Local guide

Winter keeps going after the holidays.

January and February 2027 bring a full winter calendar to Kitsap County and Puget Sound. The Olalla Polar Bear Plunge kicks off January 1. Pacific Audio Fest runs January 15-17 in Renton. Seattle Chamber Music plays January 22-31. February brings the Seattle Boat Show (February 5-13), Wintergrass bluegrass in Bellevue (February 18-21), boat restoration in Gig Harbor, and the Poulsbo Blues and Jazz Festival (February 26-27). All of it is within an hour of Olalla Bay.

For December holiday events (tree lightings, boat parades, markets), see the holidays guide. This guide picks up where that one leaves off: January and February.

Written by Assaf, the Olalla Bay editor. Updated October 2026.

Dates below are the ones actually published for 2027. Where an organizer has not posted a confirmed date yet, we say so and give the standing pattern instead of guessing. Check the organizer's page before you drive: winter schedules shift.

January 2027

Olalla Polar Bear Plunge, January 1, noon. The year starts at the Olalla Creek bridge, across from the market, with a cannon shot and a crowd of costumed jumpers. The plunge is the correct way to start the year, and the hot tub back at the house is the correct way to finish it. Details are in the plunge guide.

Pacific Audio Fest, January 15-17. A high-fidelity audio show at the Hyatt Regency Lake Washington in Renton, about an hour from Olalla Bay. Leading audio brands, reference-level listening systems, live performances, and conversations with industry pioneers. Hours are 10am to 6pm daily. See the event website for ticketing.

Seattle Chamber Music Society Winter Festival, January 22-31. Ten days of chamber music at Nordstrom Recital Hall at Benaroya Hall in downtown Seattle. The 2027 theme is "Scenes and Portraits: Chamber Music That Tells Stories." About an hour from Olalla Bay.

Trivia Night at The Beer Vault, January 28, 6:30-8pm. A regular trivia night at The Beer Vault and Wine Bar in Gig Harbor, at 14004 Purdy Drive. Food and drink, trivia and games. Check the venue website for the schedule.

February 2027

Seattle Boat Show, February 5-13. The West Coast's largest boat show returns with displays across two venues: Lumen Field Event Center and Bell Harbor Marina in Seattle. Hundreds of boats from sportfishers and sailboats to luxury yachts, plus marine accessories, electronics, and free boating and fishing seminars. Hours vary by day and venue; Bell Harbor Marina closes daily at 5pm. About an hour from Olalla Bay.

Viking Bonfire (Valisblot), Saturday near Valentine's Day. The Poulsbo Sons of Norway Vikings hold their winter bonfire at MIW Waterfront Park in Poulsbo, on the Saturday closest to Valentine's Day. The event is free. The 2027 date has not been published yet; check the City of Poulsbo events calendar.

Seine Skiff Building Project, February 17-18, 8am-5pm. The Gig Harbor BoatShop is crafting a Seine Skiff to accompany the historic purse seiner Veteran. Visitors are invited to stop by, lend a hand, support the project, or watch the boat take shape. Part of Gig Harbor's maritime history, 15 minutes from Olalla Bay.

Wintergrass Music Festival, February 18-21. Four days of bluegrass and acoustic music at the Hyatt Regency Bellevue. Headliners include The Jerry Douglas Band, Sierra Hull, and Della Mae. About an hour from Olalla Bay.

Community Boat Restoration Program, February 20, 9am-5pm. Learn from master boatbuilder Tom Regan at the Gig Harbor BoatShop as he guides participants through a boat building, repair, or restoration project. Past projects have included building a 15.8-foot rowing boat and restoring classic Puget Sound motor launches.

Poulsbo Blues and Jazz Festival, February 26-27. The fourth annual festival in downtown Poulsbo, "Little Norway," about 40 minutes from Olalla Bay. 14+ bands over two days in indoor venues, all walkable. Friday doors at 5pm, music 6-9:30pm. Saturday first band at 2:45pm, last band ends at 11pm. Tickets are limited; the festival benefits the Poulsbo Rotary Club. Wrist bands are picked up at the Sons of Norway upstairs lobby. This is not a camping or seat-saving event: if you leave a venue, you cannot save the seat.

Seattle Museum Month, February. Seattle Museum Month typically runs in February, offering half-off museum tickets for guests booked at participating downtown hotels. Participating venues have included the Museum of Flight, Seattle Art Museum, Chihuly Garden and Glass, Seattle Aquarium, Woodland Park Zoo, and Museum of Pop Culture. Check seattlemuseummonth.com to confirm the 2027 dates and participating hotels.

Winter weekends at the house

Olalla Bay sits central to the winter event map. Gig Harbor is 15 minutes away, Poulsbo is 40 minutes, Tacoma is 45 minutes, and Seattle and Bellevue are about an hour. The house sleeps ten, with the private beach out back and the hot tub for after the event. A February weekend at the house plus a day at the Boat Show or Wintergrass is a solid plan.

Between events, winter is the quiet season at the house: storm watching from the deck, the hot tub in the rain, seals and eagles on calm mornings. The winter guide has the full case for the season.

Tips for winter events

Check dates before you drive. Winter schedules shift, especially for outdoor events and volunteer-run festivals. Confirm on the organizer's page.

Book tickets early for Poulsbo Blues and Jazz. Tickets are limited (400 Friday, 900 Saturday). Buy both nights if you want both.

Seattle Boat Show is two venues. Lumen Field Event Center and Bell Harbor Marina. A free shuttle runs between them. Bell Harbor closes daily at 5pm.

Dress for the weather. February in Puget Sound means rain and highs in the 40s. Layers and a real rain shell. Indoor venues (Poulsbo, Wintergrass, chamber music) are the warm picks.

No winter farmers markets. Most Kitsap farmers markets run April through October or April through December. None run in January or February.

Questions people ask

What is there to do in Kitsap County in January and February?

January starts with the Olalla Polar Bear Plunge on New Year's Day, then Pacific Audio Fest in Renton, chamber music in Seattle, and trivia in Gig Harbor. February brings the Seattle Boat Show, Wintergrass bluegrass in Bellevue, boat restoration in Gig Harbor, and the Poulsbo Blues and Jazz Festival. All are within an hour of Olalla Bay.

When is the Poulsbo Blues and Jazz Festival in 2027?

February 26-27, 2027, in downtown Poulsbo. The fourth annual festival runs 14+ bands over two days in indoor venues. Tickets are limited. Friday doors at 5pm, Saturday first band at 2:45pm.

When is the Seattle Boat Show in 2027?

February 5-13, 2027, at Lumen Field Event Center and Bell Harbor Marina in Seattle. The West Coast's largest boat show features hundreds of boats, accessories, and free seminars.

Is there a winter farmers market in Kitsap County?

Most Kitsap farmers markets run April through October or April through December. None run in January or February. The Poulsbo Farmers Market runs through mid-December.

What is the best winter base for Puget Sound events?

Olalla Bay sits central to the winter event map: 15 minutes to Gig Harbor, 40 minutes to Poulsbo, 45 minutes to Tacoma, and about an hour to Seattle and Bellevue. The house sleeps ten, with the hot tub for after the event.