A look back at 2016~
This was a great year here in Poulsbo!
As we say goodbye to 2016 and welcome in 2017, we think of the many community celebrations throughout the year!
Here’s a look back at some of our 2016 highlights:
January 2016
Lutefisk and Meatball Dinner – Sons of Norway
Always a treat -authentic Norwegian meal in our Sons of Norway Hall
West Sound Wedding Show
A large expo featuring local venues, caterers, and more- for all wedding-planning needs
February 2016
North Kitsap Daddy/Daughter Dance
Dads and their daughters dancing the night away – an event through the Parks and Rec
Winter Rendezvous Ménage a Trois!
Excellent time had by all – boaters, tourists, and locals! Games, food, drink, music, and laughter
March 2016
Easter Egg Hunts
Several community-held Easter egg hunts for the little ones
Photo by P5 Photography
April 2016
Poulsbo Farmers Market starts back up
At a new location this year. We love the spring, bringing in all the local goodies through our Farmers Market
Roots Rock Run -Lumberjack Run
An endurance run through Port Gamble Trails. There are always several mile options available.
Save KPLU in Historic Downtown Poulsbo
Shops, restaurants, and locals all came together to raise money to save KPLU – food, drinks, prizes, games, and live music
May 2016
Girls Night Out in Historic Downtown Poulsbo
A win-win event; specials, drawings, drink and food, all for a great cause – to help victims of domestic violence
Stottlemeyer 30/60 mile Bike Race
A fast-paced race through the Stottlemeyer trails
Viking Fest
Poulsbo’s most famous event – a fun weekend of races, runs, rides, games, food, and VIKINGS!
Photos by P5 Photography
June 2016
CF Walk
Our 4-mile walk to raise awareness and money for CF…they hit 91% of their goal this year!
Kiana Brew Fest
Kiana Lodge – one of the area’s most stunning venues: add in local beers from all over the Seattle area, live music, good food, and games. A yearly tradition not to be missed
Poulsbo Twilight Criterium
Think fast bike racing around hot corners- looping through Historic Downtown Poulsbo…add in local beer and shopping. This race was the first of (hopefully) many to come- they’ve already begun planning 2017!
Water Trails Festival
A weekend filled with paddling through our Kitsap Water Trails. Whatever boat you paddle – tours started in Silverdale and stretching out through Brownsville, Poulsbo, Keyport, Bremerton, and Allyn
July 2016
Summer Nights at the Bay
July and August’s concert series, at the Poulsbo Marina and Park, overlooking Liberty Bay. Family fun event for sure -nothing like a summer evening with music in the air
3rd of July Fireworks on the Fjord
Each year, Poulsbo puts on an amazing display of professional fireworks. Boaters and visitors from everywhere visit us to see them!
Photos by P5 Photography
Performances at the Passage begin
Thursday evenings don’t get better than this. Clearwater’s concert series in 2016 was spectacular! Sitting on the grassy lawn, overlooking the waterway, listening to FREE live music each week was a treat
August 2016
Poulsbo Uncorked
An evening enjoying local beer, wine, ciders, distilleries, as well as caterers and restaurants’ fare was as fun as last year! This yearly tradition grows each year and is a chance to catch up with friends and meet new ones
Photos by P5 Photography
Poulsbo Street Dance
Another annual treat – friends and neighbors gather in the closed-off streets of Historic Downtown Poulsbo to enjoy some live music and dancing into the late hours!
Photos by P5 Photography
Port Gamble ½ Marathon
Challenging route through the Port Gamble Trails for sure! But at the end, there’s food, beer, and soda…so that run was worth it!
September 2016
Biketoberfest
If you love biking, this is the area to be in! Bringing the family was an excellent choice – night bike riding, campfires, games, and then more biking the next day
October 2016
Port Gamble’s Ghost Walks begin
Port Gamble has some history – and some of it is still around. Touring these haunted sites at least once is a must. If ghosts are your passion – there is even a convention!
Kitsap Wedding Tour
4 staged wedding venues through Kitsap County, a perfect opportunity to get some wedding planning started…and finished!
Spirits and Spirits – Boos and Booze
Days of fun events leading up to Halloween 2016! These celebrations weren’t just for adults either – there was a fun kids glow-in-the-dark treasure hunt through Kingston. You’ll want to get your pass to enjoy the 2017 festivities!
Trick or Treating through Historic Downtown Poulsbo
Historic Downtown Poulsbo is a great place to take the little ones and even the older ones! The haunted house, located in the old Police Station, was definitely a good scare for the kids
November 2016
Art in the Woods Studio Tour
A fun time – grab a map and take a self-guided tour through Kitsap County, to all the great studios!
GEMS Night Out – WWU
GEMS is a girls-only event at our SEA Discovery Center. Girls explore hands-on science, watch a movie, tour the aquarium and enjoy some art activities. A must for any inquisitive young lady.
Big Valley Christmas begins
Beautifully decorated, Big Valley shows off its holiday spirit, and we love that it is open past Christmas!
The Poulsbo Tree Lighting Ceremony on Viking Way with afterparty
This magical night did not disappoint! If you want to get into that holiday spirit…or just enjoy everything Christmas, this is the event not to miss! Santa on the Fire Engine, lights, cider and an after-party filled with art, more Santa, and family-fun was a fantastic time!
Tree Lighting Ceremony, Photos by Robbi Perez
After-party at Hudson Auto, Photos by P5 Photography
Horse Drawn Carriage Rides and Meet Father Christmas in Historic Downtown Poulsbo
You can’t miss out on a horse-drawn carriage ride and a visit with Father Christmas in Historic Downtown Poulsbo. Skipping the large lines in town to visit him, as well as get some local shopping done was a great treat!
December 2016
Jule Fest and Holiday Bazaar
If you missed our Viking Fest and needed your Scandinavian fix – Jule Fest was the one to hit! The day began with the Scandinavian Bazaar at the Sons of Norway. We then made our way to the waterfront for a bonfire, Lucia Bride, music, and dancing around the tree.
Holiday Concert – Poulsbo Community Orchestra
What brings more cheer than beautiful music performed by our very own Poulsbo Community Orchestra! Amazing!
Breakfast with Santa at Sons of Norway
Enjoyed a delicious breakfast and watched as the kiddos lit-up at seeing Santa!
Yule Cup and Lighted Boat Parade
An evening watching the lighted boats pass by in Liberty Bay. Enjoying from a boat is great – but we love joining everyone at the waterfront park, enjoying cider and the bonfire.
Christmas In Poulsbo
With all these events in and around Poulsbo, there’s always a good time to visit us.
Our monthly Art Walks, Wine Dinners, and Plays are not to be missed!
Thank you to all those who have submitted events to Visit Poulsbo
It’s Halloween weekend…and there are many frightful things to do!
We’ve compiled some pretty fun stuff, to help you along your way…
- Kitsap Haunted – the area’s best haunted house. Lights on for kids from 5-6p and full scare from 6-11p: Fri, Sat, and Halloween
- Poulsbo Farmer’s Market – enjoy the outdoor market, filled with local farmers and crafters, live music, and on many weekends, enjoy special events! The market happens from 9a – 2p every Saturday through December 17.
- It’s that time of year- join us at the Poulsbo Fish Park for the viewing of the salmon returning upstream. Activities and information for kids of all ages.
- Plants from the Dark Side (part of the Spirits and Spirits Fest event series) – Dan Hinkley, founder of local botanical garden Heronswood, will introduce you to plants that evoke the spirit of Halloween. Prior to the lecture, take a self-guided tour at the Garden. This all happens Saturday.
- A few costume contests and family fun events are taking place this weekend: Saturday morning join the fun at the Halloween Extravaganza, at the Kingston Crossing Complex. Join in for some face painting, massages, music, and more! Then, ON Halloween evening, Café Cocina in Poulsbo, will host a family evening with an opportunity to get a family photo and a costume contest.
- Poulsbo’s Liberty Bay Books will be hosting George Lakey, an Author Event. Stop in at the store to listen to him, as he will be talking about his new book, Viking Economics, How the Scandinavians Got it Right and How We Can, Too.
- Saturday evening brings more Spirits and Spirits fun – in Kingston! The Halloween Glow in the Dark Treasure Hunt is sure to be a blast! Kiddos from ages 5 – 12 should dress up and head into Downtown Kingston for glow in the dark fun!
- Finish out your Saturday with the Spirits and Spirits Adult Costume and Dance Party! From 7-11p at the Clearwater Casino; music, dancing, prizes… all adult fun!
- If that dancing didn’t do you in for Sunday – then get your run on! At the Roots, Rock Run Spooky 12k – there is a kids 1-mile run too! Everyone dress in their best and get ready for some fun through the Port Gamble Trails!
- Monday’s Halloween – and that means there are so many great places to go for some Trick or Treating. Historic Downtown Poulsbo’s merchants will be waiting with lots of treats for your kiddos from 4-6p!
- BONUS event! If you are 16+ and haven’t had enough of a scare, join in on one of Port Gamble’s Ghost Walks. Begin at the Port Gamble Museum; learn highlights of the town’s history, hear about the paranormal activities, and tour some haunted buildings in town!
You may be thinking it’s time for a weekend getaway…like you and your closest few friends. Kids are back in school, sports have come on strong and you have a long year ahead of you. So, yup, it’s time! May we suggest a pretty awesome trip to a great little Norwegian town, in your own backyard!
Poulsbo, WA offers so much to do, no matter what interests you have!
Epic Weekend Getaway, With Small Town Shenanigans!
First, you’ll need to check out the local places to stay. There are so many choices, from our hotels to fantastic B&B’s. But, this is a group trip, so staying at the Viking House is the perfect place. A newly remodeled home, within walking distance of town, a commanding view of the bay, and decorated in the local town flavor! You will definitely be relaxed as you watch the sun set from the porch.
Friday Itinerary
Arrival – drop your bags, check out the house. Set up your game plan for the day:
Pick up supplies. Shopping at the local Central Market, which carries an array of amazing goods. Local produce is abundant – so grabbing snacks, refreshments, local beer and wine, is a must. It’s tempting to pick up some dinner supplies as well, but let’s face it…you are here for a break. So cooking a big meal is out!
Coffee and a snack up the way on Viking, at Caffé Cocina, to keep you going! Touring Poulsbo, Viking Way has its own charm…and the Fish Park, with local artist’s murals, is the perfect place to stop and wander, while enjoying your coffee. Don’t forget to stop off at the Martinson Cabin, across the street – giving you a glimpse into the past, of our Poulsbo pioneers.
Next to check out local town, browse the shops. Shopping at Flicka (meaning girl in Swedish – yes, there a Swedish shop in the middle of Norway!) This local women’s clothing store is a fun step into the fashion world. Perhaps pick up a necklace, bearing the coordinates of Poulsbo, and a P’bo sticker. Delightful bookstores, more women’s shopping, vintage shops, a baby store, even a great shoe store. The Marina Market has an array of goodies from around the world, so picking up some candy sounds like a delicious idea. Add that to the Boehm’s chocolate you picked up along the way. Modern Mercantile is filled with beautiful items to purchase…and the jewelry stores dazzle. We even have a mosaic studio and pottery painting store. And of course, you would be remiss if you didn’t grab some renowned Sluys donuts and Poulsbo bread for later!
A few stops – one into the Poulsbo Maritime Museum and tourist go-to. They’ll send you on up to city hall, for a gander at Poulsbo’s Historical Museum.
Grab a quick bite of lunch, ChocMo is a great choice. The award-winning local beef, and voted best steaks in North Kitsap, will have you coming back for more! And swing over to Harrison’s Footwear, for more shoe shopping!
Tour the neighboring towns: Suquamish, Kingston – don’t forget to stop off at CB’s Nuts and Hood Canal Brewery on your way, and final destination: Port Gamble. Ending the evening in Port Gamble, touring the historic buildings and haunted sites. Stop in for an early dinner at the Port Gamble Café, after wandering through the General Store and Museum, which is attached. Don’t forget to pick up some meat at the Butcher & Baker Provisions.
Head back into Poulsbo to catch a 7pm show at the Jewel Box Theater.
Saturday Itinerary
Within a block from the VRBO you’ve rented, you can casually stroll on down to Poulsbo’s Farmers Market. Local artists, local farmers, and more, all make for the perfect morning with your cup of joe.
Head back into Poulsbo for an afternoon of kayaking, rentals provided at the Port of Poulsbo dock. The view of the surrounding majestic mountains, the fish jumping around you, and gathering of the sea-lions, completes this special water trip.
That ate up a chunk of your day, and lunch is in order. With a water view, the Loft is a great choice.
With the afternoon coming to a close, tour a few of the breweries along the way –Rainy Daze and Sound Brewery on Viking, with its award winning array of beers, would be the first stop. Valholl, above Front Street, has a cool casual vibe. Sit, sip, and watch the customers come and go, often with their doggies in tow! Back into town, as it is the 2nd Saturday of the month, it’s time for Poulsbo’s Art Walk. Browse the many galleries through Historic Downtown Poulsbo, meet more local artists, this town definitely has it going on! You might even run into a Viking!
In the mood for some excellent Thai? Poulsbo’s new Kachai Thai Kitchen gets rave reviews. The dining experience is phenomenal. Food exquisite, and local beer on tap is an excellent pairing!
End your evening with live music and local beer at Slippery Pig Brewery or Brass Kraken.
Sunday Itinerary
Early run out in the Port Gamble Trails. A Pope Resources public use-land, with trails carved out of the 4,000 acres. Plenty of room for bikers, runners, and horses alike, to share.
On your list of to-do’s, you are overdue for a scrumptious brunch. There are so many to choose from, here in Poulsbo. But this time, you make reservations the Molly Ward Gardens. Take a walk through the beautiful gardens after a filling brunch.
Head back into town to say your sorrowful goodbyes, until next time…a quick mani/pedi at Beautifully Polished sounds like an excellent choice.
Topping off with a quick sip and bite at the local tapas restaurant, Paella, an excellent way to end a perfect and fun-filled weekend.
Your suitcase may be a little heavier on the way out of town, thanks to all the goodies and awesome finds this weekend!
**Mental note: come back for a weekend of hiking out on the Peninsula next time, Poulsbo is a great base-camp.
click on the picture to watch the full interview.
Throughout Puget Sound’s harbors and marinas are countless small stores catering to boaters and sailors visiting their communities. Poulsbo’s Marina Market isn’t just another small store; it is a destination in itself. Sure you can purchase the basic supplies boaters need to get through their weekend, but venture through the aisles and you will find some rare treats to help make your trip to Little Norway complete.
Located just behind the world famous Boehm’s candies, you find an even greater diversity of candy, notably licorice. These tasty treats come from around the world, particularly Scandinavia. Now we aren’t talking Twizzlers and Red Vines; there are licorice of over 600 varieties, as owner, Andrea, explains to King 5. They even have a Norwegian licorice sauce for your ice cream!
Saving those goodies for your kiddos? There are many other kinds of candies and assortments of Scandinavian delights. Then there is the extensive beer selection…a beer connoisseur’s heaven!
So, we invite you in, if you haven’t had the joy of experiencing the Market…to taste the licorice.
Enjoy!
There is nothing better (well, almost) than a wonderful community event.
And Poulsbo has 2 fun ones coming up this Friday and Saturday!
You’ll want to start your weekend off right, with Poulsbo Uncorked. This annual event, Friday from 4-7p at Hudson on Viking, has been going for a few years now, and each year proves to be better than the last. Local restaurants and caterers serve bites. While breweries, wineries, distilleries, and cideries hand out tastings.
This paired with catching up with old friends, meeting new ones, even networking happens left and right.
You will need to purchase tickets. To purchase online, go to the Chamber of Commerce’s website: Poulsbo Chamber. Or pick up your tickets at any participating business.
With the ticket, you will receive a commemorative glass and drink tickets. For details, click on the link in this e-blast.
Our second community event happens in Historic Downtown Poulsbo, starting at 6pm. This fun is for the whole family. Head downtown for some live music and dancing in the street, at Poulsbo’s annual Street Dance.
This weekend may leave you a little tired come Monday morning. But it’s going to be epic!
Day Trip to Poulsbo – Absolutely! Poulsbo is centrally located in the heart of the Kitsap Peninsula and practically surrounded by water, making for great fishing, crabbing, sightseeing, mountain biking and kayaking.
Wildlife is plentiful throughout the shores of Poulsbo’s own Liberty Bay where one can view seals, otters, blue herons, and salmon returning to their natal streams to spawn during the fall in Dogfish Creek.
Kayaking in Poulsbo is an excellent day trip adventure and you can spend a day slowly sightseeing your way around Liberty Bay. The Olympic Outdoor Center, operates a kayak rental facility waterside in downtown Poulsbo. Grab a donut at the famous Sluy’s Bakery on front street – you won’t be disappointed – then stroll over and rent a kayak to burn off those calories!
Cutthroat
July 1st kicks off crabbing season in the waters around Poulsbo. If you are visiting by boat, Poulsbo has a full service marina to tie up at. Crabbing isn’t far off, just outside Agate Pass there are some excellent options to drop a crab pot. Just look for all the other crab buoys!
Visitors interested in bird watching or sightseeing can also take in numerous picturesque views on the waterfront in downtown Poulsbo. Seals, otters, ducks, geese and blue herons all make a presence at one time or another.
The surrounding freshwater and saltwater of the Kitsap Peninsula is plentiful with fishing options, and make for a great day adventure if you are visiting the area.
Try your luck at Buck Lake in Hansville for some feisty rainbow trout, or perhaps one of the many nice sized bass that lurk in the shallows. Situated about 25 minutes from downtown Poulsbo, Buck Lake County Park offers a large grassy area, playground, boat launch and nature trails. Small boats and personal watercraft can easily access Buck Lake.
Visiting Poulsbo for a weekend stay?
Well, there’s no shortage of options to plan a great itinerary!
Plan a morning mountain biking trip to the miles of trails off Stottlemeyer road, just five minutes from Poulsbo. Riders have ample trails to choose from ranging from beginner to advanced levels.
It wouldn’t be a trip to Poulsbo without being involved in some type of water activity, so finish the day off paddling around Liberty Bay on a kayaking adventure.
Day two of your adventure might include fly fishing adventure on the majestic waters of Hood Canal. Poulsbo and the surrounding area boasts some excellent saltwater fly fishing opportunities for the visiting angler. Fly fishing for Sea-Run Cutthroat trout has become quite a hit lately around Poulsbo.
These are hard fighting, wild sea trout that live in the waters surrounding Poulsbo and the Kitsap Peninsula. Sea-Runs are very aggressive and a fly-fishing excursion makes for a great day trip experience while visiting.
Fjord Fly Fishing is a saltwater fly-fishing guide service based in Poulsbo that offers guided fly fishing by boat. They offer full day 8-hour trips, and half day 5-hour trips for up to two anglers. Check out www.fjordflyfishing.com for more information on this great experience. Anglers new or experienced to the art of fly fishing can choose to chase these wily game fish in the waters of Hood Canal or Puget Sound with Capt. Chad Gillespie of Fjord Fly Fishing.
The outdoor options are limitless in Poulsbo and the surrounding Kitsap Peninsula, come visit us to get a Norwegian taste of this unique town!
Guest Blog, written by Chad Gillespie
Owner and Captain of Fjord Fly Fishing
At times, it can be mind-boggling to think of all there is to do here, in this little Norwegian town of Poulsbo, Washington. Living here, we take advantage of the hiking, biking, and running trails, the water trails that are all at our front door. And for the day trips? We love our Kitsap Peninsula – sight-seeing, trips out to the rain forest or the hot springs. We enjoy our local Jewel Box Theater productions, as well at KCMT’s kids’ productions, our monthly Art Walk through Historic Downtown Poulsbo. And between all that, we have annual festivities that are like no other around! Each month brings something fun for the whole family, but spring is one of our favorites!
March is a great time to enjoy a run and a beer – all at the same time! Poulsbo is filled with great local breweries. And running from one to the other, all while dressed in our best Irish green gear, makes for some happy cheer! And then there are multiple local Egg Hunts for the kids before Easter. Who doesn’t love to watch all those cute little kiddos scream in delight over finding what the Easter Bunny hides!
April brings the start of the best Farmers Market around! Fresh and local food, flowers, and more!
May is when we get to don our Viking helmets for our famous Viking Fest! Rides, and food fare galore! Talk about laughter, music, and fun! Surrounding this event, if you are a biker, you can join in the Viking Tour. If you love to run, try the Viking Road Run. And if SUP is your thing, we even have a race for that! Don’t forget about our very own soccer tournament, Viking Cup. And for the girls out there that love to shop and eat – Girls Night Out is always a great time through Historic Downtown Poulsbo. Shops are open late, running specials and giveaways.
June holds our summer solstice event: Mid-Sommer Fest – “Enjoy folk dancing, meet Norwegian and Icelandic dogs, and partake of traditional Norwegian cuisine in the lodge and other activities. Enjoy the Viking Parade, lighting of the Bon Fire and Midsummer proclamation by Sons of Norway Vikings.” And then Port Gamble holds their annual Medieval Faire – events and fun dedicated to the Middle Ages and Renaissance time.
There truly is so much to see and do here. Come and visit us for a day or stay the weekend!
Looking for a great day trip or a weekend getaway? Look no further~ Poulsbo has it all. Beaches, hiking, biking, water trails for SUPs and kayaking…fabulous breweries, restaurants, as well as many shops. And don’t forget our Viking Flare!
But if you need convincing, ‘Only In Your State’ has an outline of why you should Visit Poulsbo.
http://bit.ly/21HnKpy
‘Tis the season to Visit Poulsbo…
Come celebrate the month of December at the docks and stroll through the decorated boats at the downtown Port of Poulsbo Marina.
Vessels from throughout the puget sound area have been encouraged to visit and spread the Cheer and Sparkle in Poulsbo this holiday.
Marina of Lights Promotion
Photos by P5 Photography
