Scenes from the holidays in Gig Harbor

Photos by Ric Hallock

A cold front settling in over the South Sound didn’t deter residents from enjoying the events that take place each year at this time.

Because of the fog, boats decorated for the Lighted Boat Parade were best seen while still moored along Jerisich Dock before the start of the Lighted Boat Parade on Saturday evening.

The Lighted Boat Parade, hosted by the Gig Harbor Yacht Club, was more a Lighted Fog Parade after a heavy fog settled along the harbor on Friday night and never burned off on Saturday. But even only barely seeing the craft was enough to keep the crowd gathered along various piers along the harbor.

Boat owners delight in decorating their boats for the annual Lighted Boat Parade hosted by the Gig Harbor Yacht Club.

Fog from the night before never burned off, so as the air chilled Saturday night, the fog became more dense for people watching the parade from Jerisich Dock.

The Downtown Waterfront Alliance hosted Santa Hay rides along the waterfront, provided by Christa Camps with dozens of excited children getting a chance for some up close and personal time with the Big Man in Red.

David German, a.k.a. Santa and Valene Patton, a.k.a. Mrs. Claus, talk with Ronan Veh, 6, of Fox Island and his brother Theron, 3, not pictured. Santa and Mrs. Claus having been making annual holiday appearances for 20 years.

The Alliance also hosted weekend caroling provided by Sharon Stearnes on keyboards, along with some family and friends providing the vocals.

With Gig Harbor resident Sharon Stearnes playing keyboards, carolers Tim Stubbs, Baylor Stearnes and Nick Sherwin sing with gusto while on Harborview Drive Saturday evening.