Arts & Entertainment Community

Harbor Happenings | Lighted Car Parade, Make Music Day at Uptown

Posted on December 17th, 2024 By: Charlee Glock-Jackson

The fourth annual Make Music Day Solstice celebration is from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 21, on three stages at Uptown Gig Harbor.

Make Music Day is a free, international musical celebration of the summer and winter solstices. The Gig Harbor events are produced by United by Music America, a not-for-profit organization that develops and showcases the musical talents of alter-abled people.

The local UBMA chapter was founded by Gig Harbor residents Barbara Hammerman and her daughter Amanda Gresham.

Three stages

Stage 1, at Sleep Number Beds, is billed as a “sound sensory sensitivity” stage. It features jazz by Jon Phillips and Steve Laceno from 1 to 3 p.m.

Stage 2, at LeLe’s Restaurant, will have music from 4 to 9 p.m. with performances by Luke Stanton, Dustin Lafferty, Angie Lynn and the Saxtunes Trio.

Stage 3, at Kinship Studios, is the Fest 4 All stage and the “headquarters” for the event. Festivities kick off at 12: 30 p.m. with a new Make Music Day tradition — a Grand Uke Gathering and “strum-along-circle” featuring the Harbor Ukulele Group (HUG) and several other Make Music Day performers.

Strum-along circle with donated ukuleles

Players of all levels can join the strum-along circle. Bring your own uke or borrow one of instruments that were donated to United by Music (Make Music Day producers) by Slovenia’s Flight Ukulele Company.

United by Music America co-founder Amanda Gresham (center) with Harbor Uke Group musicians Lynn Stevenson (left) and Gary Jackson (right) with the ukuleles donated from a Slovenian maker for Gig Harbor’s Make Music Day. Photo by Barbara Hammerman

Gig Harbor was one of seven U.S. cities that received 20 free ukuleles from Flight. Other recipients were Aberdeen, on the Washington coast; Atlanta; Germantown, Tennessee; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Montclair, New Jersey and Surry County, North Carolina. The strum-along circle runs from 12:30 to 2 p.m.

At 2:15 p.m. on Stage 3, Pierce County Councilmember Robyn Denson will lead a Land Acknowledgement honoring the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the original residents of Gig Harbor.

The United by Music America band will play on Stage 3 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Lighted car parade

The fifth annual Lighted Car Parade starts in Uptown at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 21, with 100 vehicles all decked out with holiday lights. Come early to wander among the brightly decorated cars and enjoy fun games and activities.

It’s all free, but visitors are encouraged to bring a donation of food, personal items or new, unwrapped toys for Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH food bank. Drop off donations at the Uptown Pavilion from noon to 6 p.m

From Uptown, the car parade proceeds through town and along the downtown waterfront. To find the best spots for viewing the parade, including some locations with kids activities and complementary treats, visit the parade’s Facebook page.

The 2023 Lighted Car Parade

Santa’s Olalla mailbox

Kiddos who have letters to send to Santa need to put them into the special mailbox at Olalla Bay Market by 4 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, so Santa has time to read them and respond before Christmas. Be sure to include your return address.

Olalla book hunt

The annual Christmas Eve Book Hunt is one of Olalla’s lesser-known traditions, but it’s been going on for years, according to the folks at Olalla Bay Market. Books are hidden all around Olalla, just waiting to be found.

The hunt takes place from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 24. Photographic clues will be posted starting at noon sharp on the Fans of Olalla Facebook page.

Photos with Santa

The last two free photo sessions with Santa in Santa’s Village at Donkey Creek Park take place from noon to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 21 and 22. Free cocoa and treats will be provided by the Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance.

Gnome hunt

The Waterfront Alliance’s gnome hunt continues through Dec. 31 in downtown shops and offices. Find 15 gnomes hidden along the waterfront and be entered to win a $100 gift card from a downtown business of your choice. Download a Gnome Hunt map here.

Live music

Roeman and the Whereabouts take the stage at Kimball Coffeeshop at 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 20. Doors open at 6 p.m. Free and family friendly. Thursdays are open mic night at Kimball. Signups start at 6 p.m.; the music starts at 7 p.m.

At the movies

Wednesday’s Flashback cinema movie at the Galaxy Theatres in Uptown is “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” starring Jim Carrey. Showtimes are noon and 6 p.m. On Sunday, Dec. 22 and Tuesday, Dec. 24, James Stewart stars in Frank Capra’s classic “It’s a Wonderful Life,” showing at noon and 6 p.m. Flashback movies are just $5.

Christmas Eve services

Chapel Hill Church will hold its annual Christmas Eve candlelight services at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Dec. 23, and at 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 24. The church’s choir and Chapel Ringers will perform at the 7 pm. and 9 p.m. services. The 9 p.m. service also includes communion. Childcare for birth-to-pre-K will be provided at the Dec. 23 service, and at the 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. services on Dec. 24. Elementary-age kids will worship with their families. Chapel Hill Church is located at 7700 Skansie Ave.

Harbor Covenant Church will present A Bluegrass Christmas at 8 p.m. Dec. 23 at the Central Campus, 4901 Gustafson Drive, with a live bluegrass band putting a unique twist on traditional Christmas songs. On Dec. 24, Carols and Candlelight services will take place at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Central Campus. On Dec. 24, at the North Campus, Harbor Covenant will host a Christmas party at 4:30 p.m. followed by the Christmas Eve service at 5 p.m. The North Campus is located at Swiftwater Elementary School, 10811 Harbor Hill Drive.

The Believers Fellowship will hold Christmas Eve candlelight services at 4:30 and 6 p.m. at 4112 Hunt Street. The nursery will be available for children ages 2 and younger.