Community festival pays homage to Gig Harbor’s maritime heritage

‘The Gig’ draws crowd for annual parade, Blessing of the Fleet and live entertainment

Ashley Coats

of the Gateway

A toll bridge, a movie theater, a Costco and numerous other changes have been popping up around Gig Harbor in the past few years. Change has been one of the only constants in the ever-growing fisherman’s village.

But the annual Maritime Gig Festival is something on which people can count.

For more than a decade, people from all over the Gig Harbor and Key peninsulas travel to see the parade, the vendors, the Blessing of the Fleet and the many other activities associated with the event.

“My kids love the parade and candy,” said Gig Harbor resident Stacy Bigger, a local school teacher. “I think it’s a great small-town festival. You just get to see everyone you know.”

Last weekend was Bigger’s sixth year at the weekend-long festival. Saturday was designated for the Maritime Gig and Sunday was primarily for the annual Blessing of the Fleet celebration.

“(The festival and blessing) are tied together but two totally separate things,” said Knights of Columbus member Robert Munday.

The Knights of Columbus hosts the Blessing of the Fleet, a ceremony that focuses as much on honoring fishermen whose lives were lost at sea as it does to protect the local fleet as it works in Puget Sound waters.

The Maritime Gig Festival shut down Harborview Drive on Saturday for the parade and vendors, who sold everything from shaved ice sundaes, to kettle corn and hot dogs.

“It’s the last thing that’s not in a store,” said Gig Harbor High School freshman Nicole Hermoso. “I like that the community comes together.”

Saturday started with the Fun Run and the pancake breakfast, which was sponsored by the Gig Harbor Kiwanis. Both events started at 8 a.m. The Fun Run began on Judson Street, and the finish line was located on North Harborview Drive.

After the Fun Run, the Kids’ Dash — a youth version of the fun run — was held. The Dash was just one of the many events for children throughout the weekend.

The children’s fair started at noon and had activities like a treasure hunt and face painting.

“I went fishing, got my face painted and then went (to Spiro’s) to eat,” said Noel Jenkins, 5, of Gig Harbor.

The pancake breakfast was attended by Dino Rossi, the Republican challenger to Gov. Christine Gregoire.

Gregoire also was in attendance on Saturday. She presented awards for the Round Rock Contest, the parade winners and the community service awards at Skansie Brothers Park. She also dined at Spiro’s Pizza for lunch.

The weather all weekend was overcast with a possible chance of rain, but all the events went on as planned.

“I saw lots of clouds,” Jenkins said. “It was cold.”

The young girl attended the parade to see her cousins who were participating.

The “2008 by Leaps and Bounds!” Grande Parade was the main attraction of the Maritime Gig. The parade traveled along the waterfront on Harborview Drive.

“I like the parade the best,” Munday said. “I like to see all the different floats, school kids and the groups.”

Some of the standout floats and performers in the parade included the GHHS all-girl drum line, Bonney Lake High School’s Marching Band and the Harbor History Museum.

“It’s been a lot of fun,” GHHS junior Mark Van Duker said. “There’s a lot of really nice people, good music and good-looking boats.”

Saturday was Van Duker’s first year attending the Maritime Gig.

“I was invited by a friend,” he said. “My favorite part was walking on the dock because there’s a very nice view.”

Jerisich Park was the main stage for Saturday’s live entertainment. Many of the local school bands performed, along with other professional entertainers.

Bigger’s daughter performed with the Goodman Middle School Jazz Band.

“This is the first year my daughter’s performed,” Bigger said. “I’m a teacher, so I like to see all the schools.”

The 13th annual Blessing of the Fleet and Taste of Gig Harbor shut down Pioneer Way and filled Jerisich Park on Sunday with live entertainment.

The Blessing of the Fleet Procession started at 1:45 p.m. from St. Nicholas Catholic Church and ended at the Jerisich Dock. Bagpipes could be heard throughout the harbor as the procession made its way to the dock.

Father Hung Nguyen of St. Nicholas performed the blessing, saying a prayer for the boats and fishermen who are about to embark on another year of fishing.

Wreaths were released into the harbor as a way to memorialize those lost at sea in the past year.

Before the procession began, Croatian Dancers from Anacortes performed at Skansie Park.

“The Croatian Dancers are one of the highlights every year,” Munday said.

When the blessing was complete, members of the community were encouraged to participate in a number of different activities with a maritime theme. There was a knot-tying demonstration, a booth to make miniature wooden sailboats, and a station where community members could participate in the creation of a wooden mast for the historic fishing vessel, the Shenandoah.

The Shenandoah will be featured at the new Gig Harbor History Museum.

“We’re here just trying to get the word out about the new museum,” said Sue Loiland, campaign director for the Gig Harbor History Museum. “We really want the whole community to participate in this project.”

This year, Gig Harbor will be welcoming changes, such as the new museum, Boys & Girls Club and St. Anthony Hospital, but next year, people can count on the tradition of the Maritime Gig Festival.

“We’re going to keep it going forever,” Munday said.

Maritime Gig awards

Grande Parade

Most Original: MultiCare Health System

Best Depiction of Theme: Gig Harbor Academy

Best Commercial Entry: Screenman, Inc.

Best Antique Vehicle: Uptown (Gateway Capital)

Best Animal Entry: 4-H

Best Motorized Unit: Harbor Pump Co., Inc.

Best Musical Group: Bonney Lake High School Panther Marching Band

Best Costumes: Washington Renaissance Faire

Best Children’s Entry: St. Nicholas Catholic School

Best Service Organization: Harbor Hounds

Judge’s Choice: Harbor History Museum

Mayor’s Choice: GHHS All Chicks Insane Drum line

President’s Choice: Gig Harbor Bulldogs.

Round Rock Contest

1. Christina Marchesini; 2. Max Rae; 3. Tyler Kreis; 4. Amelya Hanse; 5. Nayland and Jacob Snarr.

Public Safety and Community Service:

Deputy Wyatt Armstrong, Pierce County Sheriff’s Office.

Officer Chet Dennis, Gig Harbor Police Department.

Lt. Bill Marcy, Gig Harbor Fire Department.

Trooper Pete Stock, Washington State Patrol

Division Chief Chuck West, Key Peninsula Fire Department

Reach intern Ashley Coats at 853-9224 or by e-mail at ashley.coats@gateline.com.