The outdoor movie schedule west of the Narrows is changing. Here’s what to know.
Correction: This story has been updated to clarify that there are two concert series this summer. The city of Gig Harbor is hosting Summer Sounds at Skansie Brothers Park. The Peninsula Metropolitan Parks District is hosting concerts at Sehmel Homestead Park. This story has also been updated to include the schedule for outdoor movies at Gateway Park and Volunteer Park on the Key Peninsula.
Summer activities are heating up in Gig Harbor.
The city of Gig Harbor and Peninsula Metropolitan Parks updated their summer events schedule Wednesday, June 7.
Outdoor concerts and movies aren’t going away, but there are changes this summer.
2023 schedule for Summer Sounds concerts near Gig Harbor at Skansie Brothers Park
Summer Sounds will take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday nights in July and August.
July 11: Beat Frequency, featured on season three of “The Voice” and “The X Factor.”
July 18: Casey and Company
July 25: The Jewel Tones
Aug. 1: The Ante Up Band
Aug. 8: Good Day Sunshine
Aug. 15: The Profits
Aug. 22: Ian Ayers and The Soul Purpose
Aug. 29: Sounds like Dolores
2023 schedule for summer concerts near Gig Harbor at Sehmel Homestead Park
PenMet is also hosting a concert series, Summer Concerts at Sehmel Homestead Park, that will mostly take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday nights in July.
Saturday June 24: Fleetwood Mac’s 1997 special MTV concert to commemorate the 20th anniversary of their “Rumours” album will play on the big screen.
- July 12: Gina Belliveau
- July 19: Eagles tribute band, Victims of Love
- July 26: Local cover band, Wounded Mic
Aug. 16: National Parks Radio
Changes to the outdoor movie schedule
Movie screenings will take place later in the summer this year. Last year movies ran Friday nights in July. This year they will run Friday nights in August.
In previous years, the concerts and movies were happening simultaneously.
When asked about the schedule, Jacquie Goodwill, the PenMet marketing coordinator, told the Gateway: “We thought of the importance of collaborating with our community partners, such as the City of Gig Harbor. We all agree that area residents appreciate that the event dates are staggered, so they have a wide range of options to choose from.”
Goodwill went on to say: “With the Tuesday Summer Sounds at Skansie Brothers Park or the Thursday Uptown Summer Concert Series, or even the Friday night movies, there are a lot of fun area activities throughout each week, from June through August, on the Gig Harbor Peninsula.”
Last summer the city and PenMet partnered to show five movies.
This summer, PenMet will take the lead and offer four movies in the month of August.
The city won’t be hosting movies this summer, City Administrator Katrina Knuston told the Gateway.
They had been using Lodging Tax Advisory Committee funds for outdoor movies, but they’re not able to do that anymore. Knutson explained that those funds are supposed to be used to get visitors to spend the night in the city or to draw visitors from more than 50 miles away. Data showed the crowds for the movies were made up of locals, not visitors, she said.
2023 schedule for outdoor movies near Gig Harbor at Sehmel Homestead Park
Outdoor movies will start at 8:30 p.m. on Fridays in August at Sehmel Homestead Park.
- Aug. 4: “Encanto”
- Aug. 11: “Shrek”
- Aug. 18: “Sing”
- Aug. 25: “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish”
2023 schedule for outdoor movies on the Key Peninsula at Gateway Park and Volunteer Park
Key Pen Parks also has a summer movie program, Cinema Under the Stars.
Their movies show Friday nights in August and alternate between between Gateway Park and Volunteer Park.
- Aug. 4 - “Top Gun: Maverick” at Gateway Park
- Aug. 11 - “Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank” at Volunteer Park
- Aug. 18 - “Minions: The Rise of Gru” at Gateway Park
- Aug. 25 - “DC League of Super-Pets” at Volunteer Park
This story was originally published June 11, 2023 at 5:00 AM.
