Winter on the Kitsap Peninsula is one magical community event after another!
Winter & Holiday fun STARTS HERE: EAT, EXPLORE, shop, adventure & celebrate YOUR WAY ACROSS THE KITSAP PENINSULA.
We love everything winter holds - the holiday markets, community events, Christmas Tree lightings, opportunities to support local businesses, and cozying up in our favorite coffee shops, restaurants, bars, theaters, and museums.
Love Kitsap is your resource for adventures, community events, and the best winter experiences on the Kitsap Peninsula.
Stay in Kitsap
Winter events you don’t want to miss!
Indoor Classes & Activities
Winter is perfect for trying new experiences, gathering indoors, in community, around common themes.
Several Kitsap locations offer classes, activities, and more.
BARN | Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network
10 well-equipped studios and a vibrant community of arts and makers eager to help you get started.
BIMA | Bainbridge Island Museum of Art
BIMA offers a range of opportunities to hone your craft or try something new. Life drawing sessions, art classes, meet the author, and a diverse array of lectures, presentations, and conversations.
Black Barn Fine Arts Studio | Kingston
View the annual workshops and classes for drawing, painting, sculpture, collage, and more!
Bushel & Barrel Ciderhouse
Known for their delicious hand-crafted ciders and arms-wide-open community-centric vibes, Bushel & Barrel hosts a handful of keystone events like Soggy Sashquatch, Kitsapple Fest (all about cider), and Highland Games, to name a few. In addition, they host several weekday events, including trivia, live music, bonfires, farm tours, and even an annual ‘Ciderboys’ calendar!
Crabtree Kitchen + Bar
One building, three unique spaces, a variety of events revolving around food, wine, spirits, laughter, and good vibes.
Ciderpress Lane | Bremerton
Home of the ‘Freedom Dinners’, Ciderpress Lane “exists to help heal the world by creating a beautiful community”. Learn everything from wreath making to sourdough baking and legacy garden skills. A percentage of all sales is given towards eradicating human trafficking locally and globally.
Eleven Winery | Bainbridge Island
Two locations on Bainbridge - Day Road Winery + Winslow Way Tasting Room - year-round live music, sip & art, book swaps, meet & greets, workshops, as well as a variety of unique pop-up events.
Gathered | Port Orchard Waterfront
Various rotating classes with a variety of teachers and subjects, including watercolor, sourdough 101, wellness education, workshops with local community members, inside an industrial and historical space on the Port Orchard waterfront.
Rimbert Illustration | Bremerton
Owned and operated by local artist Danielle Rimbert, her studio hosts classes, events, art shows, dance lessons, and so much more. Visit her events tab on Facebook for a list of upcoming events.
Suquamish Museum
The Suquamish Museum hosts a variety of free and paid events that are educational, fun, and creative, connecting you with the local artists who populate the Suquamish Museum store.
Yoked Farmhouse & Brewery | Port Orchard
Offering a variety of activities around the farm, ranging from tours, classes, and holiday-themed activities! Check out the calendar to see what’s happening and for ticket availability.
KID FRIENDLY + Indoors
When the rain and cold of winter take over, and the kiddos get stir-crazy, it’s time to explore the indoors of Kitsap. The Kitsap Peninsula offers many options to help your child learn, grow, and expend their winter energy!
comfort foods
Baby, it’s cold outside.
Fill up your belly with some of the warmest, mouthwatering eats on the Kitsap Peninsula.
Celebrate Christmas in Kitsap
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![A promotional graphic for the Downtown Bremerton Association's Winter Fest featuring holiday shopping and tree lighting, with a light blue background decorated with snowflakes.]()
Bremerton
Winterfest
Quincy Square -
![A young girl smiling and looking at Santa Claus, who is sitting on a red and white throne, wearing a traditional red suit with white fur trim, in a festive setting.]()
KINGSTON
Cove Christmas
Mike Wallace Park -
![A young girl standing next to a person dressed as the Grinch with green fur, a Santa hat, and a red costume, at Holiday on the Bay Christmas festival in Port Orchard with snow and holiday decorations.]()
PORT ORCHARD
Holiday on the Bay
Port Orchard Waterfront -
![Fireworks explode in the night sky over festive Christmas lights and decorated trees in Port Gamble.]()
PORT GAMBLE
Country Christmas
Port Gamble -
![Young woman dressed in ceremonial white robes with a red sash, wearing a flower crown, holding a torch, participating in Julefest in Poulsbo at sunset with onlookers in the background.]()
POULSBO
Julefest
Muriel Iverson Waterfront Park -
![Festive winter scene with decorated pine trees, snow-covered ground, mountains, and a starry night sky, promoting a holiday event in Bainbridge called 'Illuminate'.]()
BAINBRIDGE ISLAND
Illuminate
Town Square
Annual tree lighting events
Holiday on the Bay
Port orchard,
1st Saturday in December
Holiday on the Bay
Port Orchard | First Saturday in December
The spirit of Christmas is alive and well on Bay Street during the holidays, but there is a special magic that happens during Port Orchard’s tree lighting celebration. Bay Street is closed off to traffic and is filled with markets, food trucks, snow machines, a gingerbread display, karaoke with The Grinch, and most importantly, a parade!
Don’t miss the parade!
The parade is led by a gaggle of well-dressed pets and pet companions, all vying for the title of ‘Best Dressed.’ Followed by the South Kitsap High School marching band ushering in Santa in a fire truck, the entire town joins the procession to the stage for the tree lighting and community Christmas caroling. This event is one you don’t want to miss!
christmas lights at the kingston marina
Additional Holiday festivities
New Year’s Eve Celebrations
father christmas
visit with Santa
Santa Paws | Olmsted Tree Farm
Santa Paws | Bay Hay & Feed
Santa Paws | West Hills Kia
Santa’s Workshop | Port Gamble
Bainbridge History Museum
Santa Paws | Eleven Winery
Suquamish Museum
Groups offering multiple date options:
- Downtown Port Orchard | All Santa appearances on Bay Street
- Bainbridge | The Manor House at Pleasant Beach Village (Plus Gingerbread Houses! Ticket Required)
- Historic Downtown Poulsbo | Nordic Santa on Front Street, every Sat+Sun, starting end of November
**Find Santa at most Tree Lighting events (see section above)
tree farms!
Opening Dates
Early November | Alpine U-Cut
Mid-November | Bacon’s Tree Farm
Mid-November | Huberts Tree Farm
End of November | Bainbridge (Suyematsu) Farms
End of November | The Wreath Works
End of November | Olmsted Tree Farm
End of November | Five Springs Tree Farm
Julefest
Poulsbo,
1st Saturday in December
Julefest
Poulsbo | 1st Saturday in December
Experiencing Julefest in Poulsbo is a pure Kitsap Christmas tradition. Rooted in the town’s proud Nordic and Scandinavian heritages, Julefest is a time for celebrating the holidays. It includes a themed market, traditional food and drink like lefse and krumkake, and our favorite tradition - the candle procession, led by the Lucia Bride.
Don’t miss the Lucia Bride procession!
The procession, led by St Lucia (Lucia Bride), a girl in white with candles in her hair, honors the tradition of bringing light in winter. She lights the Viking Bonfire, and Vikings gather around the Viking King to hear the Norse pagan proclamation, ending the darkest season of the year and welcoming the return of the sun.
krampusnacht
First Saturday in December
4th + Pacific Ave
Celebrating the Bavarian tradition, Krampus Bremerton brings Yuletide fun to the Kitsap Peninsula and the surrounding Puget Sound area. Kick off the holiday season with Bremerton's annual event...Krampusnacht! See costumed performers, visit participating businesses, and join in the fun!
small town Celebrations
Celebrate intimate gatherings all around Kitsap
Some of the most memorable holiday moments are found in our smaller communities. Traditional gatherings feel more personal, warm and familiar. Unfolding on a quieter scale — think twinkling lights glowing on historic streets, organic gatherings that unite neighbors and visitors in holiday magic. Intimate celebrations in Manette, Kingston, Port Gamble and Suquamish capture the heart of the holidays in Kitsap and invite visitors to experience the genuine charm that makes each corner of the peninsula feel special.
Cove Christmas
Kingston,
1st Saturday in December
Holiday movies & live perforances
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![Four musicians playing string instruments on a stage decorated with numerous candles and golden curtains in Bremerton candle light concert at Roxy theatre.]()
candlelight concerts
Roxy Theater
Nov 16th + Dec 20th -
![Illustration of a snow globe with a Christmas scene inside, featuring a decorated Christmas tree, children in winter clothing, and Christmas figures, with the text 'The 12 Days of Christmas' at the top.]()
12 Days of Christmas
Port Gamble Theater
Dec 5-21 -
![The cover of a book titled "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" features a view of Notre Dame cathedral's stained glass rose window with multiple hanging bells in the foreground, against a purple background.]()
Hunchback of Notre Dame
Bainbridge Performing Arts
Dec 5-21 -
![Movie poster for 'A Christmas Story' featuring characters sitting in front of a brick fireplace with a Christmas wreath, a man holding a leg lamp, a woman holding a turkey, a young girl sitting on the floor with a gun, a Santa figure in the background, and a dog.]()
A Christmas Story
Admiral Theatre
Dec 19, 7pm, $5 -
![An elderly man with glasses and a beard, dressed in a black suit with a bow tie, sitting at a table with a candle, a bottle, and small dishes, looking stern or focused.]()
One-Man Christmas Carol
Admiral Theatre
Dec 20th. 2pm + 7pm -
![A group of people celebrating around a Christmas tree, with a young girl on a man's lap and a boy looking up at a woman, all dressed in period clothing, in a festive holiday setting.]()
it's a wonderful life
Port Gamble Theater
Dec 20, 7pm -
![Poster for Joel Gibson Jr.'s Christmas Show at Tracyton Movie House on Saturday, December 20th. The poster features a man in a cowboy hat smiling in front of a decorated Christmas wreath. The event includes biker Santa photos and giveaways, with special performances by friends and band members. Ticket info: $40 advance, $15 general admission, doors open at 8 PM, show at 8:30 PM, located at 1520 NE Riddell Rd., Bremerton, WA.]()
Joel Gibson Jr.
Tracyton Movie House
Dec 20th, 8:30pm -
![Event poster for the 25th Anniversary Showcase of KCMT, celebrating 25 years with a Christmas theme, featuring Charlie Brown, scheduled from November 28 to December 7, 2025; includes a decorated Christmas tree, wrapped presents, and a snow-themed window.]()
Charlie Brown
Children’s Musical Theater
Nov 28-Dec 7 -
![A person holding a snow globe depicting an elf dressed in a green outfit with yellow pants, posing against a cityscape background.]()
Elf
Roxy Theater
Dec 7, 1pm -
![Image promoting a production of "A Christmas Carol" featuring a man dressed in 19th-century attire with a top hat, and a background of historic streetlamps and buildings under a cloudy sky.]()
A Christmas Carol
Enoch City Arts
Nov 28-Dec 10 -
![Classical painting featuring a nativity scene with Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus in a manger, and children gathered around.]()
Handel's Messiah
Dec 13th, Silverdale Lutheran
Dec 14, Bremerton Performing Arts
THE ONLY LOCAL GIFT GUIDE YOU NEED FOR SHOPPING ON THE KITSAP PENINSULA!
We know you love and value the small businesses that make Kitsap so special. That’s why this holiday season, we are featuring some of Kitsap’s favorite brands - the makers, small businesses, and entrepreneurs.
Waterfront bliss and views for days…perfectly nestled on the waterfront between Poulsbo and Bainbridge Island.