Arts & Entertainment Community

Harbor Happenings: Welcome to the holiday season

Posted on November 21st, 2023 By: Charlee Glock-Jackson

It’s Thanksgiving week and the beginning of the holiday season and many happenings have Turkey Day and winter themes.

Basket Brigade

Basket Brigade volunteers will put together dozens of baskets filled with all the fixins for Thanksgiving dinner, and deliver them to local families, on Tuesday and Wednesday, Nov. 21 and 22. Basket-building takes place at 4 p.m. Tuesday and 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Latitude 47 Commerce Center, 9672 Bujacich Drive, Suite H.

The Greater Gig Harbor Foundation began the Basket Brigade 30 years ago. Sign-up here to volunteer here.

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

Turkey Trot

For many Gig Harbor-area folks, Thanksgiving Day begins with the annual 5K Turkey Trot. It’s been a tradition since 2002.

This year’s race starts at 7 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 23, on Judson Street. Pre-registration costs $20 and closes Wednesday. Day-of-race registration costs $40. Participants are encouraged to bring two cans of food for Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH Food Bank and Food Backpacks 4 Kids.

Proceeds from the event support local food banks and provide college scholarships for local students. Click here to sign up.

Winterfest at Peninsula High School

The Winterfest Arts and Crafts show has been a Thanksgiving weekend tradition at Peninsula High School for more than 25 years. This year, more than 100 artists and craftspeople from throughout the Northwest will sell candles, quilts, jewelry, holiday ornaments, food and more. S.A.V.E. Thrift Store will have items for sale in the school library, and the Hall of Wreaths is decked-out with wreaths decorated by Peninsula High students.

Winterfest takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 26, at Peninsula High, 14105 Purdy Dr. Admission costs $5. Funds raised in the event support the Peninsula High Associated Student Body and school clubs and activities.

Click here for information, including a list of vendors.

Beach monitoring

Harbor WildWatch biologists and volunteers will lead beach monitoring events on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday (Nov. 26, Nov. 27 and Nov. 28), collecting important environmental data from local beaches and learning how they change over time.

Beach monitoring starts at 8 p.m. Sunday at Purdy Spit. On Monday, it’s 8:30 p.m. at Maple Hollow Park in Lakebay. On Tuesday, it’s at 8:30 p.m. at Narrows Park.

Anyone can participate. Gear up for cold, dark and wet. Bring a headlamp, toe and hand warmers, a thermos of warm beverage and an adventurous attitude. All ages are welcome and participants don’t have to stay for the entire event.

Music

Peninsula Youth Orchestra will play a Rock the Holidays Christmas Concert at 4 p.m. Nov. 29 at Gig Harbor High School. PYO musicians will accompany a special guest, rock violinist Aaron Meyer. Meyers’ style is inspired by a fusion of classical music and rock with arrangements from Vivaldi to Led Zeppelin. Tickets cost $15. Proceeds help buy instruments for PYO’s before-school programs at Pioneer and Discovery elementary schools and support the orchestra’s other activities. GHHS is located at 5101 Rosedale Street.
The Foundlings bring their brand of traditional and contemporary Irish music to Olalla Winery at 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24. Click here for reservations.

At the movies

The Flashback Cinemas movie at Galaxy Uptown Theaters at 12:45 and 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 22, is “The Polar Express.” On Sunday, Nov. 26, the Flashback selection is “White Christmas,” at 12:15 and 6 p.m. Flashback movies are just $5.
The Gig Harbor Film Festival’s Movie of the Month at the Galaxy Theatres is the 2023 comedy-drama “You Hurt My Feelings,” starring Julia Louise-Dreyfus and Tobias Menzies. It’s the tale of a successful novelist whose long-standing marriage takes an unexpected twist when she overhears her husband’s brutally honest reaction to her latest book. “You Hurt My Feelings” shows at 6:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 27.

Civic engagement

The Gig Harbor City Council meets at 5:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 27. The agenda includes a public hearing on amending the city’s 2023-’24 budget. Council members will gather at 5 p.m. to recognize outgoing councilmember Julie Martin.