A Weekend of Art in Gig Harbor

by Intern Laurel Rice

Hello Gig Harbor! I am fortunate to spend some time in your picturesque city as an intern with Gig Harbor’s Marketing Director. As a Tacoma Native, Gig Harbor has always been a close neighbor, seeming like a relaxing getaway where my family would come to visit friends, go to eat or attend the farmers markets and festivals. I am intrigued with the beautiful artwork present throughout the city, which makes me all the more excited to go to this month’s two summer art festivals!

Saturday July 21 and Sunday July 22, Gig Harbor will be a hubbub of creativity, arts, crafts, music, food, and fun. The Gig Harbor Summer Arts Festival and Chalk the Harbor are two highly anticipated events of the year, and are conveniently held on the same weekend. The events are free with a shuttle service provided from Around the Sound Transit.

The twenty-eighth annual Gig Harbor Summer Arts Festival, produced by the Peninsula Arts League (PAL) was voted by readers of South Sound Magazine as the Best Festival of the South Sound for 2012. We are lucky to have such a highly acclaimed event, right in the heart of Gig Harbor.

Visitors and locals alike will flock to the vibrant destination to see vendors both familiar and new to the festival. The event runs Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Judson Street.

This year’s festival brings between 130 and 135 artistic vendors along with music, food and activities for children hosted by Arcadia Montessori School.

“It’s colorful. It’s lively. It’s a wonderful slice of Gig Harbor. There will be musicians selling instruments, glass artists, fabric, painting, watercolors [with] just about every kind of art imaginable represented at the festival. You can buy a nice pair of earrings, a tile for the kitchen, a luscious new silk garment, or a cribbage board for your father,” said Charlee Glock-Jackson, the PAL website manager and member of the event management team committee.

While you are on Judson Street for the festival, take advantage of the great opportunity to stop by the Gig Harbor Visitor Information Center for some assistance in planning your next fun adventure in Gig Harbor!

After admiring the vendors, you may be left feeling inspired to do some art of your own. Time to head to the waterfront!

The historic waterfront downtown area of the harbor will be a bustle of people filling the sidewalks with their unique designs at Chalk the Harbor on July 21st. You can add your drawing to the city’s sidewalk canvas by registering at either the Finholm District or the intersection of Pioneer and Harborview. Winners will be chosen from the following categories: adult, college student, high school student, family, kids, and a new category for best maritime/nautical theme.

This event was formerly titled Chalk the Walk, but was changed this year. It takes place on Saturday only.

“We decided to come up with a name that better reflected Gig Harbor. We wanted to bring the harbor and maritime history/heritage into it” said Josh Sherwin, event coordinator. “Maritime or Nautical theme is encouraged.”

The two events appear very cohesive and are fun for the whole family. Come out July 21 & 22 to admire art, create art, and simply enjoy Gig Harbor. Learn more at www.gigharborguide.com.

Laurel Rice is a Sophomore at the University of Washington studying marketing and public relations.