Arts & Entertainment Community
Harbor Happenings | Veterans Day celebration marks 80th anniversary of D-Day
Gig Harbor will honor current and retired members of the military on Monday, Nov. 11 with military pageantry, guest speakers, food and music.
Arts & Entertainment Sponsor
Arts & Entertainment stories are made possible in part by the Gig Harbor Film Festival, a proud sponsor of Gig Harbor Now.
The seventh annual Veterans’ Day celebration will take place at the Vintage Aero Museum from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The museum is located at 1108 26th Ave NW.
This year’s celebration features a special emphasis on the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion of Normandy. D-Day was June 6, 1944.
Vietnam veterans were asked to stand and be recognized.
The event begins with music from the Puget Sound Veterans Band and includes the Posting of Colors, the National Anthem sung by Kacey Mason, a D-Day video and presentations by representatives of the U.S. Special Forces, Army Rangers and others. The keynote speaker is retired Lt. Gen. Keith Dayton, former director of the George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies in Germany.
Lunch for veterans is free; for all others, the price is $15. Reserve tickets here.
More Veterans’ Day celebrations
Heritage Distilling Company is honoring military veterans and first responders with discounts on cocktails and bottles, daily raffles through Nov. 11, and a screening of “The Longest Day” at the Galaxy Theatres on Friday, Nov. 8.
The Heritage tasting room is at 3118 Harborview Drive. Seating is limited for “The Longest Day.” Reserve tickets here.
Book discussion
The Gig Harbor Literary Society’s book group meets at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, at the Harbor History Museum to discuss “Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay and a Mother’s Will to Survive” by Stephanie Land. It’s a journalist’s recollection of the years she worked in low-paying domestic jobs under wealthy employers, contrasting the privileges of the upper-middle class to the realities of the overworked laborers who support them. All book lovers are welcome. The museum is located at 4121 Harborview Dr.
Got wine?
The Greater Gig Harbor Foundation’s annual Indulge Sip & Savor tasting event takes place Saturday, Nov. 9 at the Vintage Aero Museum to raise funds for the Senior Center. Sample wines, beers, ciders and coffees from local producers; bid on auction items and enjoy tasty bites from local restaurants and music from local bands. Food contributors include Butter Chicken Indian Kitchen, Kettlefish, Dave’s Paella Party, Millville Pizza, Black Sheep BBQ and more.
Tickets cost $75 per person and available here. The Aero Museum is located at 1108 26th Avenue NW.
Two Loons winery hosts a wine tasting from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9. This week’s lineup includes 2023 Alvarinho, 2018 Petit Verdot, 2019 Moo-Zhur-in (100% Malbec), 2019 Sheryl’s Syrah and a Vintner’s Choice from the Loon Labs. During November, Two Loons is supporting Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH Food Bank by donating $5 for every bottle sold. The winery is also accepting clothing donations for FISH, including coats, socks and shoes, especially in adult men’s sizes (preferably freshly laundered and in good repair). Two Loons is at 9422 22nd Ave. NW.
BoatShop class for kids
The BoatShop’s “Young Hands, New Skills” class on Monday, Nov. 11 teaches kids traditional boatwright skills like ship caulking, using a spokeshave, hand sawing, hammering boat nails, and more. The class is geared to ages 6 to 12. Click here to reserve space.
Save the bunnies
Rabbit Haven, a rescue organization for abandoned and rescued rabbits, hosts a “Country Hop” fundraiser at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 9, at the Inn at Gig Harbor. Tickets cost $45. Reserve tickets here.
Russell Wilson, the unofficial ambassador bunny at Rabbit Haven. Gig Harbor Now file photo by Julie Warrick Ammann Julie Warrick Ammann
UFOs
Learn how events in Washington state spawned the “Men in Black” theory at a free Humanities Washington lecture Tuesday, Nov. 5 at Heron’s Key. Author/screenwriter Steve Edmiston will talk about the 1947 crash of a B-25 bomber that triggered an investigation of “The Maury Island Incident,” an infamous UFO sighting and the first Men in Black encounter.
Based on FBI records that were sealed for decades, Edmiston’s discussion centers on the local story that shapes our current UFO narratives, from 1950s pulp magazines to the X-Files television series and Men in Black film franchise. The discussion begins at 1 p.m. Humanities Washington lectures are free and open to all. Herons Key is located at 4340 Borgen Blvd.
At the library
The National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) hosts a presentation called “Ending the Silence” about the warning signs and steps to take of your loved ones are showing symptoms of mental health conditions. The presentation, geared to teens and adults, is at 3:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, at the Gig Harbor Library, 4424 Point Fosdick Dr.
Other events at the library:
- Kids ages 5 to 10 can practice their reading skills by reading to a therapy dog from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 9.
- All ages are welcome at the library’s Sunday movie at 10 a.m. Nov. 10, for a showing of the Disney and Pixar movie “Inside Out 2.”
- Teen Tuesday, from 4 to 5 p.m. Nov. 12, features a workshop on writing fan fiction led by Tacoma-based Young Adult author Lily Meade. All library events are free.
Live music
Mark Lewis and Randy Halberstadt play jazz in the loft at the Olalla Winery starting at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8, starting at 6:30 p.m. Reserve tickets here.
Trailer Park takes the stage to play 1970s rock at head to Kimball Coffeeshop at 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 8. Free and family friendly.
The Beer Vault in Purdy welcomes Northwest Chill with their originals and covers from the ’60s and later, at 6 p.m.. Saturday Nov. 9. The venue is located at 14004 Purdy Drive.
At the movies
The Flashback Cinema movie at Galaxy Theatres Uptown on Wednesday, Nov. 6, is “Twister,” the blockbuster about storm chasers who study the deadly world of tornados. Sunday’s Flashback movie is “Pulp Fiction” showing at 11:45 a.m. and 6 p.m. Flashback movies are just $5.
Civic engagement
The Gig Harbor City Council will meet at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12. The civic center will be closed Monday, Nov. 11, in honor of Veterans Day. Tentative agenda items include a public hearing and first reading of the 2025-26 budget.