Arts & Entertainment Community

Harbor Happenings | Cruise the Narrows, Crime Con, Kopachuck re-opening are this week

Posted on July 29th, 2025 By: Charlee Glock-Jackson

Crime and classic cars headline this week’s calendar.

Classic car enthusiasts will convene at Uptown Gig Harbor from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2 for the annual Cruise The Narrows Car Show.

Expect to see everything from classic Model T’s to Volkswagen Beetles, Ford Thunderbirds and other nostalgia-inducing rides. Proceeds from car entries benefit the Gig Harbor Cruisers scholarship fund that supports local youth programs.

A look down on the Cruise the Narrows car show at Uptown. Photo by Dennis Browne

West Sound Crime Con

The inaugural West Sound Crime Con takes place Friday through and Sunday, Aug. 1 through 3, at locations from Bainbridge Island to Gig Harbor. Best-selling authors and true crime experts will dig into some of the Northwest’s most notorious cases.

At 2 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2, Harbor History Museum will host a presentation by author and Portland TV personality Anne Jaeger, a longtime friend of true crime writer Ann Rule. Jaeger will talk about their three-decade friendship and some of the adventures they shared, including several encounters with notorious criminals. The museum is located at 4121 Harborview Drive. The event is free, but reservations are required.

Other nearby Crime Con events include a discussion with writer D. D. Black about his best-selling Thomas Austin series, which is set in Kitsap County. Black talks at 5 p.m. Saturday at Olalla Bay Market and Landing, 13965 Crescent Valley Road S.E. Free.

Jaeger will sign copies of her latest book, “The Rule of Crime,” at noon Sunday, Aug. 3, at Olalla Bay Market. “Paranormal Pete” Orbea will talk about the ghosts that are said to haunt locations throughout the Northwest at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Olalla Grange, 7554 S.E. Fragaria Road. Both events are free.

Crime Con is the brainchild of Olalla true crime writer Gregg Olsen. His books include “If You Tell,” “The Amish Wife,” “I Know Where You Live,” “The Hive,” “Lying Next to Me” and “The Last Thing She Ever Did.”

Kopachuck State Park re-opens

Kopachuck State Park celebrates its official re-opening from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2.

The park has been undergoing extensive changes since laminated root rot was discovered in some of its evergreen trees in 2011. Renovations include a new outdoor amphitheater, a new playground, upgraded parking areas, a new office and Welcome Center and ADA improvements.

The renovated Kopachuck State Park opens Saturday, Aug. 2. Photo by David Hollenback

Book discussion

The Gig Harbor Literary Society’s book group meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 5, at Harbor History Museum to talk about “Wives of Henry Oades” by Johanna Moore.

When Oades accepts an accountancy post in New Zealand, his wife, Margaret and their children follow him. But their new home is not what they expected and Margaret and the kids are kidnapped. After months of searching in vain for his family, Oades moves to California, where he marries Nancy Foreland, a young widow with a new baby. They are happy in the midst of their sorrow – until Henry’s first wife and children suddenly appear. It’s a story based on a real-life legal case.

Meat raffle

The Floatation Device holds a meat raffle from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. every Tuesday, with proceeds benefitting Food Backpacks 4 Kids and Little Free Pantries in Gig Harbor and the Key Peninsula. The raffles are presented by Gig Harbor’s Midday Rotary. Must be present to win. The Float is located at 14511 Sherman Dr. in Purdy.

Live music

Joel Gibson Jr. plays Northwest country and rock at 6 p.m. Tuesday, July 29, at Skansie Park as part of the city’s Summer Sounds music series. Next Tuesday, Aug. 5, it’s the new wave cover band A Flock of 80s. Summer Sounds concerts are free and family friendly.

Sounds Like Dolores plays rock hits for PenMet Parks’ Summer Concerts at at Sehmel series at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, at Sehmel Homestead Park.

Lukas Music performs at the Gig Harbor Waterfront Farmers Market at 1 p.m. Thursday, July 31; and KC and The Sound play at 3:30 p.m.

Meghanne Story brings her alternative folk sounds to the Uptown Pavilion starting at 6 p.m. Thursday, July 31.

The Olalla Winery hosts Two Macs and Friends for an outdoor show at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1. Reserve tickets here.

The Jim Valley Project takes the stage at Kimball Coffeehouse at 7 p.m. Friday. Doors open at 6 p.m. Kimball also hosts an open mic every Thursday at 6 p.m., with signups at 5:30 p.m.

At the movies

PenMet’s Summer Movies in the Park kicks off Friday, Aug. 1 at Sehmel Homestead Park with a showing of “The Wild Robot” at 6:30 p.m.

This week’s Summer Fest movie at the Galaxy Theatres in Uptown is “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish,” showing at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Tuesday, July 29 and Thursday, July 31; 9:45 a.m. and 3:15 p.m. Wednesday, July 30. Starting Friday, Aug. 1 the Summer Fest movie is “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie” showing Friday at 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.; 10 a.m. Sunday through Tuesday, Aug 3 through 5; and 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, Aug. 6 and 7. Summer Fest movies are just $2.

Wednesday’s Flashback Cinema movie is “Mama Mia” showing at 6 p.m. On Sunday, the Flashback movie is “The Blues Brothers” starring John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd. Showtimes are noon and 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3; and 6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 6. Flashback movies are just $4.

For opera lovers, The Met’s Summer Encore movie on Wednesday, July 30 is “Romeo et Juliette” with Soprano Nadine Sierra and tenor Benjamin Bernheim as the star-crossed lovers in Gounod’s adaption of the classic Shakespearean tragedy. Showtimes: 1 and 6:30 p.m.

Civic engagement

The Gig Harbor City Council meets for a study session at 3 p.m. Thursday, July 31, at the Civic Center on Grandview Street. Agenda items include a discussion of the concepts for development of Crescent Creek Park, and reviews of the city’s parks code, development code and sign code.