Arts & Entertainment Community
Harbor Happenings | Get outside to see salmon and sea life
The KGI Watershed group, in partnership with West Sound Partners for Ecosystem Recovery, will lead a field trip to Minter Creek Hatchery at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19. Space is limited. Register here.
A dead salmon lies in the creekbed. Photo by Carolyn Bick. © Carolyn Bick
Harbor WildWatch hosts Pier into the Night at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19, at 7Seas Brewing. WildWatch divers with cameras will record what they encounter and project their discoveries on a big screen on the pier. Staff biologists will identify the sea life that appears – like sculpin, gunnels, many species of crabs, feather-duster tube worms, various nudibranch species, giant Pacific octopus and much more. Free, but donations are welcome. Dress for the weather.
The WildWatch team will lead a walk along Donkey Creek to txʷaalqəł Estuary and talk about the salmon that are returning to spawn at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22. You’ll learn about the salmon life cycle, the important role estuaries play in our ecosystem and how we can protect them. Free and family friendly. Meet near the restrooms at Donkey Creek Park. A similar salmon walk will take place at 9:30 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 29.
Literary events
The Olalla Bay Market Book Club meets at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov 20, to discuss “Dark Tide: growing up with Ted Bundy” by Edna Cowell Martin and Megan Atkinson. Bundy and his mother lived with Cowell’s family for two years in Tacoma. Dark Tide is the very personal and insightful story of a woman coming to terms with the monster behind the cousin she so admired. The authors will be on hand to discuss their book. OBM is located at 13965 Crescent Valley. Road S.E.
Also on Nov. 20, Washington State Poet Laureate Derek Sheffield will read from his work during a poetry night at 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, at Fox Island’s Chapel on Echo Bay, 400 Sixth Ave. Free, but RSVP is recommended here.
Oar-making class
The Gig Harbor BoatShop hosts an oar-making class from 1 to 3 p.m. every Wednesday starting Nov. 19. Make a pair of oars specifically sized for your own boat and rowing style. The cost is $175 for BoatShop members or $225 for non-members and includes instruction and all materials. Register here.
The Gig Harbor BoatShop has an oar making class every Wednesday at 1 p.m.
Holiday shopping
The Fox Island arts and crafts market takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Nichols Community Center, 690 Sixth Ave. You’ll find handmade items including paintings, textiles, jewelry ceramics and more – all crafted by Northwest artisans.
Chapel Hill Church hosts the Festival of Hope holiday marketplace from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, at 7700 Skansie Ave. The marketplace features ornaments, jewelry, chocolates, coffee and more from artisans and farmers throughout the world.
Peninsula Art League’s annual fine arts show continues through Dec. 3 at the Gig Harbor Vintage Aero Museum,1108 28th Ave. NW. The show is open from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday. Admission is $7 for adults or $3 for kids.
At the library
The Gig Harbor Library, 4424 Point Fosdick Drive, hosts a writing workshop from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, based on themes and ideas from the Richard Powers book “Bewilderment.” Geared to adults. Register here.
The library hosts a reception for artist Indie La Motte, whose photographs are currently on display, from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22.
Teens will be treated to a free showing of “A Minecraft Movie,” from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 25. Geared to 13- to 18-year-olds.
Photos by India LaMotte are on display at the Gig Harbor Library.
Final curtain call at GHHS
The final performances of “The Play that Goes Wrong,” presented by the Gig Harbor High School theater group, take place this weekend. It’s a play-within-a-play filled with humor and slapstick. Performances are at 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 21 and 22. Tickets are available at the door: $18 for adults; $15 for kids under 18 and seniors 62-plus. GHHS is located at 5101 Rosedale St. NW.
Live music
Jazz bands from Gig Harbor High School, Kopachuck Middle School and Goodman Middle School perform a South Side Jazz Night at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18, in the GHHS auditorium, 5101 Rosedale St. NW. The GHHS band plays its annual “As American as Apple Pie” concert at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, followed by a bake sale and a sale of handmade musical notes.
The Gig Harbor High School band will play its annual American as Apple Pie concert Nov. 20.
The acoustic duo Everblues plays a blend of blues, folk and vintage country tunes at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21, at the Olalla Winery. Buy tickets here.
Roman and the Whereabouts take the stage at Kimball Gallery at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 21. Free and family friendly. Kimball also hosts an open mic Thursdays at 6 p.m., with sign-ups at 5:30 p.m.
Lankin plays at the Hidden Harbor Wine Library, 8805 N. Harborview Drive Suite 204, from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22.
Chrissy Dykes plays at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at The Beer Vault, 14004 Purdy Dr.
Locust Cider, 3207 57th Street Court has an open mic from 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays.
The Float has karaoke from 8 p.m. to midnight Thursdays and Fridays at 14511 Sherman Dr. in Purdy.
Fun and games
The Beer Vault has music bingo at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 19.
Olalla Winery will host a Ladies Night Out at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, with a demonstration of turning wine corks into Christmas ornaments. $25 admission includes all materials and instruction. Reserve here.
Hidden Harbor Wine Library hosts music bingo from 4 to 6 p.m. Saturdays.
Spend an evening decorating cookies Sunday, Nov. 23 at the Beer Vault. Learn techniques like flooding, sectioning, piping and other embellishments. Tickets are $60.22 and include cookies, icing, decorating materials, instruction and a festive box to hold your creations. Sign up here.
At the movies
Wednesday’s Flashback Cinema movie at the Galaxy Theatres in Uptown is “The Sound of Music – 60th Anniversary,” showing at noon on Nov. 19. The Flashback movie showing at 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 23, is “The Polar Express.” Flashback movies are just $5.
An encore performance of the Met Opera’s “Arabella” is at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 22, at the Galaxy. Set in Vienna in 1860, it’s the complicated story of love and a glass of water.
The Gig Harbor Film Festival’s Monday Movie for November is “Don’t Let’s go to the Dogs Tonight,” at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 24. Based on the best-selling memoir of the same name, it’s the story of a young boy’s life on his family’s Rhodesian farm during the final states of the Bush Wars. Reserve tickets here.
Civic engagement
The Gig Harbor City Council meets for a study session at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 20, in the Civic Center, 3510 Grandview St. The agenda includes a presentation by state Rep. Adison Richards, a discussion of the Crescent Creek Master Plan preferred concept, a review of a YMCA service agreement for the Gig Harbor Sports Complex and a utilities extension for Laguna’s on the Bay.
The next regular city council meeting is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 24. Preliminary agenda items include a hearing on amending the 2025-26 budget and the first reading of a franchise agreement with Comcast.
Looking ahead
Registration is open for the annual Turkey Trot fun runs on Thanksgiving Day. Cost is $60 on race day or $30 before. Proceeds benefit the Gig Harbor Senior Center. Click here to register.
Registration is also open for the Kiwanis Cares for Kids wine-tasting fundraiser at the Gig Harbor Yacht Club on Friday, Dec. 5. Proceeds help meet the needs of local kids. Tickets are $75.
Click here to reserve a spot at the Jingle Bell Breakfast with Santa on Saturday, Dec. 13 at Swift Water Elementary School.
