What are you waiting for? Fun happens in Gig Harbor.
Sign Up or Spectate for the 5K Fools Run on April 4th
Prepare to sprint, stroll, and be spectacularly silly in the spirit of April Fools. Get in on
Gig Harbor’s Second Annual Fools Run 2026 for a day of energy, excitement, and pure downtown fun. The Fools Run 5K is an evening run through the scenic streets of Gig Harbor. Set against the backdrop of the harbor at twilight, the event is designed to be playful, fun, and family friendly. Strollers and leashed dogs with up-to-date vaccines are welcome.
The Gig Harbor Chamber of Commerce stages the event.
Spectators and participants alike can enjoy the food trucks, music, a DJ and a 360-degree photo booth. “We want to encourage people to support local bossiness along the route. “Everyone will have a good time,” promises Rosalyn Rochac-Finnegan, Tourism Director for Visit Gig Harbor. You can register for $50 here.
Paddlers Cup Saturday and Sunday April 25th and 26th
The Gig Harbor Paddlers Cup is the premier event for Pacific Northwest paddle enthusiasts of all ages and skill levels. It is the thirteenth annual up organized by the Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Racing Team. There will be racing for kayaks, canoes, stand up and prone paddleboards, outriggers, para-canoes, and dragon boats. Be sure to check out the Paddlers Cup SUP Technical Course, which happens before the Dragon Boat Races. It all happens around the historic Skansie Brothers Park and Ancich Park in downtown Gig Harbor.
Race proceeds benefit the Gig Harbor Canoe and Kayak Racing Team, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization committed to introducing youth to the sport of Olympic Sprint Canoe and Kayak Racing, and the Gig Harbor Dragons Boat Club, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community organization that fosters a supportive, inclusive community focused on competition, sportsmanship, and personal growth, empowering athletes to reach their full potential both on and off the water.
Gig Harbor is gearing up for the USA National SUP (stand-up paddleboard) Nationals Championships in September. See elite talent firsthand.
For more information on events, registration, parking and more, go the Visit Gig Harbor website.
Mary Ellen Psaltis