Arts & Entertainment Community
Harbor Happenings | Celebrate fall and launch pumpkins at Scarecrow Festival
The annual Scarecrow Festival takes place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at Sehmel Homestead Park.
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Arts & Entertainment stories are made possible in part by the Gig Harbor Film Festival, a proud sponsor of Gig Harbor Now.
The fall-themed family festival features a petting zoo, peewee rodeo, scarecrow contest, pumpkin launcher, hayrides, vendor market and live music. Stop by Gig Harbor Now’s booth and grab a sweet treat.
A pumpkin takes flight at the 2022 Scarecrow Festival at Sehmel Homestead Park. Vince Dice
The Kiwanis Club of Gig Harbor will have a collection site for donations of non-perishable food items for local food banks; United by Music America will provide live music.
Parking at Sehmel is often overwhelmed by the crowd, but you can park at Gig Harbor High School and catch a free shuttle. PenMet Parks sponsors the festival. Sehmel Homestead Park is located at 10123 78th Ave. N.W.
Pier into the Night
The season’s first Pier into the Night takes place from 7 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 4, at the Maritime Pier, 3003 Harborview Dr.
Harbor WildWatch divers will livestream what they encounter in the water and project video onto a screen set up on the pier. Staff biologists identify what’s being shown — like feather-duster tube worms, sculpin, gunnels, nudibranch, several species of crab, and even giant Pacific octopus. Pier into the Night is free and family friendly. Dress for the weather.
A crowd at Jerisich Dock for a previous Pier Into the Night event. Harbor WildWatch
Junior Sail benefit dinner
The Gig Harbor Yacht Club host a dinner auction at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, to fund scholarships for its Junior Sail Program and to maintain the fleet of 55 boats the students use.
The online auction is underway through Oct. 3. The live auction will take place at Friday’s event with items like adventures and overnight getaways, apparel, art and jewelry, electronics, wine, home and garden items and more up for bid. Nearly 4,000 kids have learned to sail through the Junior Sail Program and more that 200 of them have been granted scholarships. Purchase tickets here.
The Yacht Club’s Junior Sail program teaches dozens of young people to sail every year. The club’s dinner auction on Friday, Oct. 3 will raise funds to support the program.
Book discussion
The Gig Harbor Literary Society book group meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7, at Harbor History Museum to discuss “West With Giraffes” by Lynda Rutledge. The book was inspired by the true story of two giraffes who won the hearts of Depression-era America. All are welcome at Literary Society events, whether or not you’ve read the book.
At the library
Elementary-age kids can learn the basics of drawing, including perspective, shading and more during a free four-week series starting at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1 at the Gig Harbor library, 4424 Point Fosdick Dr. Session one is an introduction to basic drawing techniques.
The library’s Elementary Explorers club meets from 4 to 5 p.m. Mondays. The Oct. 6 topic is “Art explorers: dinosaur lava slime.” Library events are free.
In celebration of Latin and Hispanic Heritage Month, teens will have a “Loteria” Mexican bingo party from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 7.
Live music
Eric’s Maine Connection plays classic rock and blues at Kimball Coffeehouse at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3. The band includes three Washington Blues Association Award-winners – Eric Rice on guitar, Scotty Harris on bass and Andrew Cloutier on drums. Doors open at 6 p.m. Kimball is at 6659 Kimball Dr.
Kimball also has an open mic from 6 to 9 p.m. Thursdays, with sign-ups at 5:30 p.m. Free and family friendly.
Local singer-songwriter Sweet Mary plays folk, country and original tunes in the loft at Olalla Winery at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3. Tickets are $20. Reserve tickets here.
Ocean5 has country music by Adam Krum at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3. Ocean5 is located at 5268 Point Fosdick Drive. 21-and over.
The Beer Vault, at 14004 Purdy Drive, celebrates Octoberfest from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, with special prices on beer, German sausages and Bavarian pretzels, and music by The Hometown Band.
Locust Cider has an open mic from 6 to 9 p.m. Mondays. The cidery is located at 3207 57th Street next to the Inn at Gig Harbor.
At the movies
October is spooky movie month at the Galaxy Theatres in Uptown. “Young Frankenstein” is the Flashback Cinema film Wednesday, Oct. 1, showing at 12:30, 3:5 and 6 p.m. Sunday’s Flashback movie is “Casper,” with Casper the Friendly Ghost in his big-screen appearance. Showtimes are 12:25 and 6 p.m. Flashback movies are just $5.
“Friday Fright Nights” start Oct. 3 at the Galaxy with a showing of “A Nightmare on Elm Street.” Showtime is 8:45 p.m. Friday Fright tickets are just $5.
Monday, Oct. 6 it’s Mystery Movie Night, at the Galaxy. It’s a secret screening experience, with no ‘reveal” of the title until showtime. Mystery Movie tickets are just $5.