Arts & Entertainment Community Environment

Harbor Happenings | Celebrate salmon on Saturday

Posted on November 19th, 2024 By: Charlee Glock-Jackson

Every autumn, Gig Harbor celebrates the return of chum salmon to Donkey Creek. This year’s Donkey Creek Chum Walk takes place from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 23, and includes guided walks along the creek, information booths, salmon-related activities and more.

Pick up a Salmon Passport at Austin Park and follow the trail behind Harbor History Museum to Donkey Creek Park, collecting salmon stamps along the way. Turn in completed passports at the museum’s front desk for the chance to win a prize.

A scene from the 2023 Donkey Creek Chum Festival. Photo by Julie Warrick Ammann

The festival promotes environmental stewardship, habitat protection and shoreline restoration, according to organizers from Harbor WildWatch. The Chum Festival is free and open to all ages.

Harbor WildWatch also hosts a free, guided salmon walk along the creek on Sunday, Nov. 24. Meet at the Donkey Creek Park restrooms at 9:30 a.m. Dress for the weather.

At noon on Saturday, Nov. 23, the Gig Harbor Land Conservation Fund hosts an “un-groundbreaking ceremony” at the park to celebrate the city acquiring more than 50 acres of stream-side forest along North Creek that will protect coho and chum salmon, costal cutthroat trout, steelhead and other wildlife. Learn more here.

The 2023 Donkey Creek Chum Festival. Photo by Julie Warrick Ammann

Wreath-making workshops

Create your own holiday wreath at workshops on Thursday, Nov. 21 at Locust Cider, located at 3207 57th Street Court, and Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Beer Vault.

The Thursday event takes place from 6-7:30 p.m. The cost is $75. Sign up here.

Saturday’s workshop at the Beer Vault, located at 14004 Purdy Drive, starts at 2 p.m. and costs $60. Reserve your space here.

All materials are provided at both workshops.

Live music

The Gig Harbor High School bands present their annual “As American As Apple Pie” concert at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, in the school auditorium, followed by slices of pie served in the commons.
The Jim Valley Project rocks the stage at Kimball Coffeeshop Friday, Nov. 22. Doors open at 6 p.m. Music starts at 7 p.m. Free, family friendly.
Friday is open mic night at the Olalla Valley Winery loft. Music starts at 6:30 p.m. Sign-ups are $5.
On Saturday, Nov. 23, Robbie Vee plays smooth guitar tunes at the Beer Vault starting at 7 p.m. 21-and older.

At the movies

The Gig Harbor Film Festival’s Monday Movie for November is “Lee,” showing one-time-only at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 25 at the Galaxy Theatres Uptown. Kate Winslet portrays World War II American war correspondent and photographer Lee Miller, and a pivotal decade in Miller’s life and career. Reserve tickets here.

The Flashback Cinema movie at the Galaxy Theatres on Wednesday, Nov. 20, is “The Polar Express,” playing at noon and 6 p.m. Sunday’s Flashback movie is “Elf,” with Will Ferrell as Buddy the elf. Showtimes are noon and 6 p.m. Flashback movies are just $5.

The Metropolitan Opera’s performance of “Tosca” will show on the Galaxy screen at 10 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 23. Soprano Lise Davidsen stars as the volatile diva, Floria Tosca; Tenor Freddie De Tommaso makes his debut as Tosca’s revolutionary lover, Cavaradossi; and baritone Quinn Kelsey is the sadistic chief of police Scarpia. Xian Zhang conducts the score that features some of Puccini’s most memorable melodies.

Ongoing

The Peninsula Guild’s annual Christmas sale continues through Nov. 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday thru Friday at Timberland Bank on Judson Street. The sale raises money for Mary Bridge Hospital.

The Greater Gig Harbor Community Foundation’s Basket Brigade will accept donations for this year’s event through Nov. 26. The brigade still needs volunteers to pick up food items, make baskets and deliver them to families-in-need throughout the Gig Harbor Peninsula, Joint Base Lewis McChord and Naval Base Kitsap. Go here for details.

Boxes of food await distribution at the Basket Brigade on Tuesday, Nov. 22, 2022. Vince Dice

Artist Paige Pettibon’s mixed-media show “Two Sides of the Same Chip” is on display at the Gig Harbor campus of Tacoma Community College at 3993 Hunt Street through Dec. 6.

The Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce’s annual Santa’s Castle toy drive distributes toys and other gifts to military families in the area. Donations are accepted through Dec. 3. Click here to learn more.

Civic engagement

The Gig Harbor City Council meets at 3 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21, to discuss the process for appointing a new mayor. Mayor Tracie Markley resigned Monday, Nov. 18, citing family health issues. The meeting will take place at the Civic Center.

The Gig Harbor Planning Commission will discuss updates to the city’s Comprehensive Plan at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 21. The plan is the document that guides Gig Harbor’s vision and growth for the next 20 years. Public comment is encouraged. Click here for details.