Holiday Events in Kitsap County & Beyond - Our Top 12

Cost: $20 - $33 for adults, $15 - $24 for children 13 and under, $17 - $26 for youth ages 14 – 17 and for seniors
Discounts available for military, emergency services, and students with a valid ID.

Property Managers Bobbi Alger and Crystal Avery both recommend this event. Crystal says it’s “really beautiful and fun for the whole family”. Seattle Enchanted has the world’s largest Christmas light maze (almost 100,000 square feet) and a Christmas market with over 75 vendors. You can also visit the Kid Zone, Santa’s Landing, and the Ice Skating Trail. 

Where: Bellevue Square, 575 Bellevue Square, Bellevue, WA 

Cost: Free

This nightly parade features over 300 holiday performers, 16 lighted floats, and falling snow. The parade happens on the sidewalks between Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square and there are multiple free parking garages. 

Where: Kitsap County Fairgrounds – President’s Hall, 1250 NW Fairgrounds Rd, Bremerton, WA

Cost: Free, but they are accepting donations at the door of cold weather items for holiday gift bags for their senior clients. Info on suggested items to donate can be found in their FAQs.

A family-friendly shopping event, Jingle Fest offers a variety of gifts and artistic items. There will also be local food vendors, and a photo opportunity with Santa. It's a great way to support Meals on Wheels Kitsap. Since 1973, Meals on Wheels Kitsap has been providing nutritious meals to seniors in Kitsap County through their nine community dining sites and their home delivery program for those who are medically homebound. 

Where: Downtown Leavenworth, WA 98826

Cost: Free

Leavenworth is a quaint Bavarian town and for the holidays it becomes the Village of Lights (with over half a million of them). On Friday evenings, St. Nickolaus arrives at 4:30 pm at the Front Street Gazebo and there's live music to enjoy. On Saturdays and Sundays, Santa arrives at 12:00pm with other holiday characters who march from the Festhalle to the Gazebo. There are also carolers around town, performances by local high school and professional choirs, solo artists, and more. Have fun sledding in Front Street Park (if there's snow) or enjoy hot spiced wine or cocoa in the traditional Gluhwein Tent. On Sundays, kids can participate in the Cookie Crawl to collect free cookies using a special map. Saturday and Sunday nights dazzle locals and tourists alike with the Lighting Ceremony at 4:45pm. 

Where: Bremerton High School Performing Arts Center, 1500 13th Street, Bremerton, WA

Cost: Tickets are $16 - $32
There are group and military discounts. 

An enchanting classic, this is the longest running production of "The Nutcracker" on the Kitsap Peninsula. It features a live orchestra and is a great way to get in the holiday spirit while supporting the arts. For school-aged children, there's a special performance on Thursday, Dec. 5. It's a 60-minute version that's only open to Kitsap County students at 10am and 12:30pm. If you want an extra special Nutcracker experience, you can purchase tickets for the Nutcracker Tea which is before the Dec. 8th matinee at 1 PM. You and your family can have tea with Clara and the other characters for an additional $15. 

Where: Downtown Poulsbo, WA

Cost: Free

Poulsbo is often referred to as "Little Norway" and the Jule Fest and Holiday Bazaar provide fun activities during the day and night.  Property Manager Marta Morris enjoys these events saying that, “the vikings gather around the bon fire and read the winter solstice proclamation. St Lucia arrives at dusk by boat!” The procession starts at 4:15 PM and at dusk, the vikings read the proclamation (usually around 4:45 PM, depending on when sunset occurs that day). 

Where: Downtown Port Orchard

Cost: Free

This festival has something for everyone. It includes the 2nd Annual Bay Street Decorated Christmas Tree Contest, the 9th Annual 5k Jingle Bell Run/Walk, a tree lighting, pictures with Santa, kids’ crafts, local marching band and choir performances, a holiday magic show, and the Pooch N' Purr Pet Parade where your dog or cat can participate in the costume contest. There will also be free chili, hot cider, popcorn, and hot cocoa.

Where: Mike Wallace Park, Kingston, WA

Cost: Free

Kingston's annual Christmas event boasts over half a million lights and 600 light sculptures. The official lighting ceremony happens on December 7th at 5:00 PM but there are fun events happening throughout the day. They include a Holiday Craft Fair at the Village Green (10:00 AM - 3:00 PM), live music, Santa's arrival, a boat parade (weather permitting), food trucks, and a kids' scavenger hunt (5:30 PM). Once the holiday lights are on, they light up the waterfront until the first week of January. Last year there were a variety of light sculptures including an octopus, a dragon, butterflies, and turtles.

Where: 599 Lebo Blvd, Bremerton, WA

Cost: $8 for adults and $5 for children under 12

Check out this holiday spin on a classic tale of good versus evil. The wicked queen hates Christmas and the snow so she plots against Snow White, who brings the lovely winter snow. When Snow White is tricked and falls into a deep asleep, the forest animals, magical snowflakes, seven elves, and Prince Charming all try to save the day. Our property manager, Dawn Clay says, “This is a great local theatre group and the play has a fun twist." She encourages everyone to support local theatre.

Where: Waterfront Park in downtown Poulsbo

Cost: Free

Each year, Rudolph and Santa travel across the Puget Sound to greet tourists and locals on their parade route. You can request a personalized greeting from Santa for people who will be in attendance and if you have a boat, you can sign up to participate in the parade. The parade starts at 5:00pm at the Poulsbo Yacht Club and then heads to Poulsbo's downtown waterfront, weather permitting. There's also a stop at the Suquamish dock. This fun evening includes performances by Poulsbo Community Orchestra and Poulsbo’s youth choir as well as a bon fire. “It’s festive and a family tradition to bring hot chocolate and a blanket to watch and listen from the beach,” said our property manager Marta Morris.

Where: Seabeck Conference Center, 13395 Lagoon Dr NW, Seabeck, WA

Cost: $15 - $35 but children 6 and under are free

"Seabeck is a beautiful area of Kitsap County that’s often not visited," points out property manager Dawn Clay. This event includes cookie decorating, wagon rides, old-fashioned holiday crafts, and s'mores around the fire pit. There's also a family-style dinner in the 1969 Historic Inn with games following dinner.

Where: Admiral Theatre, 515 Pacific Avenue, Bremerton, WA

Cost: $6 per person

Enjoy a cheap night out on the town watching this classic holiday film. To make a night of it, have dinner beforehand at one of Bremerton's great restaurant options. 

There are so many great ways to connect with our community, support local events and businesses and get in the holiday spirit!