Arts & Entertainment Community
Harbor Happenings | Celebrating veterans
Gig Harbor will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and mark the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks at the annual Veterans Day celebration on Wednesday, Nov 11. The event is sold out.
Said to be the largest indoor Veterans Day event in Washington state, it will take place at the Vintage Aero Museum, 1108 26th Ave. NW, with lunch, patriotic speakers and live music starting at 11:30 a.m.
Veterans Day lunch at the Senior Center
The Gig Harbor Senior Center hosts a special lunch to honor those who served at noon Wednesday, Nov. 11.
Anyone is welcome to enjoy herb-roasted turkey breast, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberry sauce, green beans, dinner rolls and warm apple pie a la mode. Make reservations via email ([email protected]) or phone (253-514-6338, ext. 7). The Senior Center is inside Peninsula Lutheran Church at 6509 38th Ave. NW.
Free admission for veterans on Nov. 11
Harbor History Museum will offer free admission for veterans and active-duty military and their families on Wednesday, Nov. 11. The museum is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday thru Saturday at 4121 Harborview Dr.
Ribbon cutting
Harbor Senior Connections will open its doors to serve seniors and families with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10.
Harbor Senior Connections is in a portable on the grounds of Discovery Elementary School, 4950 Rosedale St. Tuesday’s event will include a tour of the facility and information about programs and activities.
Peninsula School District will lease half of this portable at Discovery Elementary School to Olympic Civic Services for use a senior center. Photo by Vince Dice
Olympic Civic Services sponsors Harbor Senior Connection to connect seniors with one another and local resources. The Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce will host the ribbon-cutting.
PAL art show
Peninsula Art League’s 24th annual fine art show opens Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Vintage Aero Museum, 1108 26th Ave. NW. An opening-night reception, from 6 to 9 p.m. Saturday, is sold out.
This year’s show includes 100 two- and three-dimensional artworks by artists from the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Admission to the show is $10 for adults or $5 for children and military service members. Admission will be free on Community Engagement Day, Friday, Nov. 27. The show is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through Dec. 2.
This painting, titled Dahlia by Ruth Kapcia is on display at the PAL Open Show.
Band festival
The Peninsula School District Band Festival is Thursday, Nov. 12, at Gig Harbor High School.
The GHHS band kicks off the festival at 6:30 p.m. followed by bands from other local schools. The festival will also feature a “combined band” of advanced students from all four middle schools, and top ensembles from both high schools. Admission is free. GHHS is at 5101 Rosedale St
Shop the Harbor
Get a jump on holiday shopping Saturday, Nov. 14, during the Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance’s Shop the Harbor celebration.
The fun begins at noon with a kickoff party at the Club at Gig Harbor Marina and Boatyard, 3117 Harborview Dr. Tickets are $40 here.
Those attending the kickoff party will receive a swag bag, a photo op under the marquee lights, complimentary shuttle and a “Lookbook” detailing special offers and events at participating businesses all along the waterfront.
Two Humanities Washington programs
Humanities Washington will present two free programs in the next week.
“Doomscrolling Detox: Finding your Balance in the Digital Age” is at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at the Nichols Community Center, 690 Ninth Ave., Fox Island. Journalist and educator T. Andrew Wahl will discuss the digital revolution and how people have become trapped and overloaded with information. He’ll offer tips on developing a healthier relationship with our “information diet.”
University of Washington professor Chirig Shah will lead a discussion on “Being Human in the Age of AI” at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Herons Key, 4340 Borgen Blvd. Shah will talk about how to navigate our increasingly complex relationship with AI. Humanities Washington programs are free and open to all.
Chili cook-off
Hop Pharm will sponsor a chili cook-off from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, with a maximum of 10 contestants and prizes for the first and second place. For $10 cash, anyone can taste all the chilis. For information or to sign up, call 253-525-1369. Hop Pharm is located at 3216 Judson St.
The play’s the thing
The final performances of “Radium Girls” by Peninsula High School’s drama department take place in the school auditorium at 7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Nov. 12 and Nov. 13; and at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. It’s the story of the young women whose job it was to paint watch dials with radium-based paint in the 1920s. Tickets start at $15.42 here. PHS is at 14105 Purdy Dr. NW.
The Gig Harbor High School drama club will present Shakespeare’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” starting Friday, Nov. 13. Showtimes are at 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 13 and 14 and 20 and 21; and 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15. Performances will be in the school auditorium at 5101 Rosedale St. NW.
Tickets are $15 for students and seniors or $18 for adults here.
Eagles Club Christmas bazaar
The Gig Harbor Eagles Club hosts a Christmas bazaar from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at 4425 Burnham Dr. For sale will behandmade crafts and gifts, holiday decorations and other festive items.
Pier into the Night
Join Harbor WildWatch at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, as divers use an underwater drone to livestream what they find beneath the Maritime Pier. Staff biologists will identify the critters that appear on the big screen set up on the pier. Usual sightings include feather duster tubeworms, nudibranch, various species of crabs and fish and even a giant Pacific octopus. Pier peers are free.
Guided waterfront walk
The Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance will lead a guided walk along the downtown waterfront starting at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. The walk begins at Directions Apparel and ends at 7 Seas Brewing, with local craft beverages at both locations included in the ticket price. Along the way, there will be stops at historic sites like Skansie Brothers Netshed, Harbor WildWatch and the Maritime Pier to learn about Gig Harbor’s working waterfront. Tickets cost $30 per person for adults or $10 for children younger than 12.
Art workshop
In conjunction with its current “Boats, Ropes and Floats” art show, Harbor History Museum will host a watercolor batik workshop led by artist Curtiss Hall at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. Hall will teach his unique technique of creating layered images with watercolors, like those in the exhibit. The workshop fee is $25 per person at the event, or register online here. The museum is at 4121 Harborview Dr.
Fun and games
Tacoma Remakery will host a free Visible Mending event from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15, at the Gig Harbor Library, 4424 Point Fodick Dr. Remakery will demonstrate how to make a hand-sewn patch from fabric scraps and reclaimed materials.
Play music bingo at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 11, at The Beer Vault, 14001 Purdy Dr. The Vault also hosts at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays.
The Float, 14511 Sherman Dr. in Purdy, has Tank’d Up Trivia at 7:15 p.m. Wednesdays and karaoke at 8 p.m. Fridays.
Learn to play mahjong at Hidden Harbor Wine Library at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. The Wine Library also hosts a holiday card-making event at 3 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15. The $35 fee covers all supplies and step-by-step instructions for making six cards. Buy tickets here. The Wine Library is at 8805 N. Harborview Dr., Suite 204.
Ocean5 has family bingo every at 5:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Let’s Get Quizzical trivia at 6 p.m. Thursdays at 5268 Point Fosdick Dr.
The Harbor Hideout (formerly Locust Cider) at 3207 57th St. will host a crushed glass art party at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 15. Choose from a variety of holiday designs including a 3D standing Christmas tree, then layer on the shimmering glass and other decorations as the instructor guides you through every step. No experience is needed. Tickets range from $45 for a 6-inch mini project to $75 for a two-piece 3D standing Christmas tree. Reserve your space here.
Live music
The CD Woodbury Trio plays at Kimball Coffeehouse at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13. Kimball also has an open mic every Thursday, with signups at 5:30 p.m. and music starting at 6 p.m.
Olalla Winery hosts a Christian songwriters workshop at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13. Dave Thomas of the Shy Boys, Ken Tobias of Wounded Mic and Scott MacGougan of Two Macs & Friends will share tunes. Mike Parsons of the storyteller will talk about “the birth of a song.” Tickets are $20 here.
The Profits provide the music for an 1980s night at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, at Ocean5, 5268 Point Fosdick Dr.
At the movies
Hands on Art hosts its 17th annual Veterans Day At the Movies party on Wednesday, Nov. 11, at the Galaxy Theatres in Uptown, with free screenings of “How to Train Your Dragon” at 9 a.m., and “Dog Man” at 9:30 a.m. Admission is free for both movies, but Hands on Art will donation. Doors open at 8:30 a.m. and seating is first come, first served.
The Flashback Cinema movie at the Galaxy on Wednesday, Nov. 11, is “Back to the Future,” showing at 6 and 9:45 p.m. On Sunday, Nov.15, the Flashback film is “White Christmas,” with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen. Flashback movies are just $7.
The Galaxy’s Friday Fright Night film on Nov. 13 is “Sinister.” It’s the story of a true-crime writer who discovers a film showing the deaths of a family, and vows to solve the mystery. Showtime is 8:45 p.m. Friday Fright tickets are just $6.
Monday’s Classic Film on Nov. 16 is “Giant” (1956) with Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and James Dean. Showtime is 10 a.m., with tickets just $5.
Civic engagement
The Gig Harbor City Council meets for a study session at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 12. Tentative agenda items include appointment of new members of several city commissions, fee schedule updates, a property management plan for the txʷaalqəł Conservation Area Phase 3, and the Gig Harbor Police Department’s annual crime report.
The city Arts Commission meets at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, to discuss grant applications and scoring method for the 2027 Brandani-Killilea Creative Endeavor Grants and more. City meetings are held at the Civic Center, 3510 Grandview St. and can also be viewed on Zoom.