Kitsap Blues Festival: The second edition of this music festival at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds will feature headliners “Kingfish” Ingram and Eric Gales. The three-day event is for ages 21 and up, and music lovers can park RVs and stay to listen, visit the BBQ or beer garden and hang out all weekend. Performances are scheduled to start Friday at 7 p.m., according to organizers the Admiral Theatre and Kitsap Fair and Stampede Association. Friday, August 29 through Sunday, August 31
Bremerton Blackberry Festival: Come to celebrate all things “blackberry” around the Bremerton Harborside and on Second Street downtown over three days. Listen to live music and other entertainment acts, visit more than 150 vendors on the boardwalk, sample beer or blackberry wine, to celebrate the end of summer. The main music stage on the Louis Mentor Boardwalk will have acts playing all day, and the “Berry Way” stage, just off Washington Avenue, will have Kevin Wolfe’s comedy magic and “The Zaniac.” And across the Port Washington Narrows, at Lions Park, Westsound Pickleball Community hosts the Blackberry Blast pickleball tournament, with games each day. Saturday, August 30 through Monday, September 1.
Port-to-Port Pop Up Ferry: The historic Carlisle II ferry will be sailing back-and-forth from Bremerton to Silverdale, offering a unique one-hour cruise through Dyes Inlet on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $5, and kids ride for free. The ferry will make six round-trips each day, leaving the Bremerton dock at 9 and 11 in the morning, and 1, 3, 5 and 7 in the evening. It leaves the Silverdale Waterfront Park dock at 10 a.m, noon, and 2, 4, 6 and 8 in the afternoon. Free parking is available on the Silverdale side at the Kitsap Mall, with a shuttle running into Old Town both days. But tickets in advance from the Greater Kitsap Chamber of Commerce at this link. Saturday, August 30 and Sunday, August 31.
Related: Advocates explore interest in reviving a ‘Mosquito Fleet’ of ferries
Washington State Fair: The 125th edition of “The Puyallup,” known as the Washington State Fair, kicks off Labor Day weekend and runs through Sept. 21. The state fairgrounds, about an hour’s drive from Kitsap, are the home for rides, food, livestock exhibits and almost nightly concerts, including weekend headliners Riley Green on Saturday and Meghan Trainor on Sunday. And Monday, Sept. 1, is Military Appreciation Day, which means all active duty, reserve, retired, National Guard and disabled veterans, as well as dependents, receive free admission for the day. August 29 through Sept. 21
Bumbershoot: Music fans in the Northwest circle this weekend, when the longtime festival arrives for two days at the Seattle Center grounds. Dozens of acts perform on multiple stages all day long, with Weezer highlighting the main stage acts, along with other arts displays around the center on Seattle’s Queen Anne hill. This year, kids under 12 get in free with an adult buying a ticket, which start at $142 for a single day. Saturday, Aug. 30 and Sunday, Aug. 31
Kitsap events coming up in September
Manette Fest: Bremerton’s neighborhood and business district just across the bridge from downtown hosts its annual one-day celebration, highlighted by what organizers call the “world’s tiniest parade.” The one-block walk past the 11th Street business district flies by, so show up on time for the 10 a.m. start and then hang out to peruse vendor booths, visit businesses and meet neighbors. Saturday, Sept. 6
Pride in the Park: Poulsbo’s third annual Pride event returns downtown and along the waterfront, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 6
West Sound Roller Derby: The area’s only roller derby club will host two bouts at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds Pavilion. Newcomers will skate a “mash up” first, with the main club facing off with Sick Town in the main event. The fun starts at 3:30 p.m., and bleacher seats are available or bring our own chair. For more info or to buy tickets in advance, visit westsoundrollerderby.org. Saturday, Sept. 6
D-Derby Championship Night: The Kitsap Destruction Derby’s summer series at Thunderbird Stadium concludes by putting the best racers on the dirt at the fairgrounds for its championship night. Time trials start at 4:30 p.m. and racing at 5:30 p.m. at the Kitsap County Fairgrounds. Find more information and buy tickets at kitsapdestructionderby.com. Saturday, Sept. 13
Bridging Bremerton: The community event celebrating the city’s “bridge loop,” hosted by former Kitsap Sun reporter Josh Farley, happens in 2025 a bit later in the year than past iterations. This year’s walk around the Manette and Warren Avenue bridges has two opportunities: a family-friendly walk that begins at 10 a.m., gathering at Evergreen Pizza (1223 McKenzie Ave., on the south side of Evergreen-Rotary Park), and then a second, “super loop” walk that promises 10,000 steps, launching at 1 p.m. from the same location. Come join your neighbors for exercise and learn a little more about what’s going on around the route. Saturday, Sept. 13
Bremerton Bites: The parking lot and picnic zone at The Village Event Center in Bremerton hosts its fourth and final food-truck festival and competition of the summer, this time with local vendors focused on the theme “Comfort Food Clash.” The variety of food trucks are open from 5 to 9 p.m. at the corner of Perry Avenue and Sheridan Road. Saturday, Sept. 13
Poulsbrew: The beer festival in a city known for its breweries is celebrating 20 years in 2025, with the annual event downtown at Muriel Williams Waterfront Park from noon to 6 p.m. The event is only for individuals over 21, and tickets are available from the Poulsbo Chamber of Commerce at this link. Saturday, Sept. 20
This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Kitsap County events for Labor Day weekend and September