign code; and a public hearing relating to transportation impact fees. In addition, city staff will present a quarterly budget update and a report on annual crime statistics. Council meetings can also be viewed online via Zoom.