‘Tis the Season Your Local Holiday Shopping Guide
Central Kitsap & Bremerton | Winter 2015
Season of celebration in CK, Bremerton scavenger hunt also is planned and there will be cookies for all — a magical evening with music and carolers, Violet the book mobile, scavenger hunt with prizes, cookies and refreshments.
By LESLIE KELLY
lkelly@soundpublishing.com
T
here’s plenty of holiday happenings in Central Kitsap and Bremerton this year.
THEATER PRODUCTIONS: “THE NUTCRACKER”
SILVERDALE
Once you’ve put away that turkey and wrapped up the leftovers, head to Silverdale’s 61st annual Christmas TreeLighting on the day after Thanksgiving. From 1-4 p.m. Nov. 28, the Silverdale Library will host stories, including “Elf on a Shelf,” at the library, 3450 NW Carlton St., in Old Town Silverdale. There will be tractor hayrides through Old Town from 2-4 p.m., starting from the Oxford Suites, 9550 Silverdale Way NW. Stop by Lisa Stirrett’s House of Glass, 9536 Silverdale Way NW, and decorate some cookies. And don’t forget to take some selfies with area mascots who will be in Old Town. From 4-6 p.m. in the parking lot outside Silverdale Antiques, there’ll be free cookies, hot cider and hot chocolate, facepainting, clowns with balloons, and toys for kids to build at a booth sponsored by Lowe’s. Carolers will sing from 4-5 p.m. Grab a piece of pizza at Monica’s Bakery, which will become a pizzeria. At 5 p.m., the tree-lighting ceremony will begin with a welcome from the Silverdale Chamber of Commerce. Students from area schools will perform holiday tunes. Santa will arrive on a Central Kitsap Fire & Rescue fire engine at 5:50 p.m. and help light the tree at 6 p.m. Santa will be around to talk with the kids and for photographs following that. Those who come out are asked to bring food items for the Central Kitsap Food Bank and toys for the Toys For Tots campaign. Items will be collected at the John L. Scott Silverdale office, 8382 Silverdale Way N.W. Since 1954, a very tall Christmas tree has lit up the sky for the holidays in Silverdale thanks to a coordinated effort of dedicated community volunteers, Silverdale Rotary, Silverdale Dandy Lions, and Kiwanis. Brothers Rich and Roland Arper have continued the tradition of their father, legendary Silverdale Rotarian Bob Arper, and are the major force behind the project. The tree is now 128 feet tall.
KITSAP MALL
Kitsap Mall has many events planned for the holiday season. There are Giving Trees by the JC
The Bremerton High School marching band will be a part of downtown Bremerton’s annual Winterfest, which is set for Dec. 4. Leslie Kelly photo Penney Court through Dec. 20. Grab a tag, purchase that item and then bring it back and put it under the tree with the tag. Donations benefit the Salvation Army, Toys For Tots and Bay Vista Commons Senior Center. Santa will be at the mall through Dec. 24. Give your list to Santa or get your photo taken with him in Center Court. Here’s the schedule. n Until Dec. 11: noon to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. n Dec. 11-23: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday; 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. n Dec. 24: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m, before he takes off to deliver toys. To make reservations online to minimize the wait, go to www.mysanta experience.com. The mall will open at 6-10 p.m. Thanksgiving. Black Friday hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Additionally, area school children will be at the mall singing holiday carols in the North Court. Go to www.shopkitsap mall.com for more.
BREMERTON
The Downtown Bremerton Association’s Winterfest is 5-8 p.m. for Dec. 4, during the First Friday Art Walk. Shops in downtown will be open for business and there’ll be festive displays in all windows. Bremerton Mayor Patty Lent will be on hand as the holiday tree is lit and Santa
arrives, about 5:30 p.m. The tree is located by the Navy Museum at Harborside. At the marina, many boats will also be lit for the holidays. From 6-7 p.m., get your picture taken with Santa at the Kitsap Historical Museum; photos by Hudson Photography. Stop by the Evergreen Children’s Theatre and Aurora Valentinetti Puppet Museum at 257 Fourth St. to see exhibits and enjoy refreshments. The Bremerton High School marching band will perform. The Sweet Adelines will sing holiday tunes. Other choirs will perform too. Don’t be surprised to see a horse-drawn carriage happen by on Pacific Avenue, offering rides for the young and the young-at-heart.
MANETTE
Winterfest’s “Magic in Manette” will take place from 5-8 p.m. Dec. 4. Santa will arrive at 5:15 p.m. with the Ice Princesses via a Bremerton fire truck and kids can have their photos taken with Santa at Aubin Ahrens Photography studio. Photos with Santa are scheduled from 5-7 p.m. for cash donations and/or a bag of groceries to be donated to the Kitsap Rescue Mission.
There will be music and carolers walking about Manette. The streets in the business district will be closed to vehicle traffic. At 7 p.m., the holiday tree at 11th Street and Scott Avenue will be lit. A
Take some time to enjoy “The Nutcracker,” a holiday tradition by Peninsula Dance Theatre. Peninsula Dance Theatre’s “Nutcracker” is the longest-running “Nutcracker” in Kitsap County and the only “Nutcracker” in the county that can be seen with live orchestra. This is its 42nd season. The Peninsula Ballet Orchestra, conducted by Alan Futterman, will accompany the production at the Bremerton High School Performing Arts Center. New choreography will be presented for the Snow Kingdom. Choreographer Nicole Cisler and assistant director Mallory Morrison created a scene to highlight the dance theatre’s dancers abilities and artistry, while embracing and displaying the dynamics that Tchaikovsky’s music score holds. Performances: 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4 and 5; and 3 p.m. Dec. 6. A special Nutcracker Tea is scheduled at 1 p.m. Dec. 6. Clara and her friends will be there too. Tickets can be purchased online at www.peninsuladancetheatre.org, or in person at Bremerton Dance Center, 515 Chester Avenue, Bremerton. Call 360377-6214.
“SHREK THE MUSICAL”
“Shrek The Musical” will be presented this holiday season by the Central Stage Theatre of County Kitsap (CSTOCK). “Shrek The Musical,” based on the Oscar-winning DreamWorks film that started it all, brings the hilarious story of everyone’s favorite ogre to life on stage. In a faraway kingdom turned upside down, things get ugly when an unseemly ogre — not a handsome prince — shows up to rescue a feisty princess. Throw in a donkey who won’t shut up, a villain with a short temper, a cookie with an attitude and over a dozen other fairy tale misfits, and you’ve got the kind of mess that calls for a real hero. Luckily, there’s one on hand … and his name is Shrek. Opening night is Nov. 27 with additional performances through Dec. 20. Evening performances are at 7:30 p.m. Sunday performances are at 3 p.m. Performances are at Central Kitsap Middle School at 10130 Frontier Place NW, Silverdale. Ticket range from $8 to $15. Family passes can be purchased at the door. Online: www.cstock.org/shows.
A Spe c i a l S u ppl e m e n t t o t h e Br e m er t o n Pa t r io t & C e n t r a l K i t s a p R ep or t er