Arts & Entertainment Community

Harbor Happenings: Hounds, airplanes and more

Posted on September 5th, 2023 By: Charlee Glock-Jackson

Gardeners, dog lovers, airport enthusiasts, runners and bike riders all have something to look forward to this weekend.

The annual Harbor Hounds Charity Dog Walk and Community Fair happens from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, at Skanskie Brothers Park. Dogs of all shapes, sizes and breeds are welcome.

The schedule includes contests (best tail-wager, best kisser, best tricks and a musical Sit and Stay contest) plus vendors and other activities. Admission is free, but it costs $20 to enter your pup in a contest. Registration fee includes a bandana and a Wag Bag. Harbor Hounds is presented by the Midday Rotary Club.

Harbor Hounds 2022

Tacoma Narrows Airport Day

Explore the Tacoma Narrows Airport and get an up-close look at all kinds of aircraft during Tacoma Narrows Airport Day from 9 a.m.– 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 9.

Admission to the event at the airport, 1202 26^th Avenue NW, is free. While it is not an airshow, attendees will have the chance to check out medevac and law enforcement aircraft, Peninsula School District STEM activities, and more. Admission to the Gig Harbor Vintage Aero Museum also will be free during the event.

Race for a Soldier

Course map for the Race for a Soldier

Race for a Soldier, a fundraiser for the Permission to Start Dreaming Foundation, will bring hundreds of runners to the Tom Taylor Family YMCA and elsewhere in Gig Harbor on Sunday, Sept. 10.

Runners can register for the race through Saturday, Sept. 9. The race includes half-marathon and 5K courses, as well as a virtual run. Registration for the half-marathon costs $90 and the run starts at 7:45 a.m. Sunday; the 5K run costs $50, and the race starts at 8 a.m.

Each option raises funds for the Permission to Start Dreaming Foundation, a Gig Harbor nonprofit committed to helping solve the challenges faced by active duty service members, veterans and first responders living with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injuries. Register here.

Plant swap

The final Gig Harbor Plant Swap of 2023 is from 10 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 9, in the HomeGoods parking lot at Uptown. Gardeners and plant lovers are invited to share plants, seeds, cuttings, divisions, tools and other garden-related items. If you’re looking for seeds, be sure to bring a small envelope. Cookies and other treats are also welcome. Next year’s swaps will take place on the second Saturday of January, April, June and September.

Fall Family Blast

Chapel Hill Church hosts a free family event starting at 11:30 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 10.

The Fall Family Blast includes bounce houses, chalk drawing, face painting and bicycle obstacle courses (bring your own bike). The Locals will play music on the grassy hill near the church. Millville Pizza and the Iscreamery will be on hand with food.

The blast is from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Chapel Hill Church is located at 7700 Skansie Ave.

Images from previous Fall Family Blasts.

At the movies

“The Goonies” is Wednesday’s Flashback Cinema movie at the Galaxy Theatres, playing at noon and 6 p.m. Sunday’s Flashback Cinema movie is “The Terminator” showing at noon and 6 p.m. Flashback Cinema tickets cost just $5.

Music

Jazz saxophonist and flutist Mark Lewis plays The Olalla Vineyard and Winery at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 8. Randy Halberstadt accompanies Lewis on keyboards. Order tickets here.

Food and flowers

The Fall Sips and Stems, with flowers from Olalla Blooms Flower Farm, takes place at 1 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 10, at the Olalla Vineyard and Winery. Ticket price includes wine tasting, light appetizers and fresh flowers to use in your personally designed bouquet. Click here for tickets.

Civic engagement

The Gig Harbor City Council meets for a study session at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 7, to discuss changes to the city’s water utility rates. The meeting will take place in the community room at the civic center and online here. The council does not take public comment at study sessions.
The next regular council meeting will take place at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 11, at the Civic Center. Agenda items include a discussion of a proposed flag display policy. The council is accepting written public comment about the proposed policy until 5 p.m. Sept. 11. Email comments to [email protected]. The council also will listen to in-person comments at the Sept. 11 meeting.