Arts & Entertainment Community

2024 Maritime Gig Festival: Here’s what you need to know

Posted on May 28th, 2024 By: Vince Dice

Nothing brings people together like a parade. That’s the hope for the 2024 Maritime Gig Festival and its Grand Parade, the theme of which is Come Together.

The festival is Saturday and Sunday, June 1 and 2. The main event, that parade, starts at 10 a.m. Saturday. Crowds of 6,000 to 8,000 people are typical for the Maritime Gig.

“We’ve seen a lot of divisiveness within the community,” said Miriam Battson, president and CEO of the Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the festival. “What we really want to do is pull the community back together. A parade might be that thing. A fun, family-friendly event.”

The 2023 Maritime Gig Parade on Saturday, June 3, 2023.

To that end, the chamber has barred political parties and candidates from the parade this election year. Parties and candidates can still do their campaigning from the vendor fair. That starts at noon Saturday, immediately after the parade.

The chamber board made the decision late last year. Some candidates and parties weren’t thrilled with the decision.

But “the board wanted a family-friendly parade that brings everybody together and is not a divisive type of parade,” Battson said. “There’s a lot of politics that you can enjoy in the vendor area, and that’s actually a better place for politicians that are running for office … to have a one-on-one conversation with people.”

Here’s what you need to know about the 2024 Maritime Gig Festival:

Weather

After near-perfect weather for the 2022 and 2023 Maritime Gig Grand Parades, we may not be so lucky this year.

As of Tuesday morning, the National Weather Service forecast for Saturday’s parade calls for a high of 65, overcast skies and a chance of rain. As usual with Northwest spring weather, you should come prepared for any plausible condition.

“There’s no bad weather in Gig Harbor,” Battson said. “There’s only bad gear.”

Parade

The Maritime Gig Parade starts at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 1 and lasts until about noon.

The parade begins near the corner of Harborview and North Harborview drives; marches south on Harborview, takes a right at the Tides Tavern to go up Soundview and concludes on Judson.

The 2024 parade includes the full complement of 100 entries.

Prime parade-viewing spots fill up quickly. Those who arrive early can cheer on runners in the 5K race along the parade route, or they can set their chair down and enjoy the Kiwanis Club’s pancake breakfast starting around 8 a.m.

Street closures

Harborview between Rosedale Street and Pioneer Way will close between 5 a.m. Saturday and 7 p.m. Sunday, June 2.

On Saturday only, Harborview will close from Burnham Drive to Soundview between 8:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. Lower Soundview, Judson Street and parts of Stinson Avenue and Rosedale Street will close for the same period to accommodate the fun run and parade.

Parking/shuttle

The best bet for getting to the Maritime Gig Festival is using the free shuttle provided by Pierce Transit.

The shuttle takes visitors from the Kimball Drive Park and Ride to the corner of Judson Street and Stanich Place, near the Peninsula Shopping Center. It operates between 8:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Shuttles will depart every 30 minutes, though they may leave early if the bus is full.

Other popular parking options include St. Nicholas Catholic Church at 3510 Rosedale St. (access the parking via Edwards Drive); and United Methodist Church at 7400 Pioneer Way. Both churches charge for parking during the festival.

Sunday

The parade and associated activities on Saturday are undoubtedly the highlight of the weekend, but the party continues on Sunday.

A highlight of the second day is the Blessing of the Fleet, a Gig Harbor tradition of more than 50 years. Clergy from St. Nicholas Catholic Church, escorted by members of the Knights of Columbus, march down Rosedale Street to Skansie Brothers Park.

There they board boats and bless the local fishing fleet, which lines up in the middle of the harbor, in advance of the beginning of the summer fishing season. The blessing begins at 1 p.m.

Sunday also includes a Local Makers Market, opening at 10 a.m.; and the Wheels on the Water car show, beginning at 11 a.m.

Schedule

Saturday, June 1

8 a.m.: Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, at Skansie Brothers Park

8:30 a.m.: Kids Dash

8:45 a.m.: U.S. Bank Family Fun Run

10 a.m.: Maritime Gig Grande Parade

Noon: Entertainment and concerts begin; business booths, food and vendors and children’s fair open; Harbor History Museum and Harbor WildWatch open

2:15 p.m.: Parade awards

Saturday entertainment

11:45 a.m.: My Guilty Pleasure

1:00 p.m.: Kellee Bradley Band

2:30 p.m.: Nick Cain

3:30 p.m.: Brian James was Here

5 p.m.: Kim and Brian Music, LLC

6:30 p.m.: Kalimba

Sunday, June 2

10 a.m.: Local Makers Market opens, entertainment and concerts begin, Harbor WildWatch opens

11 a.m.: Wheels on the Water Car Show

1 p.m.: Blessing of the Fleet

3 p.m.: Car Show Awards

Sunday entertainment

10 a.m.: The Jewel Tones

11:30 a.m.: Caroline Goodwin

Noon: Dixie Dusters / NMS Ceremonial Band

2 p.m.: Stacy Jones Band

3:30 p.m.: The Shy Boys