Pumpkins, farm animals and family activities return for October weekends

Photo by Meghan Montgomery A multidisciplinary Seattle firm built around collaboration, client advocacy and thoughtful design By Like Media Team Before Board & Vellum became a multidisciplinary design firm, it began with a philosophy. Managing Principal Jeff Pelletier wanted to create a company that advocated for its clients while building a workplace where people felt supported, respected, and free to contribute. What began in the attic of his Capitol Hill home has grown int

October 31 | Downtown Gig Harbor Waterfront Trick or Treat the Harbor takes over Gig Harbor's downtown waterfront October 31 from 3 to 6 pm. Businesses along Harborview Drive and surrounding streets welcome trick-or-treaters with candy, decorated storefronts, and plenty of Halloween spirit. Families can walk the waterfront at their own pace, stopping at participating shops throughout the district. No registration is required. The Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance organi

October 2 | Gig Harbor Sportsman Club Pull for a Soldier returns to the Gig Harbor Sportsman Club on October 2 for a competitive trap shoot benefiting the Permission to Start Dreaming Foundation. Teams of five take to the range, with shells and clay included in registration. The event welcomes both first-time shooters and experienced participants for a day of friendly competition. Proceeds support programs serving first responders, military members, and veterans dealing with

Meet 57 juried artists at work across the region By Like Media Team For three days this September, artists throughout the greater Gig Harbor area will open their working studios and invite visitors to see what happens before a finished piece reaches a gallery wall. The Gig Harbor Open Studio Tour returns September 18 through 20, bringing together 57 juried artists at 23 studio locations across Gig Harbor, Key Peninsula, Fox Island, Olalla and Port Orchard. The free, self-guid

Photo by In Gear Media By Like Media Team At its new home in the Peninsula Shopping Center, JAX Luxury Salon brings hair care, skincare, massage, nail services, and Japanese Head Spa treatments together in one place. The move brought private wellness suites, additional styling stations, and more room to slow the pace for every guest. JAX has served Gig Harbor since 1982 and now operates as an AVEDA Lifestyle Salon. As guests began requesting wellness services alongside color

By Paige Schulte, Entrepreneur & REALTOR® There's a particular kind of house that doesn't announce itself. No grand double staircase, no chandelier visible from the street. Its confidence lives in the details you only notice once you're inside — the quiet hum of heated floors underfoot on a February morning. This summer, two such homes on the market at Canterwood Golf & Country Club offer a rare chance to see what happens when craftsmanship, not just square footage, becomes t

By Like Media Team Kate Diaz grew up in a real estate family. For years, she was certain she'd end up somewhere else entirely. She wanted a career built around people, not paperwork, and didn't expect to find that in real estate. She began to see that real estate could be less about transactions and more about helping people navigate decisions that would shape their lives for years. That was where she knew she could make a difference. One deal still sticks with her. A buyer w

September 26 | Noon–5 pm | LeMay America's Car Museum Cider Swig returns for its 13th year on September 26 from noon to 5 pm at LeMay America's Car Museum. Hosted by the Greater Gig Harbor Foundation, the festival features more than 130 ciders from Northwest cidermakers, plus beer, mead, wine, spirits, and non-alcoholic options. Live music, food trucks and the Battle of the Pies apple pie contest add to the day. Proceeds benefit local environmental education, conservation, an

September 18-20 | 10 am–5 pm | Gig Harbor The Open Studio Tour returns to Gig Harbor September 18 through 20, inviting visitors inside the working spaces of local artists. The free, self-guided event features painters, potters, sculptors, and jewelers demonstrating their work and sharing their creative process. Studios are open from 10 am to 5 pm each day. Visitors can explore a range of mediums, from ceramics and sculpture to painting and jewelry, with maps available to help

July 4, 2026 | 10 am–2 pm | Downtown Gig Harbor Gig Harbor marks the nation's 250th birthday on July 4 with a community celebration in downtown Gig Harbor from 10 am to 2 pm. Organized by the Chamber of Commerce, the Downtown Waterfront Alliance, the Kiwanis Club, and the city, the day includes a kids-and-pets parade, a flag-themed public art project, and pie-baking and pie-eating contests. It is the first organized Independence Day event Gig Harbor has hosted in decades, tim

July 18–19, 2026 | Sat 10 am–6 pm, Sun 10 am–5 pm | Sehmel Homestead Park The Peninsula Art League Summer Arts Festival returns to Sehmel Homestead Park July 18 and 19 for its 40th year. More than 100 juried artists from the Pacific Northwest and beyond will present work across ceramics, glass, metal, painting, photography, jewelry, fiber arts, sculpture, and other mediums. Live music begins at noon both days on the Kimball Coffeehouse Music Stage. The festival also includes

A milestone festival supporting artists and future creatives By Like Media Team For 40 years, the Peninsula Art League (PAL) Summer Arts Festival has brought community to the artist and art to the community. The 40th festival takes place July 18 and 19, 2026, at Sehmel Homestead Park. Admission and parking are free. Saturday hours are 10 am–6 pm, and Sunday hours are 10 am–5 pm. “Reaching this milestone is a moment of immense pride for us,” says PAL President Robin Avni. “We

Lessons from my father, a captain in the Seattle Fire Department By Campbell Anderson Captain Vance Anderson makes eye contact with the two yowling cats, sighs, and places one under each arm. Really, they have the survival instincts of flattened pennies. He exits the burning building, thankful that his fire gear is thick enough to protect him from the digging cat claws. He is not a cat person. He is just a good person. His coworkers are delighted by this feline surprise. Repo

A Gig Harbor destination for adventure, creativity, and connection By Like Media Team For siblings Andrew and Charlie Youngchild, the spark that became Lost Star Tabletop Gaming Outfitter began with a shared love for imagination, connection, and the kind of childhood memories that never fade. When their careers were interrupted in 2019, they took it as a sign to build something lasting—something that could bring people together through creativity and play. “Parts of our child

December 13 Celebrate the season with one of Gig Harbor’s most dazzling traditions, the annual Lighted Boat Parade. On Saturday, December 13, beginning at 5 pm, the harbor comes alive with festively decorated boats circling the waterfront in a sparkling display of holiday cheer. You can join the fun by captaining your own vessel or enjoy the show from shore as the community gathers for this magical night on the water. Visit GigHarborYC.com for registration and viewing detail

December 6-7, 11-14, 18-21 From December 6–7, 11–14, and 18–21, 2025, Holiday Village at Ancich Park returns to light up Gig Harbor with festive cheer. Stroll through twinkling lights, visit local food vendors, enjoy holiday music, and experience a magical seasonal atmosphere in the heart of town. This family-friendly celebration invites residents and visitors alike to embrace the spirit of the season. Visit GHDWA.org for event details, including hours and activities. Check

December 1-31 From December 1–31, 2025, explore the Gnome Hunt along Gig Harbor’s waterfront district. Participants search retail locations for at least 15 hidden gnomes, collect stamps on a passport, and upload the completed passport to enter a drawing for a $100 gift card to a waterfront business. This free, family-friendly event adds festive fun to the holiday shopping and exploring experience. Visit GHDWA.org for maps, rules, and details on how to participate. Check out

A celebration of creativity and community in Gig Harbor By Like Media Team For more than four decades, the Peninsula Art League (PAL) has connected artists and art lovers through its mission of bringing community to the artist and art to the community. What began in the early 1980s as a small group of local artists led by Evelyn Lorraine and William Arthur Phillips has since evolved into a vibrant organization of more than 250 members spanning the Gig Harbor Peninsula and bey

Fern Nichols and the gospel that reaches millions By Steve Russo Publisher’s Note: This article offers an insider's and personal look at...