Jan. 6, 2014 at 10:29am

Be A Tourist In Your Own Town - GIG HARBOR!

Believe it or not, January is here. Traditionally, as we ring in the New Year, it’s a good time to think about goals and resolutions for the months ahead.

I do that, as do many others. Whether we keep them is another story!

But January also offers us a fresh start, a new and clean calendar. Each year, as January approaches, I take some time to look at my calendar and mark out dates for some good ol’ fashioned fun.

I seem to always find time for that task. I pick out events and activities, and I mark my calendar well in advance to give me something to look forward to.

With that in mind, the City of Gig Harbor has begun to collect dates for events throughout 2014, and we’ve been posting them feverishly to our events calendar at www.gigharborguide.com.

Why not mark your calendar and spend some time getting to know more about the events right here in your very own back yard?

Catch a new event you’ve never attended, or simply mark your calendar for the event you’ve loved year after year.

Here are some ideas:

Start off the year in the right direction with the Resolution Run for the Heroes. This 5-kilometer or 10k race benefits the Behind the Badge Foundation for fallen officers and families. It will take place at Skansie Brothers Park in the heart of downtown on Jan. 11, so you still have a few days to train.

The Knock My Socks Off Run happens on Valentine’s weekend in February. The 5K run begins on Kimball Drive near the Park & Ride and travels along the Cushman Trail.

In April, our beloved lighthouse at the mouth of the harbor will celebrate its 25th anniversary. Plans are under way for an event to commemorate the lighthouse on , on April 26 at Skansie Brothers Park.

The Street Scramble will return in May. It will take place the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend, May 24. If you have never participated in this event – this year is your year.

The Street Scramble is an urban scavenger hunt all though Gig Harbor on foot or bike – no motor vehicles allowed.

From the Street Scramble, you will be able to take the beloved Pierce Transit Get Around Gig Harbor Trolley to lunch at Uptown or the Finholm District. The Trolley will return on Memorial Day weekend and run through Labor Day weekend.

And, of course, a Gig Harbor summer would not be complete without a visit from the Beatniks. This summer, they will play July 22.

Also in July, the Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance will host the Gig Harbor Wine & Food Festival on July 26.

More dates to note on your calendar:

• The Gig Harbor Beer Festival will return May 10.

• The Maritime Gig Festival will be held June 7-8.

• The Gig Harbor Garden Tour will be held June 28-29.

• The Summer Sounds at Skansie concerts will be held on Tuesdays from June 24 through Aug. 19.

• Select weekends in July and August will feature CinemaGig Outdoor Movies in the Park

• The Summer Arts Festival will be held July 19-20.

• The Donkey Creek Chum Festival will be held Sept. 20.

• The Race for a Soldier event will be held Sept. 28.

• The Gig Harbor Film Festival will be held Oct. 17-19.

Be a tourist in your own backyard and join in on the fun. If you are hosting a family event, use our “submit your event” option at www.gigharborguide.com to get the word out.

Best wishes for 2014!