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Harbor Happenings: Memorial Day observances

Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial beginning of summer. That’s not true on your calendar. It looks like it won’t be true in your weather forecast, either.

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According to the National Weather Service, unofficial summer will begin with steady rain on all three days of the Memorial Day weekend. So if you’re planning to go camping, bring a poncho. And if you’re having a Memorial Day cook-out, move it under a covered patio.

Read on for Harbor Happenings, our weekly roundup of events in the Gig Harbor area.

Traffic

Memorial Day weekend is one of the busiest for vehicle travel on Washington’s highways.

I-5 between Tacoma and Lacey is one of the four busiest traffic corridors in the state, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation. They have posted a chart showing the busiest travel times, which could come in handy if your travels take you south.

If you’re planning to catch a Washington State Ferry, be warned that long wait times often accompany long weekends. If you’re planning to use Pierce Transit, their buses will operate on a Sunday schedule on Monday, Memorial Day.

For more WSDOT Memorial Day weekend travel tips, click here.

Memorial Day observances

Memorial Day observances in Gig Harbor and the wider region include:

Haven of Rest: The cemetery at 8503 Highway 16 in Gig Harbor will honor the more than 2,200 veterans laid to rest there during a special program at noon Monday, May 30. The program includes active-duty service members, the Peninsula High School NJROTC, the Peninsula Color Guard, a musical performance and more. The cemetery will be open all weekend, with flags placed on the graves of veterans.

Artondale Cemetery: Gig Harbor’s American Legion Post No. 236 will host a Memorial Day remembrance ceremony at the Artondale Cemetery, 5512 Hunt St., at 9 a.m. Monday, May 30.

Tacoma: The Tacoma Historical Society and the Edward B. Rhodes-Parkland American Legion Post 2 host a Memorial Day service at War Memorial Park, just across the bridge in Tacoma. The ceremony begins at 11 a.m. Program highlights include the All-City Junior ROTC Color Guard, the 133rd Band from Washington National Guard and keynote speaker, Tacoma Deputy Mayor Catherine Ushka.

Run to Tahoma: The 11th Unforgotten, Run to Tahoma will pass through Gig Harbor on Saturday, May 28. Participants take unclaimed remains of veterans from Kitsap County to Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent. The event begins at 10 a.m. at the Kitsap County Courthouse, 619 Division St., Port Orchard. For the route, click here.

Just for fun

The Gig Harbor Film Festival‘s Monday Monthly Movie returns May 30 with a showing of “Small Town Wisconsin.” Director Neils Mueller will appear for a post-screening Q&A  session.

“This ‘dramedy’ is winning numerous awards on the festival circuit and we are so honored and excited to have Neils join us,” according to festival director Pamela Holt.

Find more events, or submit your own, at Gig Harbor Now’s calendar page.