Arts & Entertainment Community

Harbor Happenings | Run ’til you’re green at Shamrockin’ the Harbor

Posted on March 11th, 2025 By: Charlee Glock-Jackson

Don your green gear and join other runners and walkers at the Shamrockin’ the Harbor fun run on Saturday, March 15.

There are two out-and-back options — a 5K and a 12K. Both follow the hilly Cushman Trail, and the 12K goes across the Narrows Bridge.

The 12K run starts at 8:30 a.m. and the 5K at 9 a.m. Registration costs $55 before the race or $65 day-of, if space remains. The event is a fundraiser for the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation’s Senior Center. All ages are welcome. Register here.

Shamrockin’ the Harbor is Saturday, March 15. Photo courtesy the Greater Gig Harbor Association

Learn stuff

Elyse Kelsey, a graduate student at the University of Washington’s School of Marine and Environmental Affairs, will discuss invasive European green crabs at Harbor WildWatch’s Cocktails and Fishtales program at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 12, at Ocean5, 5268 Point Fosdick Dr. The event is free to HWW members, with a suggested donation of $20 for non-members. No RSVP is needed.

The Gig Harbor BoatShop will teach kids traditional boatwright skills, like caulking and using hand tools at a series of Young Hands, New Skills workshops on Friday, March 14. The hour-long workshops take place between 9 a.m. and 2 p.m. It’s geared to ages 6 to 12 and costs $20 per child for BoatShop members or $25 for non-members. Register here.

Harbor WildWatch hosts a “Survive the Tide” science program from 2 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at the Marine Life Center. It’s an opportunity for kids to learn about the challenges faced by sea life living in the tidal zone. Free, with no RSVP required. The Marine Life Center is located at 3207 Harborview Drive.

Wine tasting

Two Loons Winery will offer free samples of their 2022 Viognier; 2018 Cab Franc; 2018 Moo-zhur-in and 2018 Syrah from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday, March 16. The winery is located at 9422 22^nd Ave. NW.

Live music

The Goodman Middle School bands’ Spring P.A.R.T.Y. (Performing Arts Recognize Talented Youth) concert on Tuesday, March 11, features performances by the jazz band, intermediate band and advanced band. The program is free and also includes two scenes from the school’s spring musical, “Peter Pan Jr.” with songs by the school choir and some talented elementary school students. BBQ2U will provide free root beer and orange soda floats. Music starts at 6:30 p.m. Each band scored a superior rating at the this year’s regional band festival. Goodman is located at 3701 38th Ave NW.

Grammy-nominated mandolinist Tristan Scroggins and fiddler/guitarist Carolyn Kendrick play bluegrass music and more on Thursday, March 13 at the BoatShop. The show starts at 6 p.m. Buy tickets here.

The Gig Harbor Peninsula Civic Orchestra presents a spring concert highlighting composers who created music inspired by one country, while living in another. The program includes works by Bizet, Gershwin, Korsakow and others. Music starts at 7 p.m. Saturday, March 15; admission is free. The concert takes place in the Peninsula High School auditorium, 14105 Purdy Drive.

The Gig Harbor High School bands play at Pacific Lutheran University’s Weathermon Jazz Festival on Tuesday, March 18. Get details here.

Saxophonist and flutist Mark Lewis and Seattle Jazz Hall of Fame pianist Bill Anschell play jazz at the Olalla Winery starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 14. Reserve tickets here.

Also on Friday, The Taylor Hardin Blues Band lights up the stage at Kimball Coffeehouse, starting at 7 p.m. Free and family friendly.

The Home Town Band leads a Saint Patrick’s Day party at the Beer Vault in Purdy from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday, March 15. The Vault is located at 14004 Purdy Drive N.W.

At the movies

Spring Fest movies have returned to the Galaxy Theatres in Uptown, This week’s Spring Fest movie is “Babe,” about a gentle farmer who wins a piglet – Babe – at a county fair. Showtimes are 2 and 4:30 p.m. Friday, March 14; 10:15 a.m. Sunday, March 16; 11:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, March 17 and 18. Spring Fest movies are just $2.

The Flashback Cinema movie at the Galaxy Theatres on Wednesday, March 12, is “Moonstruck,” starring Cher, Nicholas Cage and Olympia Dukakis. Showtimes are 12:30 and 6 p.m. On Saturday and Sunday, March 15 and 16, the Flashback movie is “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” – the original live action version. “Turtles” showtimes are 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. Flashback movies are just $5.

Civic engagement

Engage Gig Harbor will host a community discussion about city operations and the duties of elected officials, led by Pierce County Councilmember Robyn Denson and former state Rep. Spencer Hutchins, from 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, March 11, at the Club@the Boatyard, 3117 Harborview Drive (upstairs). Both Denson and Hutchins served on the Gig Harbor city council.

Tacomaprobono attorneys will host a legal aid popup from 10 a.m. to noon Monday, March 17, at the Civic Center on Grandview Street. Bring your questions about landlord-tenant issues, eviction issues family law and civil law concerns and receive free legal guidance.

The Gig Harbor City Council meets for a study session at 3 p.m. Thursday, March 13, at the Civic Center. The council will discuss changes to the city code related to accessory dwelling units, names for Phase 1B of the Sports Complex, potential property tax exemptions for multi-family housing and license plate reader cameras. The study session can also be seen on Zoom. Other upcoming city meetings include the Arts Commission, Wednesday, March 12 at 10 a.m.; Lodging Tax Advisory Committee, Thursday, March 13 at noon and the Design Review Board, Thursday, March 13 at 5:30 p.m.

Legislative town halls

All three legislators from the 26th District also recently announced town hall events. The 26th District includes Gig Harbor, the Key Peninsula and Kitsap County.

Sen. Deb Krishnadasan, D-Gig Harbor

All on March 22

10 to 11 a.m. at Swift Water Elementary, 10811 Harbor Hill Dr.
12:30 to 1:30 p.m. at Key Peninsula Middle School, 5510 Key Peninsula Hwy., Home
3 to 4 p.m. at South Kitsap High School, 425 Mitchell Ave., Port Orchard
5 to 6 p.m. at the Norm Dicks Center, 345 Sixth St., Bremerton

Rep. Michelle Caldier, R-Gig Harbor

All on March 15

9:30 a.m. at the Key Peninsula Civic Center, 17010 South Vaughn Road
noon at the Kitsap County Administration Building, 619 Division St., Port Orchard
6 p.m. at Swift Water Elementary School, 10811 Harbor Hill Dr. in Gig Harbor

Rep. Adison Richards, D-Bremerton

10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 15, at the Gig Harbor campus of Tacoma Community College, 3993 Hunt St.
1 to 3 p.m. Saturday, March 15, at the Nichols Community Center, 690 9th Ave., Fox Island
10 a.m. to noon March 22 at Port Orchard City Hall, 216 Prospect St., Port Orchard
and 10 a.m. to noon April 12 at the Key Peninsula Civic Center, 17010 S. Vaughn Road.