Bremerton’s waterfront will fill with blackberry treats, local vendors, live performances and family activities over Labor Day weekend. The 2026 Bremerton Blackberry Festival is scheduled for Saturday, September 5, through Monday, September 7, at the Bremerton Boardwalk and along Second Street.
Presented by the Bremerton Rotary Foundation, the three-day community festival raises money for scholarships, parks, nonprofit services and other work in the Bremerton community. That fundraising purpose makes the weekend more than a food festival: purchases and participation help support the foundation’s local programs.
Confirm before you go: The information below was checked against official sources on September 2, 2026. Event hours, performers, vendors, transportation schedules and other logistics can change. Review the organizer’s website again shortly before leaving home.
Festival dates, hours and location
- Saturday, September 5: 11 a.m.–8 p.m.
- Sunday, September 6: 11 a.m.–7 p.m.
- Monday, September 7: 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Location: Bremerton Boardwalk Marina and Second Street in downtown Bremerton
The City of Bremerton’s official calendar also lists the festival for September 5–7 at the Bremerton Boardwalk. The waterfront location is near downtown restaurants, museums, ferry connections and other attractions, making it possible to combine the festival with a broader day in Bremerton.
What you can expect at the festival
The organizer describes a festival with more than 150 vendors and over 25 blackberry-themed foods. Craft and commercial booths occupy the boardwalk, while Second Street becomes “Berry Way,” an area that includes children’s entertainment and activities.
Food is central to the weekend, but the blackberry theme extends into beverages, merchandise, art and personal-care products. The organizer’s current examples include blackberry cobbler, pies, donuts, ice cream, jams, sauces, lemonade, cupcakes, crepes and cookies. More unusual savory choices may include blackberry barbecue dishes, dipping sauces and blackberry-topped fries.
Festival rules require food vendors to offer at least one qualifying blackberry-themed item. Craft and commercial vendors must either carry a blackberry-related product or decorate their booths around the theme. That requirement should make the berry connection visible beyond the dessert stands.
The published vendor list includes food businesses, artists, makers, community groups, nonprofits and commercial exhibitors. Because vendor participation can change close to an event, look through the organizer’s current blackberry products and vendor page if you are hoping to find a particular item or booth.
Live entertainment across the weekend
The 2026 main-stage schedule currently includes music on all three days. Saturday’s listed performers include Ferguson and Co., The Barncats, Bad Honey, Clam Hammer and Henry Mansfield after an opening appearance by Bremerton Mayor Greg Wheeler. Sunday’s lineup lists ne!!y, Megan and Heidi, Liquid Horse and Old School. The Tonze and Montlake Traffic are listed for Monday.
If seeing a particular act is a priority, check the official lineup on the morning of your visit. Outdoor festival schedules can be adjusted, and the organizer’s entertainment page should be treated as the final source for performance times.
Activities for children and families
Families have several areas to consider beyond the main entertainment stage. The organizer lists face painting throughout the event, children’s performances and crafts on Berry Way, and a Chalk Plaza between the Hampton Inn and the Kitsap Conference Center.
The current Berry Way schedule features Kevin Wolfe Comedy Magic and Peter Irish at multiple times during the weekend. Chalk Plaza is planned as a space where children can contribute sidewalk art. The family area also lists hands-on STEM activities from Kitsap Create, games, crafts, interactive nonprofit booths and a Kids Zone.
A practical approach for families is to identify one or two scheduled performances first, then leave open time for food and activity booths. Crowds and waterfront walking can make a tightly packed itinerary harder to follow, especially with younger children.
Beer garden, wine and festival merchandise
The event information includes a beer and wine garden provided by Bremerton Rotary. Blackberry wine, mead and cider are also listed among the festival offerings, with some packaged products available through the Berry Central booth.
Visitors planning another regional food-and-drink outing later in the season can also review this Olympic Peninsula Harvest Festival weekend guide for October trip-planning context.
Berry Central is the organizer’s central location for festival-branded merchandise and selected blackberry products. Published examples include shirts, hoodies, hats, pins, tumblers, stickers, jam and beverage items. Availability is not guaranteed, so visitors looking for a particular commemorative product may want to stop there earlier in the day.
Getting to the Bremerton waterfront
The boardwalk location is accessible from several parts of Puget Sound without driving directly into the festival area. The organizer points visitors to Washington State Ferries from Seattle, Kitsap Transit’s Seattle fast ferry, the Port Orchard foot ferry and Kitsap Transit buses.
Anyone traveling by ferry or bus should check the appropriate transit operator’s schedule before departing, particularly because Labor Day weekend service may differ from a normal weekday. Build extra time into connections rather than planning around the final possible sailing or bus.
For drivers, the organizer reports more than 2,000 downtown spaces across street parking and public pay lots. That figure does not mean a space will be available close to the boardwalk at your arrival time. Note the posted rates, restrictions and closing hours wherever you park, and be prepared to walk several blocks during busy periods.
The festival asks visitors to leave pets at home because of crowd size, children and limited relief areas. Service animals are welcome. This is especially important for anyone who might otherwise arrive after a long drive or ferry trip with a pet.
How to make the most of your visit
- Choose your day by closing time. Saturday offers the latest scheduled finish, while Monday has the shortest festival day.
- Review the music schedule first. Plan food and vendor browsing around any performances you do not want to miss.
- Expect waterfront conditions. Bring layers suitable for changing temperatures and check the local forecast before leaving.
- Carry purchases comfortably. A reusable bag can help with packaged foods, artwork and merchandise.
- Set a meeting point. Choose a recognizable waterfront location in case members of your group become separated.
- Allow time for downtown Bremerton. Nearby restaurants, museums and public spaces can extend the outing beyond the festival grounds.
A festival with a community purpose
The Bremerton Rotary Foundation says festival proceeds return to the Bremerton community through scholarships, parks, nonprofit services and related community support. Visitors can therefore approach the event as both a waterfront outing and a local fundraiser.
This article is independent editorial coverage for Go Kitsap, not a paid placement or organizer endorsement. Before making final plans, review the official festival website for late changes to hours, entertainment, vendors and transportation guidance. Then explore Kitsap County listings and practical local guides for more ways to enjoy the weekend.