The fourth annual Make Music Day Solstice celebration is set to take place from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday, December 21, on three stages at Uptown Gig Harbor. This free, international musical event celebrates both the summer and winter solstices and is produced by United by Music America, a non-profit organization dedicated to showcasing the musical talents of alter-abled people. The local UBMA chapter was founded by Gig Harbor residents Barbara Hammerman and her daughter Amanda Gresham.

Three Stages with Diverse Musical Offerings

Stage 1, located at Sleep Number Beds, is known as the “sound sensory sensitivity” stage and will feature jazz by Jon Phillips and Steve Laceno from 1 to 3 p.m. Stage 2 at LeLe’s Restaurant will have music from 4 to 9 p.m., with performances by Luke Stanton, Dustin Lafferty, Angie Lynn, and the Saxtunes Trio. Stage 3 at Kinship Studios is the Fest 4 All stage and the “headquarters” of the event. Festivities kick off at 12:30 p.m. with a new Make Music Day tradition – a Grand Uke Gathering and “strum-along-circle” featuring the Harbor Ukulele Group (HUG) and several other performers.Players of all levels can join the strum-along circle and bring their own uke or borrow one of the instruments donated by Slovenia’s Flight Ukulele Company. United by Music America co-founder Amanda Gresham can be seen in the center with Harbor Uke Group musicians Lynn Stevenson and Gary Jackson with the ukuleles. Gig Harbor was one of seven U.S. cities to receive 20 free ukuleles from Flight, along with Aberdeen, Atlanta, Germantown, Milwaukee, Montclair, and Surry County. The strum-along circle runs from 12:30 to 2 p.m.At 2:15 p.m. on Stage 3, Pierce County Councilmember Robyn Denson will lead a Land Acknowledgement honoring the Puyallup Tribe of Indians, the original residents of Gig Harbor. The United by Music America band will then play on Stage 3 from 2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Fifth Annual Lighted Car Parade

The fifth annual Lighted Car Parade starts in Uptown at 5 p.m. on Saturday, December 21, with 100 vehicles decorated with holiday lights. Visitors are encouraged to come early and wander among the brightly decorated cars while enjoying fun games and activities. It’s all free, but donations of food, personal items, or new, unwrapped toys for the Gig Harbor Peninsula FISH food bank are welcome. Donations can be dropped off at the Uptown Pavilion from noon to 6 p.m.The car parade proceeds through town and along the downtown waterfront. To find the best viewing spots, including some with kids’ activities and complementary treats, visit the parade’s Facebook page.

Kiddos and Santa

Kiddos who have letters to send to Santa need to put them into the special mailbox at Olalla Bay Market by 4 p.m. on Wednesday, December 18, so Santa has time to read them and respond before Christmas. Be sure to include your return address.

Olalla Book Hunt

The annual Christmas Eve Book Hunt is one of Olalla’s hidden traditions. Books are hidden all around Olalla and waiting to be found. The hunt takes place from noon to 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 24. Photographic clues will be posted on the Fans of Olalla Facebook page at noon sharp.

Photos with Santa

The last two free photo sessions with Santa in Santa’s Village at Donkey Creek Park take place from noon to 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, December 21 and 22. Free cocoa and treats will be provided by the Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance.

Gnome Hunt

The Waterfront Alliance’s gnome hunt continues through December 31 in downtown shops and offices. Find 15 gnomes hidden along the waterfront and be entered to win a $100 gift card from a downtown business of your choice. Download a Gnome Hunt map here.

Live Music

Roeman and the Whereabouts take the stage at Kimball Coffeeshop at 7 p.m. on Friday, December 20. Doors open at 6 p.m. and the music is free and family-friendly. Thursdays are open mic night at Kimball, with signups starting at 6 p.m. and the music starting at 7 p.m.

At the Movies

Wednesday’s Flashback cinema movie at the Galaxy Theatres in Uptown is “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” starring Jim Carrey, with showtimes at noon and 6 p.m. On Sunday, December 22 and Tuesday, December 24, James Stewart stars in Frank Capra’s classic “It’s a Wonderful Life,” also showing at noon and 6 p.m. Flashback movies cost just $5.

Christmas Eve Services

Chapel Hill Church will hold its annual Christmas Eve candlelight services at 6:30 p.m. on Monday, December 23, and at 3 p.m., 5 p.m., 7 p.m., and 9 p.m. on Tuesday, December 24. The church’s choir and Chapel Ringers will perform at the 7 pm. and 9 p.m. services, and the 9 p.m. service also includes communion. Childcare for birth-to-pre-K will be provided at the December 23 service, and at the 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. services on December 24. Elementary-age kids will worship with their families. Chapel Hill Church is located at 7700 Skansie Ave.Harbor Covenant Church will present A Bluegrass Christmas at 8 p.m. on December 23 at the Central Campus, 4901 Gustafson Drive, with a live bluegrass band adding a unique twist to traditional Christmas songs. On December 24, Carols and Candlelight services will take place at 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at the Central Campus. At the North Campus, Harbor Covenant will host a Christmas party at 4:30 p.m. followed by the Christmas Eve service at 5 p.m. The North Campus is located at Swiftwater Elementary School, 10811 Harbor Hill Drive.The Believers Fellowship will hold Christmas Eve candlelight services at 4:30 and 6 p.m. at 4112 Hunt Street. The nursery will be available for children ages 2 and younger.