For the first time since 2023, Kitsap residents and visitors had the chance to ride a historic passenger ferry between Silverdale and Bremerton over Labor Day weekend, thanks to a community-led “pop-up” ferry experience hosted by the Greater Kitsap Chamber and Visitor Center.
The event, originally launched during Blackberry Festival weekend in 2023, returned this year at the request of Kitsap County, said Irene Moyer, president of the chamber.
“It was wildly successful,” Moyer said of the inaugural event. “We had no idea what the response would be like, but it was fantastic. For this year, the county actually came to the chamber and asked us to host a similar event. We were excited to do it again — not just for the fun tourism part of it, but also looking long-term at how this might be impactful and beneficial for our community as a whole.”
Passengers boarded the historic Carlisle II, the last remaining mosquito fleet boat, originally built in 1917. For many, the highlight wasn’t just the destination, but the journey itself.
“This particular waterway between Silverdale and Bremerton is probably not the most well-traveled unless you have a boat of your own or kayak regularly,” Moyer said. “People told us it was a neat opportunity to travel that passage, go under two bridges, and see Kitsap in a whole different light. The experience of riding the ferry is really what made this event.”
The chamber worked with partners to ensure the event benefited both Silverdale and Bremerton businesses. To ease parking challenges in Old Town Silverdale, visitors parked at Kitsap Mall and rode a free shuttle to the waterfront — creating extra foot traffic for mall businesses as well as downtown shops and restaurants.
“We’ve always said a thriving tourism economy only benefits our local businesses and organizations,” Moyer said. “By having an event like this, we were able to spread that wealth a little bit.”
Moyer also added that creative transportation options like this could play a role in larger events, including when the FIFA World Cup comes to Seattle in 2026.
While the event proved popular, Moyer acknowledged challenges in making it a regular fixture. Infrastructure at the Silverdale pier limits operations to daylight hours since there are no lights or electricity, and funding remains a barrier.
“Running an event like this isn’t cheap,” she said. “But I could very much see it becoming an annual event. All of the folks who rode with us this time around were asking when we would do it again.”
