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Harbor Happenings | Fall fun starts this week

Posted on October 1st, 2024 By: Charlee Glock-Jackson

Correction: Fox Island Octoberfest is Friday, Oct. 4. An earlier version misstated the day of the event.

The annual Scarecrow Festival kicks off the Halloween season from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, at Sehmel Homestead Park.

PenMet’s Scarecrow Festival includes a pumpkin launch, peeweee rodeo, Markers Market, and an assortment of vendors. Local organizations (including, this year, Gig Harbor Now) make scarecrows and vie for awards in voting by attendees.

The festival is free and family-friendly. Parking at Sehmel fills up fast during the festival, but a shuttle bus will bring attendees to and from extra parking at Gig Harbor High School.

Click here to enter the scarecrow contest.

A 2022 Scarecrow Festival attendee prepares to fire off an apple on Saturday, Oct. 1, 2022. Vince Dice

Octoberfest on Fox Island

Celebrate all things autumn at Fox Island’s Octobertfest from 6 to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, at the Nichols Community Center, 690 Ninth Ave. The Bavarian Village Band and Slam Dunk Sausage food cart will be on hand, along with other festive activities. Get tickets here.

Yacht Club auction

The Gig Harbor Yacht Club hosts a dinner and live auction at 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5, with proceeds supporting the club’s Junior Sail program. Bid on trips to exotic destinations, guided flyfishing adventures, wine tastings, one-of-a-kind original artworks and more. The online auction is open through 4 p.m. Saturday. Learn more here.The Yacht Club is located at 8209 Stinson Ave.

Motorcycle ride for cancer

Motorcyclists are invited to join the annual Wigged Out Ride to raise funds for breast cancer patients on Saturday, Oct. 5. The ride starts at the LeMay Car Museum in Tacoma, and riders plan their own courses.

The Wigged Out ride was founded by former Gig Harbor resident Sue Scanlon, a mom, motorcycle enthusiast and breast cancer survivor. The ride celebrates cancer survivors and remembers family and friends who have passed away.

Instead of paying an entry fee, local riders are encouraged donate to the cancer center at Saint Anthony Hospital to purchase wigs for women being treated there for cancer. To join the ride, simply show up at the LeMay Classic Car Museum at 10 a.m. with your motorcycle (and a wig). Participants are encouraged to post their ride photos on the Wigged Out Ride Facebook page.

Wigged Out riders dress up and decorate their bikes. Photo courtesy Sue Scanlon

Fundraiser for Permission to Start Dreaming

The Permission to Start Dreaming Foundation hosts a “Pull for a Soldier” fundraiser from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4 at the Gig Harbor Sportsman Club, 9721 Burnham Dr. The friendly, competitive trap shoot raises money to help soldiers and their families with post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD. For information go here.

A conversation about fentanyl

Join a candid conversation about fentanyl use and learn life-saving techniques during the Facing Fentanyl town hall from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, at the Gig Harbor Civic Center. The first 100 attendees will receive free Narcan kits. The Civic Center is located at 3510 Grandview Street. This event will also be held on Oct. 21 at the Key Peninsula Civic Center.

Legal aid popup

The city will host a legal aid popup with attorneys from tacomaprobono from 4 to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8. Get free legal advice on issues such as landlord-tenant relations, domestic challenges and other civil matters.

Live music

The Beer Vault in Purdy hosts an open mic from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 2. All varieties of musical talent are welcome. The Vault is located at 14004 Purdy Drive NW. Kimball Coffeehouse’s open mic is at 6 p.m. Thursday. Free and family friendly.

The Sweet Emotions band will present “The Aerosmith Experience” at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4, at Ocean5. Get tickets here.

Friday, Oct. 4 Christopher Hasbrook plays country-inspired music in the loft at Olalla Winery on Friday, Oct. 4. Make reservations here.

Local favorite Budapest West lights up the stage at Kimball Coffeehouse from 8 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 4. Kimball is located at 6659 Kimball Drive. Free; all ages are welcome.

Mysterious Dance Katz play at the Beer Vault starting at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 5. The Vault is located at 14004 Purdy Drive NW.