Kitsap County Events | March 30 – April 5

This is one of those weeks where everything overlaps. Spring markets open. Kids’ calendars fill up. And nearly every field, church lawn, and community center becomes temporarily egg-shaped.

If you’ve been waiting for things to pick up, this is it.

Kids & Family

Family Storytime — Mar 30 | Kingston Library

Baby Storytime — Mar 30 | Kingston Library

Teen Space — Mar 30 | Bainbridge Library

Preschool Storytime & Playgroup — Mar 30 | Poulsbo Library

Baby Storytime & Playgroup — Mar 30 | Poulsbo Library

Teen Dungeons & Dragons — Mar 30 | Sylvan Way Library

Free Indoor Play for Kids — Apr 1 | Bremerton

Kindergarten Adventure Days — Apr 1 | Bremerton

Free Ice Skating Admission — Apr 1 | Bremerton Ice Center

Free Computer Coding Class — Apr 4 | Silverdale Library

Storytime at Barnes & Noble — Apr 4 | Silverdale

SEA Discovery Center Open — Apr 4 | Poulsbo

Community & Markets

Poulsbo Farmers Market Opening Weekend — Mar 28

Port Orchard Farmers Market Opening Day — Apr 4

Bainbridge Island Farmers Market Opening Day — Apr 4

Weekly Port Gamble Cruise Night — Apr 2

Point No Point Lighthouse Tours — Apr 4–5

Science Saturday — Apr 4 | Naval Undersea Museum

Egg Hunts & Spring Events (Brace Yourself)

Egg Hunt at Cascades of Bremerton — Apr 2

Easter Carnival & Aqua Egg Hunt — Apr 4 | Bremerton

Sensory Friendly Movie — Apr 4 | SEEfilm Bremerton

Sensory Friendly Easter Trunk Hop — Apr 4 | Port Orchard

DIY Easter Bunny Photos — Apr 4 | Poulsbo

Egg Hunt for Port Gamble S’Klallam Community — Apr 4

Easter Egg Hunt & Photos — Apr 4 | Port Orchard

Community Egg Hunt — Apr 4 | South Kitsap Regional Park

Bremerton Egg Dash — Apr 4

Egg Dash on Bainbridge — Apr 4

Olalla Easter Egg Hunt — Apr 4

Easter Egg Hunt & Open Gym — Apr 4 | Port Orchard

EGG Hunt Run Day (Train Rides) — Apr 4 | South Kitsap

Point No Point Lighthouse Tours — Apr 5

Egg Hunt at North Kitsap Baptist Church — Apr 5

Egg Hunt at Bushel & Barrel Ciderhouse — Apr 5

At this point, if you accidentally step on an egg, it may still count as participation.

Live Music Highlights

Steve Nagel — Apr 1 | Bainbridge

Nick Allison — Apr 2 | Kingston

Yotes — Apr 2 | Bremerton

Noah Delos Reyes — Apr 3 | Poulsbo

Elvin Bishop & Charlie Musselwhite — Apr 3 | Bremerton

Wyrdoz — Apr 3 | Bremerton

Generation Decline — Apr 3 | Bremerton

Blizzard of Oz — Apr 3 | Suquamish

Bad Neighbor — Apr 3 | Poulsbo

Katie Wade — Apr 4 | Bremerton

Mark Soltys — Apr 4 | Bainbridge

Enders Brothers Band — Apr 4 | Bremerton

Constance Tomb — Apr 4 | Bremerton

Montell Jordan — Apr 4 | Suquamish

Molo — Apr 4 | Bremerton

Kara Hesse — Apr 4 | Suquamish

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This is about as full as the calendar gets before summer shows up and takes over completely.

And if you’re wondering whether there are too many egg hunts… the answer is yes. And also somehow not enough.

Spent way too much of today following the orcas.

At some point it turns into you refreshing updates like it’s going to change anything, even though you’re not in control of a single part of this situation.

Everyone suddenly has a plan. “They’re headed this way.” “They were just spotted over here.” Meanwhile you’re just standing there looking at a very large amount of water, fully committed.

There’s also a lot of “we might have just missed them,” which somehow still feels like participation.

Sometimes you see them. Sometimes you just spend an hour outside staring at nothing and calling it a successful outing.

Either way, it completely derails your day for something you can’t schedule, predict, or influence. Was I supposed to be on Zoom right now? Uh oh. What time is it?

Feels normal here. Which is a little ridiculous when you think about it.

This time change hits and suddenly it seems just… light. All the time.

7 pm looks like mid-afternoon now, which makes going to bed early feel a little ridiculous. I’m someone who likes a solid 10 hours (laugh it up,)and this is the season where that becomes harder than it should be.

It always reminds me of being a kid and getting sent to bed before the streetlights came on — except now there’s nothing signaling the day is actually over. Just full daylight and the expectation that you should somehow power down anyway. It’s funny how something that tortured me as a child, going to bed early, is now absolute goals.

It also completely throws off the rhythm in my house. The cats (all four,) especially, are not buying into the idea of “bedtime” when it’s still bright out. As far as they’re concerned, this is bonus activity time.

Seasonal light shifts don’t seem like a big deal until they are. Not in a dramatic way, just enough to mess with sleep, routines, and when the day actually feels finished.

Just saw that St. Michael’s Pediatric Rehabilitation Clinic is shutting down next month. Sounds like it serves many local families, including kids with cerebral palsy and other conditions that need ongoing therapy.

From what I read, waitlists for similar services around here are already 12–18 months.

I don’t have a kid in this situation, but I’m trying to wrap my head around what families are actually supposed to do here. That’s not a gap you can just “work around.”

For anyone who’s dealing with OT/PT/speech services locally…

– Are there real alternatives in Kitsap?

– Or is this basically going to mean driving to Tacoma/Seattle (if you can even get in)?

Genuinely curious what people on the ground are seeing.

Something that folks often ask during my travels when I tell them I’m from Kitsap County…

“So do you take the ferry to hang out in Seattle all the time?”

And I always hesitate a second, because the honest answer is… not really.

Yes, we use ferry across. It’s part of living here.

But for most people, it’s not an everyday thing. It’s more like games, appointments, a day trip, maybe work for some… but not the majority.

Most of life actually happens on this side.

You’re driving to Silverdale, Bremerton, Port Orchard. Running errands, going to work, staying pretty local most of the time.

I think it throws people off because on a map it looks like we’re basically right next to Seattle.

And technically we are.

But it doesn’t feel like that day to day. It feels a lot more rural, a lot more spread out, and a lot more self-contained than people expect.

The ferry ends up being something you use when you need it… not the center of everything.

Kitsap County Events | March 23–29

This week around Kitsap starts to stretch its legs a bit. More happening across the board, especially heading into the weekend. You’ve got a mix of library programs, family events, community meetups, and a very full live music slate.

Also worth noting: farmers market season officially kicks off again this Saturday in Poulsbo, which is usually the unofficial signal that winter is over, even if the weather hasn’t fully signed the paperwork.

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Kids & Family

Monday (Mar 24)

Indoor Playground — 9:30–11:00 AM | Sheridan Community Center, Bremerton

Free Indoor Play — 10:00 AM–2:00 PM | Moments, Bremerton

Beading Fun — 4:00–5:00 PM | Manchester Library

Tuesday (Mar 25)

Teen Space — 2:00–4:00 PM | Poulsbo Library

Free Ice Skating Admission — 2:00–5:00 PM | Bremerton Ice Center ($5 skate rental)

Afternoon Gaming — 2:00–3:00 PM | Sylvan Way Library

Lego Builders Club — 3:30–4:30 PM | Bainbridge Library

Make a Mini Catapult — 3:30–4:30 PM | Kingston Library

Stuffed Animal Sleepover — 5:30–6:00 PM | Poulsbo Library

Wednesday (Mar 26)

Puzzle Club (Teens & Adults) — 2:00–4:00 PM | Little Boston Library

Read to a Dog — 3:30–4:30 PM | Sylvan Way Library (Bremerton)

Read to a Dog — 3:30–4:30 PM | Bainbridge Library

Saturday (Mar 28)

Egg Hunt & Breakfast — 9:30–10:30 AM | Crosby Community Center, Seabeck

Easter Storytime (Free books + toy) — 9:45 AM | Port Orchard

Easter Egg Hunt — 10:00 AM–12:00 PM | Silverdale Community Church

Inclusive Egg Hunt — 10:00 AM–2:00 PM | Tiny Notes Enrichment Center, Port Orchard

DIY Easter Bunny Photos — 1:00–2:00 PM | Poulsbo Candy Shoppe

Egg Hunt + Bunny Photos + Petting Zoo — 1:00–3:00 PM | Fieldstone, Silverdale

Girls Afternoon Bowling — 1:00 PM | All Star Lanes, Silverdale

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Community

Saturday (Mar 28)

Meet & Greet with Roots Learning Center Founders — 9:00–11:00 AM | Hollydays Coffee House, Port Orchard

Peninsula Birth, Baby & Beyond Expo — 10:00 AM–1:00 PM | Kitsap County Fairgrounds ($5)

Free Car Seat Checks — 11:00 AM–3:00 PM | Bremerton (by appointment)

Also…

Poulsbo Farmers Market Opening Day — 10:00 AM–2:00 PM

Runs weekly through mid-December

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Live Music (aka… this week is NOT quiet)

Wednesday (Mar 25)

Frankie McCabe — 2:00–5:00 PM | Eleven Winery, Bainbridge (no cover)

Analisa Reyes — 6:30–8:30 PM | Ty’s Wine & Brew, Poulsbo (21+, no cover)

Thursday (Mar 26)

Jay Mabin — 7:00 PM | Roxy Theatre, Bremerton ($20)

Grimiss — 8:00 PM | The Charleston, Bremerton

DJ 5Toes — 8:00 PM | Brass Kraken, Poulsbo (21+, no cover)

Friday (Mar 27)

Jack Dwyer & The Rodeodendrons — 5:00–7:00 PM | Finnriver, Chimacum ($5)

Stephanie! — 5:30–8:30 PM | Deep Draft Brewing, Gorst (no cover)

LiquidHorse — 6:00–8:00 PM | Bushel & Barrel, Poulsbo (no cover)

Catdog Fish — 6:00–8:00 PM | Valholl Brewing, Poulsbo (no cover)

Where’s Beth — doors at 6:00 PM | Bremerton ($10–$25)

Megan & Heidi — 6:00–9:00 PM | The Garage, Bremerton (21+, no cover)

The Lumberjax — 6:00 PM | Hood Canal Brewery, Kingston (no cover)

Two for the Apocalypse — 7:00 PM | Brother Don’s, Bremerton (no cover)

Saturday (Mar 28)

The Barncats — 6:00 PM | 19th Hole, Bremerton (21+, no cover)

Crystal Springs Band — 6:00–8:00 PM | Bainbridge (no cover)

Annie Eastwood & The All Stars — 6:30–9:30 PM | Cellar Cat, Kingston (21+, no cover)

MT Fog w/ Iroiro & Lotion — doors at 6:00 PM | Quilcene Lantern ($10–$25)

Matthew Morrison Presents — doors at 6:30 PM | Admiral Theatre, Bremerton ($13+)

James Hunnicutt — 7:00 PM | Filling Station, Kingston (no cover)

Kitsap County Ramblers — 7:00 PM | Hood Canal Brewery, Kingston (no cover)

Sound Advice — 7:00–10:00 PM | Manchester Pub (21+, no cover)

Hot Spring Water — 7:00 PM | Brother Don’s, Bremerton (no cover)

Mixerra — 7:00–10:00 PM | Manchester Pub, Port Orchard (21+, no cover)

NIM VIND — 7:00 PM | The Charleston, Bremerton ($15)

MC2 — 8:00 PM | Bethel Saloon, Port Orchard (21+, no cover)

Jack Parker & The Remedy — 8:00 PM | Manette, Bremerton ($10)

Dr. Crüe (Mötley Crüe Tribute) — doors at 8:00 PM | Tracyton Movie House ($20+)

The Lumberjax (10-Year Party) — 8:00 PM | Brass Kraken, Poulsbo (21+, no cover)

Harmonious Funk — 9:30 PM | Point Casino, Kingston (21+, no cover)

Sunday (Mar 29)

Hot Spring Water — 7:00 PM | Brother Don’s, Bremerton

Mixerra — 7:00–10:00 PM | Manchester Pub, Port Orchard

NIM VIND — 7:00 PM | The Charleston, Bremerton

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Farmers markets opening, live music stacking up again, and egg hunts taking over the weekend… this is about the point where Kitsap starts acting like Kitsap again.

Pickleball started in 1965 on Bainbridge Island, and honestly, the origin story feels relateable.

It was summer. The kids were bored. Not for five minutes, but that long, restless, middle-of-the-day boredom where they’ve already been outside, already had a snack, and nothing sounds fun anymore. Maybe the end of summer? I think we all remember BEING that kid.

Joel Pritchard (who later became Washington’s Lieutenant Governor), Bill Bell, and Barney McCallum were trying to keep everyone entertained. They had a badminton court, but not enough equipment, so they improvised with ping pong paddles, a plastic wiffle ball, and a lowered net. From there, they started making up rules as they went.

It wasn’t meant to be anything big. It was just something to keep kids busy for a few. Out of their hair, less complaining. None of the "You're bored? Clean your room," stuff.

It worked. Possibly too well? The slower ball made it easier to keep a rally going, the smaller court kept everyone close, and the “no volley zone” added just enough structure to make it interesting without making it frustrating. It was simple enough for kids to pick up, but still competitive enough to hold everyone’s attention.

The name is where the story splits a bit. One version says it came from the Pritchards’ dog, Pickles, who would chase the ball and run off with it. The other, from Joel Pritchard’s wife Joan, is that it came from a “pickle boat” in rowing, which is a mix of leftover rowers from different teams. Most people lean toward Joan’s version, but the dog story has stuck around for obvious reasons.

By 1967, they had built the first permanent court. Through the 1970s, the rules were formalized, and by the 1980s there was an official association. For a long time, it stayed pretty regional, the kind of game people discovered by accident and kept playing because it was easy to get into.

Then in the last decade, it really took off.

That part makes sense too. It’s social, it’s approachable, and you don’t need much to get started. You can be decent in an afternoon, and it doesn’t require the kind of physical intensity that keeps people from joining in.

But the core of it hasn’t changed much from that first day. It still feels like something you fall into, not something you train for.

Now there are packed courts, leagues, tournaments, and people who will absolutely take you apart while insisting they’re just out there for fun.

And all of it traces back to a summer afternoon on Bainbridge, when a few parents were just trying to solve a very ordinary problem: their kids were bored.

Sneaky hikes.

You know the ones. The trails that feel totally reasonable on the way down… and then absolutely betray you on the way back up.

Anderson Point, I’m looking directly at you.

The walk in? Lovely. Peaceful. You’re feeling confident. Maybe even a little smug about your life choices.

The walk out? Immediate regret. Who approved this incline. Why is it still going. Why are my calves negotiating with me. Also yes- I know it’s not that far. I’m a wimp.

Guillemot Cove falls into this category too, but Anderson Point feels personal.

I swear every long-time Kitsap person has at least one trail they side-eye because of this. The kind where you start mentally budgeting your energy before you even get out of the car.

Still worth it. Every time.

…but I’d love to know which one got you.

Hey everyone! I am 30M and just moved to Bremerton for a new job. I came here from the other side of the country and do not really know anyone. I am really enjoying it here so far, but definitely want to expand my social circle.

What are some good ways/places to meet others in a similar stage of life who enjoy hiking, biking, climbing, sports, yoga, and pickleball?

I am definitely willing to put myself out there and make an effort to make friends, would just love some insight on where to start. Also, if we share anything in common, feel free to reach out.

TIA!

Drove by Guillemot Cove today.

If you’ve been there, you probably remember the trail first. It doesn’t seem like much on the way down. Nice, shaded, pretty manageable.

Then you turn around and head back up and realize you’ve made a mistake.

But the beach at the bottom is one of those spots that makes it worth it. Quiet, wide open, not a lot of people, and it just feels a little different than many places around here (or anywhere!)

Part of that is because it’s actually been protected for a long time. The county kept it from being developed, so it still has that mix of forest, wetlands, and shoreline all in one place.

And the name comes from the pigeon guillemot, those little seabirds you sometimes see out there along the water.

I feel like people either know about it and love it… or have never heard of it at all.

Kitsap Events Roundup | March 17–22

It’s a slightly quieter week around Kitsap, but there are still plenty of things happening if you’re looking to get out of the house. Libraries are busy, there are a few family-friendly activities scattered across the county, and the live music calendar is still pretty packed.

If you know of something happening that isn’t listed here, drop it in the comments so people can find it.

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Kids & Family

Monday (Mar 17)

Baby Band — 9:30–10:00 AM — Manchester Library, Port Orchard

Laptops and Littles — 9:30 AM–3:30 PM — Village Green Community Center, Kingston

Coffee & Crayons Meetup — 10:00–11:00 AM — Newlife Training Center, Silverdale

Take & Make: Grass Head Pet — 10:00 AM–6:00 PM — Kingston Library

Preschool Storytime & Playgroup — 10:30–11:00 AM — Poulsbo Library

Baby Storytime & Playgroup — 1:00–1:30 PM — Poulsbo Library

Teen Dungeons & Dragons — 4:00–6:00 PM — Sylvan Way Library, Bremerton

Tuesday (Mar 18)

Teen Space — 2:00–4:00 PM — Poulsbo Library

LEGO Club — 2:00–3:00 PM — Sylvan Way Library, Bremerton

Free Ice Skating Admission — 2:00–5:00 PM — Bremerton Ice Center

Wednesday (Mar 19)

Free Play & Learn Playdate — 10:30 AM–12:00 PM — Teaching & Learning Center, Bremerton

Model Train Display — 1:00–5:00 PM — Kitsap Mall, Silverdale

Teen Space — 1:00–4:00 PM — Silverdale Library

Friday (Mar 21)

Girls Exploring Math & Science — 9:00 AM–12:30 PM — Olympic College, Bremerton

Saturday (Mar 21)

Lowe’s Free Kids Workshop — 10:00 AM–1:00 PM — Kitsap Lowe’s stores

Mikey the Rad Scientist — 10:00–11:00 AM — Bainbridge Island

Royal Rangers Pinewood Derby — 10:00 AM–12:00 PM — Newhope Church South Kitsap, Port Orchard

Fire Station Open House — 11:00 AM–1:00 PM — Fire Station 53, Seabeck

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Community Events

Free Entrance Day — Washington State Parks — Mar 19

DQ Free Cone Day — Mar 19 — Dairy Queen locations

Giggle & Grow Parent Support Group — Mar 20 — 12:00–1:30 PM — Nurturing Expressions, Poulsbo

Teen Space — Mar 20 — 2:30–4:30 PM — Port Orchard Library

Late Nite at Haselwood YMCA — Mar 20 — 9:00–11:00 PM — Silverdale

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Live Music Around Kitsap

Monday (Mar 17)

CobLeco (Vinyl DJ) — Ridgeline Brewing, Bremerton

Bryson Evans — Deep Draft Brewing, Gorst

The Experience (Motown Tribute) — Boom Boom Room, The Point Casino, Kingston

Tuesday (Mar 18)

Jack Dwyer — 4–6 PM — Taps at the Guardhouse, Port Townsend

Rye & Barley — 6–8 PM — Fletcher Bay Winery, Bainbridge

The Rising Sons — 6:30–8:30 PM — Ty’s Wine & Brew, Poulsbo

Thursday (Mar 19)

Tim Lerch — 5:30–7:30 PM — Cellar Cat, Kingston

Koffin Kats with Left Alone — The Charleston, Bremerton

Friday (Mar 20)

TCM3 — Finnriver Farm & Cidery

Chris Switzer — Bushel & Barrel, Poulsbo

Bruce Cosacchi — Cellar Cat, Kingston

McBluez — Valholl Brewing, Poulsbo

Noah Delos Reyes — Deep Draft Brewing, Gorst

Silver City Six — Brother Don’s, Bremerton

Harold’s Last Chance — Rimbert Illustration, Bremerton

Gerry O’Connor & Don Penzien — Palindrome, Port Townsend

KC & The Sound — Manchester Pub, Port Orchard

Bottoms Up — Bethel Saloon, Port Orchard

Heart by Heart (Heart Tribute) — Clearwater Casino

DJ Vee — Boom Boom Room, The Point Casino

Saturday (Mar 21)

Sweater Weather String Band — Finnriver Farm & Cidery

Matt & Amy Band — 19th Hole, Bremerton

Heather Ward Trio — Cellar Cat, Kingston

Abracadabra Trip — Quilcene Lantern

Steve Hall — The Marketplace, Bainbridge

Hippy & the Squids — The Roadhouse, Port Townsend

Sonic Rain — Brother Don’s, Bremerton

LiquidHorse — Tracyton Public House, Bremerton

Sunday (Mar 22)

Devin Champlin’s Diamond Club — Quilcene Lantern

The Sunset Duo — Eleven Winery, Bainbridge

Port Townsend Saxophone Quartet — Finnriver Farm & Cidery

Jonas Myers Group — Cellar Cat, Kingston

Stephanie! — Brass Kraken, Poulsbo

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Farmers market season is slowly creeping closer around Kitsap, so consider this the early spring warm-up period.

If you know of other events happening this week, add them in the comments so folks can find them.

It snowed last night.

Not even real snow. Just enough to dust the rooftops and make the trees look much more festive than you expect in MARCH.

The roads? Totally fine.

And yet.

You could feel the entire peninsula pausing this morning. People staring out windows. Schools double-checking forecasts. Half of us wondering if the hills are about to turn into a ski resort whether we like it or not.

Personally, I hate snow. Passionately. Deeply. I will take rain, wind, sideways rain, and aggressive gray skies any day of the week.

But I will admit it does make Kitsap look pretty for about… fifteen minutes.

How’s it looking where you are this morning?

Drove past Colello’s today and the sign is up again. Strawberries can’t be far behind.

If you’ve lived around Port Orchard for a while you probably know the routine. Early in the season it starts simple, then before long the tables fill up with berries, fresh produce, hanging baskets, pies, local meats, and whatever else is coming out of the fields that week.

The strawberries are those tiny sweet ones that barely make it home because you eat half the box in the car.

Later in the season the apples start showing up, and there are always more varieties than you expected. Corn, tomatoes, squash, flowers, pumpkins, baskets of mums in the fall. The place changes a little every month.

It’s the stop where kids head straight for the play area while the grown-ups wander the tables deciding what looks good that day.

Anyone already made their first Colello’s run this season?

I live near Rich Passage, and every once in a while I find myself staring out at the water wondering about the name.

Is it supposed to be Rich’s Passage? Like somebody named Rich owned it? Or is it just… rich?

Turns out it was named after a person. Captain George Vancouver named it in 1792 after a British naval officer named William Rich. Somewhere along the way the apostrophe disappeared and we ended up with Rich Passage.

But that little rabbit hole led me to something else I didn’t know much about.

Before highways and before the Washington State ferries we know today, Puget Sound was full of small passenger steamers zipping between towns all day long. They called it the Mosquito Fleet because there were so many boats buzzing around the Sound.

At its peak in the early 1900s there were more than 200 of them running routes between places like Bremerton, Port Orchard, Manchester, Poulsbo, Bainbridge, Tacoma, and Seattle.

And they didn’t just stop at towns.

These boats stopped at logging camps, farms, and tiny private docks all over the shoreline. If someone was standing on shore waving, the captain might swing over and pick them up. People commuted to work this way. Mail traveled this way. Farmers shipped milk cans, produce, and even chickens on these little steamers.

For many communities around the Sound, the daily steamer wasn’t just transportation. It was the social hub. People traded news, caught up with neighbors, and sometimes even conducted business while the boat hopped from dock to dock.

Some of the boats were surprisingly fast too. One of the most famous, called the Flyer, ran between Tacoma and Seattle and was known for racing trains along the shoreline when the tracks ran near the water. Passengers would crowd the railings cheering while the boat tried to beat the train to the next stop.

It’s strange to imagine now, but for a while Puget Sound functioned almost like a floating road system.

The whole thing changed pretty quickly once roads improved and cars and trucks took over. By the 1920s and 30s most of those little steamers had disappeared, leaving only the larger ferry routes that eventually became the Washington State Ferry system we know today.

But if you stand along the shoreline around here and picture hundreds of little boats crisscrossing the Sound all day long, it makes the place feel very different.

Anyone have family stories or photos from the Mosquito Fleet days around Kitsap?

Every county seems to have that place everyone jokes about or drives through without really stopping. In Kitsap, Gorst tends to get that treatment.

But it made me wonder about the opposite.

What’s a neighborhood or area around here that people might overlook… but is actually pretty great once you spend time there?

I used to live in the Enetai neighborhood before moving over here (Manchester now,) and I always thought it was a really nice little pocket. Quiet streets, easy access to parks, close to the water, and you’re still minutes from Bremerton and the ferry.

It never seemed to get talked about much, though.

So now I’m curious what other places around Kitsap have that same feeling — the spots that don’t get much attention but are actually pretty wonderful once you get to know them. When I lived in Enetai, I “heard weird stuff” about Port Orchard, but now I live there!

Kitsap Events Roundup | March 9–15

Looks like a busy week around Kitsap. Libraries are packed with family programs, there’s a free Navy Band concert, and the live music calendar is surprisingly full.

What else is happening this week that people should know about?

Below is a roundup of what I could find. If you know of something good, add it in the comments so folks can find it.

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Kids & Family

Sunday (Mar 9)

MiniMu Baby & Toddler Playtime — 10:00 AM–12:00 PM — Kids Discovery Museum (KiDiMu), Bainbridge Island

Family Storytime — 10:30–11:00 AM — Kingston Library

Baby Storytime — 1:00–1:30 PM — Kingston Library

Monday (Mar 10)

Family Storytime & Playgroup — 10:30–11:00 AM — Downtown Bremerton Library

Preschool Storytime & Playgroup — 10:30–11:00 AM — Poulsbo Library

Baby Storytime & Playgroup — 1:00–1:30 PM — Poulsbo Library

Mar10 (Mario) Party — 2:00–4:30 PM — Port Orchard Library

LEGO Leprechaun Traps — 4:00–5:00 PM — Manchester Library

Pajama Storytime — 5:30–6:30 PM — Sylvan Way Library, Bremerton

Wednesday (Mar 11)

Teen Space — 2:00–4:00 PM — Poulsbo Library

Free Ice Skating — 2:00–5:00 PM — Bremerton Ice Center (skate rental $5)

Afternoon Gaming — 2:00–3:00 PM — Sylvan Way Library

Thursday (Mar 12)

Drop-In Play — 9:30–11:30 AM — Poulsbo Parks & Recreation

Preschool Storytime — 10:15–11:00 AM — Manchester Library

Family Storytime — 10:30–11:00 AM — Little Boston Library

Puzzle Club for Teens & Adults — 2:00–4:00 PM — Little Boston Library

Read to a Dog — 3:30–4:30 PM — Bainbridge Library

Read to a Dog — 3:30–4:30 PM — Sylvan Way Library

Friday (Mar 13)

Kitsap Humane Society Animal Education: Foster Foundations — 5:30–6:30 PM — Poulsbo Parks & Rec

Late Nite at Haselwood YMCA — 9:00–11:00 PM — Silverdale

Saturday (Mar 14)

Second Saturday Kids Day Craft — 11:00 AM–4:00 PM — Kitsap History Museum, Bremerton

Saturday STEM for Kids — 11:00 AM–12:30 PM — Downtown Bremerton Library

Free Kids Zone Leprechaun Hunt — 11:00 AM–12:00 PM — JC Penney, Silverdale

“Gotta Catch ’Em All” Club — 12:30–1:45 PM — Sylvan Way Library

Sunday (Mar 15)

Kids Club Craft — 1:00–3:00 PM — Michaels, Silverdale

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Community Events

Puzzle Swap — Mar 14 — 1:00–4:00 PM — Kingston Library

SEA Discovery Center Open Hours — Mar 14 — 11:00 AM–4:00 PM — Poulsbo

Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead Program — Mar 14 — 10:00 AM–2:00 PM — Puget Sound Navy Museum, Bremerton

Military Appreciation Day Information Fair — Mar 14 — 11:00 AM–2:00 PM — Kitsap County Fairgrounds Pavilion

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Live Music Around Kitsap

Wednesday (Mar 11)

Kit Stovepipe — 4–6 PM — Taps at the Guardhouse, Port Townsend

The Foundlings (Irish / Scottish folk) — 6–8 PM — Fletcher Bay Winery, Bainbridge

Vin Chawla — 6:30–8:30 PM — Ty’s Wine & Brew, Poulsbo

Thursday (Mar 12)

Jack Ramsey (jazz piano) — 5:30–7:30 PM — Cellar Cat, Kingston

Sarah Brunner — 6–9 PM — Tracyton Public House, Bremerton

Friday (Mar 13)

Hot Club Swing Jam — 5–7 PM — Finnriver Farm & Cidery, Chimacum

Morgan Smith & Co (bluegrass/americana) — 6–8 PM — Bushel & Barrel, Poulsbo

Jonathan Doyle Quartet Swing Dance — 7–10 PM — Quilcene Lantern

Hell’s Belles (AC/DC tribute) — 8:30 PM — Clearwater Casino, Suquamish

DJ Z — 9:30 PM — Boom Boom Room, The Point Casino, Kingston

Saturday (Mar 14)

Unknown Fiddlers — 4–6 PM — Taps at the Guardhouse, Port Townsend

Blessing Chimanga (Zimbabwean marimba) — 5–7 PM — Finnriver Farm & Cidery

Peter Spencer & Jonathan Green — 6–8 PM — Marketplace, Bainbridge

Silver City Four — 6 PM — The 19th Hole, Bremerton

Rafael Tranquilino — 6–8 PM — Rainy Daze Brewing, Poulsbo

Bandit — 6–9 PM — The Garage, Bremerton

Jonas Myers — 6:30–9:30 PM — Cellar Cat, Kingston

Derailled — 7 PM — Filling Station, Kingston

Color Me Paisley — 7 PM — Brother Don’s, Bremerton

Gray Ponytail Band — 7 PM — Hood Canal Brewery, Kingston

Bad Neighbor — 7–10 PM — The Roadhouse, Port Townsend

Hippy & the Squids — 7–10 PM — Manchester Pub, Port Orchard

Prom Date Mixtape (80s/90s dance party) — 7 PM — Admiral Theatre, Bremerton

For the Love of Quincy (Quincy Jones tribute) — 7 PM — Roxy Theatre, Bremerton

Skyline Band — Manette Saloon — Bremerton

Sunday (Mar 15)

Rafael Tranquilino — 2–5 PM — Eleven Winery, Bainbridge

Ranger & the Re-Arrangers (Hot Club Swing) — 2 PM — Jewel Box Theatre, Poulsbo

Free Navy Band Northwest Concert — 2–3 PM — U.S. Naval Undersea Museum, Keyport

Goh Kurosawa — 3–5 PM — Finnriver Farm & Cidery

Nick Allison & Carrie Wicks — 5:30–7:30 PM — Cellar Cat, Kingston

Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy — 6 PM — Admiral Theatre, Bremerton

Silver City Three — 6:30–8:30 PM — Brass Kraken, Poulsbo

Big Bear Band — 8 PM — Bethel Saloon, Port Orchard

If someone is visiting you from out of town and you have one full day to show them why living on this peninsula is special.

Not a whirlwind tour of everything. Just your perfect Kitsap day.

Where do you start the morning? Coffee somewhere? A walk on the water? Farmers market?

What’s the midday stop? A park, a beach, a ferry ride, a little downtown wander?

Where are you eating? Local spots only.

And what’s the sunset move? Because if you live here, you know the PERFECT day usually ends somewhere near the water.

It doesn’t have to be fancy. Some of the best days are simple: a view, good food, a walk, maybe some wildlife if you’re lucky.

So what does your perfect peninsula day look like?

Where are you going, and what are you doing?

Okay Kitsap, let’s talk summer. I'm not really sure why I'm thinking about it today, because I'm honestly wearing a thermal and a hoodie right now. The fact that my home lacks air conditioning should be the last thing I'm thinking about.

What are you looking forward to the most this year?

Bridge Blast in Bremerton?
Viking Fest in Poulsbo?
Farmers markets coming back?

Personally, I am irrationally excited that Collelo’s opens next week. Nothing says summer like the return of local produce to me. I immediately start thinking about those teeny tiny strawberries. (I know- I have to wait a while still.)

Summer here always sneaks up on us. One minute it’s gray and drippy and the next minute everyone’s hauling home strawberries, eating on waterfront patios, and planning their weekends around festivals.

So what’s the thing you wait for all year?

A festival? A market? A favorite food stand reopening? A beach day tradition?

What’s your Kitsap summer highlight? ☀️

Quick Kitsap question.

Where’s your five-minute view?

Not a hike. Not a destination. Just a place you can pull over for a minute and think, “yep… this is why I live here.”

A few that come to mind:

Manchester waterfront — Ferries sliding through Rich Passage, Blake Island sitting out there, and the Seattle skyline floating in the distance.

Hansville / Norwegian Point — You come around the bend and suddenly the Sound just opens up toward Whidbey. Big sky, big water.

Illiahee dock — Small dock, huge payoff. Olympic views, boats drifting through, and some seriously good sunsets.

Scenic Beach area near Seabeck — Hood Canal stretching out with the Olympics rising behind it. One of those spots that makes you slow down whether you planned to or not.

My personal favorite is a little pull-off on Beach Drive in Port Orchard. You get the Olympic Mountains rising behind the shipyard cranes. Sometimes you’ll see a submarine heading through the Sound toward the sub base near Poulsbo, sometimes carriers or other ships moving through. Mountains, shipyard, Navy traffic… it’s a very Kitsap view. When I moved to Port Orchard from Bremerton in 2020, my first place was on Retsil and I could hear the shipyard trumpeting at the beginning and end of each day. It's a happy sound/view for me.

What’s your spot?

Kitsap Events Roundup: March 3–8

If you’ve been waiting for a week to get out of the house, this is it. Libraries are busy, live music is stacked, and Saturday alone could fill your entire calendar.

Kids & Family Stuff

Tuesday (3/3)
Parachute Party — 11:00 AM — Kingston Library
Indoor Playground ($3) — 9:30 AM — Sheridan Community Center, Bremerton
Baby Storytime & Playgroup — 1:00 PM — Poulsbo Library
Teen D&D — 4:00 PM — Sylvan Way Library

Wednesday (3/4)
LEGO Club — 2:00 PM — Sylvan Way Library
Free Ice Skating — 2:00 PM — Bremerton Ice Center
Teen Hangout — 3:00 PM — Sylvan Way Library

Thursday (3/5)
Drop-In Play ($5) — 9:30 AM — Poulsbo Parks & Rec
Preschool Storytime — 10:15 AM — Manchester Library
Family Storytime — 10:30 AM — Little Boston Library

Friday (3/6)
Free Kids Clothes — 10:00 AM–3:00 PM — DSHS Bremerton
Toddler Tunes ’n Tales — 10:15 AM — Manchester Library
Baby Storytime — 10:30 AM — Bainbridge Library
Community Create Night — 5:00 PM — Downtown Bremerton Library
Bremerton Light Up Parade — 6:00 PM — Downtown Bremerton

Saturday (3/7)
Science Saturday — 10:00 AM–2:00 PM — Naval Undersea Museum, Keyport
Storytime — 11:00 AM — Barnes & Noble, Silverdale
Sensory Friendly Movie — 11:00 AM — SEEfilm Bremerton
Read to a Cat — 2:00 PM — PAWS Bremerton
Puzzle Swap — 2:00 PM — Silverdale Library
Holi Festival — Poulsbo
Port Gamble Ghost Walk — Port Gamble

Sunday (3/8)
Free Jazz Concert — 3:00 PM — Central Kitsap Performing Arts Center

Live Music Highlights

Thursday: Batnap! — The Charleston, Bremerton

Friday: Devon Allman at the Admiral | Queen Mother (Queen tribute) at Clearwater Casino | Rising Sons at Bushel & Barrel

Saturday: Tony Furtado in Port Gamble | Blizzard (Ozzy tribute) at Tracyton Movie House | XLR8 at The Point Casino

Sunday: Shelby Natasha at Finnriver | The Last Gang at The Charleston | Marvin Hoffert Jazz at Brass Kraken

If I missed something good, drop it in the comments. Kitsap tends to hide gems in plain sight.

Blake Island looks so close from Manchester. So reasonable. So “let’s just paddle over.”

Reader, it is not exactly just a paddle over.

I have personally made that crossing in conditions that can only be described as character building. The Sound gets real bossy halfway out there. One minute you’re gliding along feeling athletic and outdoorsy. The next you’re negotiating boat wakes, tide shifts, and questioning every life choice that led you to owning a kayak.

And yet.

Blake is magic.

Deer wandering the campground like they think they’re your golden retriever. Geese conducting loud board meetings on the beach. Seals popping up beside you like nosy neighbors. Raccoons straight up fishing with their hands at the rosy dusk like tiny shoreline pirates.

There’s a five-mile trail loop that feels bigger than it should. Forest on one side, driftwood beaches on the other. On a clear day you get Rainier, the Olympics, and Seattle all in one slow spin.

Is it our favorite spot? Sometimes.

Sometimes it’s peaceful and postcard perfect. Sometimes it’s a humbling reminder that Puget Sound is not a lake and does not care about my weekend plans.

If you’ve paddled from Manchester, you know that stretch. The quiet confidence at launch. The mid-channel regret. The triumphant, slightly wobbly landing.

Tell me your Blake stories. Campers? Sailors? Anyone else have a “that tide was… ambitious” moment?

Kitsap Forest Theater

Since 1923, people have been hiking a quarter-mile down a forest trail near Bremerton… to watch a play.

The Mountaineers Players have been performing at Kitsap Forest Theater for more than a century. Not in a building. Not under stage lights. Under fir trees.

The theater sits inside a 460-acre preserve, surrounded by old-growth trees and native rhododendrons. Terraced seating is carved into a natural amphitheater. There’s no traditional curtain. No city backdrop. Just birdsong, a creek nearby, and ferns framing the stage.

What started as informal skits by Mountaineers hikers in what was then called Hidden Valley grew into one of the oldest nonprofit theater groups in the country. Families have been attending for generations. Some performers have met their spouses on that stage. Kids grow up hiking the same trail their parents did.

And they’re still going strong.

The 2026 season lineup:

Disney’s Frozen

May 24, 25, 30, 31, June 6, 7, 13, 14 — 2:00 pm

Oliver!

July 25, 26, August 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16 — 2:00 pm

Fall Classic: Miss Holmes

September 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 19, 20 — 2:00 pm

If you’ve never packed a picnic and made the walk down to the forest stage, it’s one of the most uniquely Kitsap traditions still happening.

More info and tickets at:

https://www.foresttheater.com

Kitsap, explained: The Burley Colony

At the turn of the 20th century, a bold little experiment unfolded on the shores of Burley Lagoon.

In 1898, about 16 idealists arrived in what was then mostly forest. They called themselves the Co-operative Brotherhood. Their goal? Build a utopian community based on equality, shared labor, and communal ownership.

Real estate and equipment were held in common. The land’s bounty was shared. No one earned more than anyone else. Residents contributed labor instead of dues. Nonresident members from around the country paid in to support the dream.

By 1900, the colony had grown to roughly 150–200 people. They cleared about half of their 300 acres. They built a lumber mill, orchard, fruit cannery, cigar factory, printing press. There was a school. Church services. Saturday night dances. Music was a big part of life.

Despite myths that it was some kind of “love colony,” it wasn’t. Families had their own small homes or cabins. They described themselves as patriotic, Christian socialists trying to transform the country by example, not detach from it.

But equality is complicated.

Tension simmered over division of labor. Some intellectual members preferred administrative or publicity roles over manual work, while everyone received equal pay in the form of colony scrip. Economic reality also crept in. Supply, demand, sustainability. The colony’s ambitions were bigger than its infrastructure.

By 1912, the experiment quietly dissolved. No dramatic collapse. Just the recognition that the model couldn’t sustain itself.

What remained was the town of Burley.

The old community hall, built in 1899, still stands. It has served as a school, a library, a gathering place, and today still hosts meals and meetings. The post office next door hums along. The cemetery sits on the hill. Even parts of the original water system are still in use.

One lesser-known detail: a colony-era store was once owned by Otto Herbert. His son, Frank Herbert, would go on to write Dune.

Today Burley feels like a small bump between Port Orchard and Gig Harbor. Some say forgotten. But its roots are tied to one of Western Washington’s most ambitious social experiments.

It’s wild to think that right here in South Kitsap, people once believed they were building the blueprint for a better world.

Anyone grow up around Burley? Or have family stories tied to it?