New events set for Maritime Gig

Susan Schell

of the Gateway

The Maritime Gig Festival, made possible by the Gig Harbor Peninsula Area Chamber of Commerce, will keep the harbor abuzz with new events and old-time favorites on June 6-7.

The event’s theme is “Pirates of the Peninsula — Yo Ho Harbor!” in honor of the first-time appearance in the parade by the Seafair Pirates.

Anyone who wishes to enjoy the harbor and get some exercise can join the 5K or 10K race on Sunday. Those who prefer more leisurely activities can enjoy the pancake breakfast that kicks off the event on Saturday morning, listen to music or shop at the street fair, which will feature items from local vendors along Harborview Drive.

What’s new

The Maritime City will welcome the Seafair Pirates. The swashbuckling, sword-wielding characters will make their first appearance in the grand parade, which will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday morning.

“They have a big ship with a very loud cannon, which they shoot off,” said Fred Oldenburg of the Chamber of Commerce. “They’re really loud.”

Oldenburg met the pirates when he was working as one of the organizers for the Tall Ships Tacoma festival in 2005.

“They all said they had never been to Gig Harbor, but they loved the city and wanted to see what the maritime festival was all about,” he said.

Warren Zimmerman, the chamber’s executive director, said the theme was chosen long before the recent high-seas dramas played out off the coast of Somalia.

“Pirates aren’t in the best eyes of the public right now,” he admitted. “But this theme was planned out a long time ago.”

Zimmerman said the parade also will feature a first-time appearance by the daffodil float from the Puyallup Daffodil Parade, complete with the Daffodil Queen and her court. Miss Washington also will be present.

Race on Sunday

The former 5K race has turned into a 5K/10K and has moved to Sunday.

“There’s so much going on on Saturday, we thought we’d have a better event if we moved it to Sunday,” Zimmerman said. “Last year, we got comments from runners who said they preferred a 10K race.”

The race will begin in Gig Harbor North, wind down Peacock Hill and circle up Burnham Drive, utilizing new portions of the Cushman Trail.

Organizers said the race probably will begin at Costco or another venue that offers plenty of parking in order to keep congestion away from Harborview Drive.

“We put Peacock Hill on the course because runners have said having good visuals is important,” Zimmerman said. “Peacock Hill offers a gorgeous view of the mountains and water.

“We’ll try to keep the majority of the race off the streets. We have a long-term goal of growing this into a bigger event in the future.”

Classic Car Show

Uptown Gig Harbor will get involved this year by hosting a classic car show. Automobile enthusiasts who visit the shopping center on Saturday will be able to feast their eyes on a variety of cars placed at various locations throughout the parking lot.

Dragon boats

Dragon boats will be in the harbor for the first year. The long, wooden, ornately carved boats will be manned with rowers who will give a demonstration on the water off Jerisich Dock.

Fishing gear history

Booths manned by volunteer fishermen will be on display Saturday to offer a glimpse of how fishing gear was used in the past and how fishermen do it today.

Old favorites return

The Blessing of the Fleet will take place on Sunday, as in years past, with a procession moving from St. Nicholas Catholic Church down to the water. The traditional blessing honors fishermen who have lost their lives and offers a prayer and good luck for the safety of today’s seamen.

The event will be broadcast by KGHP, the community radio station based at Peninsula High School, on 93.7 FM.

Several service organizations have been invited to participate in the festival, including the Soroptimist Club, the Gig Harbor Rotary and other non-profit organizations.

The Lions Club will have its health-screening mobile parked in front of the Russell building, and the Bloodmobile also will be present to accept blood donations.

The Taste of Gig Harbor will not occur at the festival this year. The chamber plans to move the event to another date and accommodate new restaurants and wine bars in the area.

Harborview Drive will be closed from 6 a.m. on June 6 to 7 p.m. on June 7 between Pioneer Avenue and Rosedale Street. Pioneer Way also will be closed from Judson Street to Harborview Drive from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

The chamber will continue to update the list of events on its Web site, www.maritimegig.com.

Schedule of events

Many events will be happening simultaneously during the weekend of June 6-7. Here is a list of event times and dates:

Saturday, June 6

8 to 11 a.m. — Pancake Breakfast, QFC Shopping Center on Judson St., sponsored by Gig Harbor Kiwanis

8:30 to 2 p.m. — Farmers Market, Kimball Street Park & Ride area

10 a.m. — “Pirates of the Peninsula — Yo Ho Harbor” Grand Parade, route along Harborview Drive

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. — Antique and Classic Yacht Festival at Jerisich Dock

2 p.m. — Award presentations

Noon to 5 p.m. — Children’s Fair events will include: Hourly storytelling with the Pierce County Libraries; MOPS — mom’s respite activities; Boys & Girls Club activities; Home Depot tile painting; Gig Harbor Cooperative Preschool — design your own pirate button; Jennifer Bunch, dentist — meet the tooth fairy and receive a goodie bag; Kitsap Bank — face painting; Harbor Wildwatch — marine touch tank; Harbor Dance — learn mini dance skills; Baha’i Faith — decorate a banner; Little Lambs Preschool — decorate a bag; YMCA — ring toss and pirate pictures; Animal Crackers — bouncy castle; Narrows Strut Busters — fish pond; Harbor Graphics — paint your own T-shirt.

Noon to 5 p.m. — Children’s interactive stage at Skansie Park

Noon to 2 p.m. — Harbor music

1 p.m.— Juggler Roberto the Magnificent

2 p.m. — Captain Arrrrr

3 p.m. — Magician Jeff Evans

4 p.m. Mad Science — “The Dragon that Came to Visit”

Noon to 7 p.m. — Events at the Main stage and Pavilion

Noon ­— Key Peninsula Middle School

12:30 p.m. — Kopachuck Middle School jazz

1 p.m.— Minter Creek Elementary School

1:30 p.m. — Gig Harbor High School Vocal Jazz

2:30 to 4 p.m. — The High Rollers

4 to 5:30 p.m. — Who’s Bad Now

5:30 to 7 p.m. Kim Archer Band

Sunday, June 7

7 to 7:45 a.m. — Check in to run at Skansie Park

7:45 a.m. — Kids Dash (free)

8: a.m. 5K and 10K — Race begins

10 a.m. 5K and 10K —­ Awards Ceremony; race results to be published in Peninsula Gateway, Gig Harbor Peninsula Area Chamber of Commerce ChamberGram, and www.maritimegig.com

10 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Antique and Classic Yacht Festival, “Step Aboard Floating History”

10:30 a.m. — Peninsula High School Jazz Ensemble

11 a.m. — Harbor Ridge Middle School Jazz

11:30 a.m. — Gig Harbor High School Jazz

Noon to 1 p.m. — Ecumenical Memorial Service honoring fallen Puget Sound fishermen

1 to 2:30 p.m. — Vela Luka Croatian Dance Ensemble and Ruze Dalmatinke Orchestra

2:30 to 3 p.m. — Blessing of the Fleet procession from St. Nicholas Catholic Church

3 to 4 p.m. — The Blessing of the Fleet broadcast by KGHP 93.7, Peninsula High School

4:30 p.m. — Event ends.