Harbor holidays: There’s free hot chocolate, Santa Polaroids and the lighted boat parade
Gig Harbor is ready for the holidays.
The city is kicking off festivities with the annual holiday tree lighting from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3 at Skansie Brothers Park, 3211 Harborview Dr.
Harborview Drive between Pioneer and Rosedale with be closed from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. for the event, according to Mayor Tracie Markley’s Nov. 18 newsletter.
The mayor and special guests from Joint Base Lewis-McChord will help light the tree, the newsletter said.
Visitors can grab a complimentary cup of hot cocoa at the Skansie Netshed from the Downtown Waterfront Alliance and Skansie Netshed Foundation. A live band will play holiday music under the pavilion, the newsletter said.
While downtown, visitors can see Santa’s house on Jerisich Dock.
Santa, Mrs. Claus and their elves will be available for complimentary Polaroid photos, the mayor said.
Harbor WildWatch will host a live touch tank on the rooftop of Jerisich Dock. They will also be doing a live dive demonstration after the tree is lit.
“Take an underwater journey of Gig Harbor Bay without getting wet,” Harbor WildWatch’s website said. “While you stay warm and dry on the dock, our divers use an underwater video camera to live stream exactly what they encounter below the surface. Staff biologists and trained volunteers identify the plants and animals that appear on the 10 ft. screen.”
Those looking to knock out some holiday shopping will find vendors lined up on Harborview Drive.
Other holiday activities
Nov. 26 and 27: The Winterfest arts and crafts show is 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Peninsula High School, 14105 Purdy Dr.
Dec. 3 and 4: The Tidefest arts and crafts show is 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at Gig Harbor High School, 5101 Rosedale St. NW.
Dec. 9: The St. Lucia Festival, a celebration of Scandinavian heritage, is from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Harbor History Museum, 4121 Harborview Dr.
Dec. 10: A downtown cookie stroll with over 20 cookie stops is from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. along the entire waterfront. Then visitors can watch the lighted boat parade from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. in Gig Harbor Bay. All area boaters are welcome to participate in the Gig Harbor Yacht Club’s Lighted Boat Parade, whether or not they’re members of the Gig Harbor Yacht Club.
Dec 17: Visitors to Santa’s Village from 4 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the parking lot across from Fondi Pizzeria, 4621 Point Fosdick Dr., can shop local vendors, hosted by the Gig Harbor Kiwanis Club. Then they can watch a lighted car parade beginning at 5:30 p.m. Cars start and end in the same parking lot as Santa’s Village. There will be prizes for the top three winners and Santa will also join the parade in his sleigh.
Dec. 18: The city will celebrate the first night of Hanukkah with a menorah lighting from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Uptown Pavilion, 4701 Point Fosdick Dr. NW.
