Community Newsletter

October 2026

Bainbridge Island Resident Survey

Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce

The Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce is gathering resident input to better understand how the local economy affects daily life and what economic development priorities the community supports. Results will help local leaders, businesses, and community organizations make informed decisions about local services, employment, transportation, tourism, and future investments.

The survey takes about 7 minutes to complete.

Autumn is our

Bainbridge Chamber Membership Drive!

Did you know that the Bainbridge Chamber of Commerce is a small nonprofit organization? 

The Bainbridge Chamber is a network of local business owners, community leaders, and stakeholders in our Island economy. We serve as connectors, educators, supporters, and a strong collective voice for local businesses. Our small team would not be able to do everything we do without the support of our local community.

This month we'll have opportunities for you to connect friends and colleagues who might be interested in joining our fabulous business community. Our next open event is our October After Hours at Bainbridge Senior Living's Madrona House on October 22nd.



We can't wait to see you there!

Interested in attending an event or getting involved? Contact our Director of Membership Services, for more information.

Thank You For Voting for Grand Old Fourth for Bainbridge Review’s ‘Best Of Bainbridge’ Awards!

Bainbridge Island

Grand Old Fourth of July

2026 Best Community

Annual Festival/Event Category

We are honored to stand beside a great listing of Community events, volunteers, festivities, and organizations that represent the Best of Bainbridge in the Bainbridge Island Review. Thank you to everyone who voted for the Grand Old Fourth of July. We look forward to bringing the community together for one of the biggest annual events in our city for years to come. 

Office Closures

Friday Field Trips

McCabe By Design

Bainbridge Island Japanese Exclusion Memorial Association (BIJEMA)

BIJEMA Celebrates New Visitor Grand Opening

Join BIJEMA to celebrate the completion of the Exclusion Memorial’s final phase: the new Visitor Center and Plaza. The Exclusion Memorial is the work of survivors of World War II Japanese American incarceration, their descendants, the Bainbridge Island community, and many partners who understand that we have the responsibility to remember and reflect on our history and to protect the future of our civil liberties.

Experience the Visitor Center’s striking design, the newly accessible paved plaza, and a site transformed for the future. The Visitor Center will become the home of education at the Memorial, welcoming students, families, and visitors for generations to come. Together, the community will honor those who made this place possible and celebrate what the Memorial says about who we are as a community—and what we choose to stand for.

When: Sunday, October 11, from 12:30pm to 4:00pm

Where: Bainbridge Island Japanese Exclusion Memorial

Bainbridge Island Museum of ARt (BIMA)

BIMA’s Fall Exhibitions Explore

 Craft, Storytelling, & Legacy

BIMA opens its Fall 2026 exhibitions on Friday, October 2, many of which will run through the winter of 2027. These exhibitions bring together narratives and experiences of Blackness, a celebration of Pratt Fine Arts Center’s impact, and more.

Fall Exhibitions

• Booking: Artists’ Books by Black Artists (Oct 2, 2026-Feb 21, 2027)
• Pratt Fine Arts Center @ 50 (Oct 2, 2026 - Jan 31, 2027)
• Patricia Orellana: Within Reach (Oct 2, 2026 - Jan 31, 2027)

Photo from BIMA: Yosef Hassen Black Mass Publishing Box Set

Island Volunteer Caregivers (IVC)

Island Volunteer Caregivers Introduces

Old Friends Club

A Welcoming Place for People Living with Dementia

Old Friends Club Free Information Session

When: Tuesday, October 6, 2026 from 5:30pm to 6:30pm

Where: Rolling Bay Presbyterian Church (Zoom will be available for those unable to attend in person)

For questions, Zoom information, or to learn more about becoming an Old Friends Club volunteer, contact Kristin LaCroix, OFC Program Manager, at Kristin@ivcbainbridge.org or 206-842-4441

McCabe By Design

McCabe By Design Receives

Qualified Remodeler Magazine's 2026 Gold Master Design Award for Accessible Design

Congratulations to McCabe by Design for receiving the Qualified Remodeler Magazine's 2026 Gold Master Design Award for Accessible Design. The winning project included converting a dark, 800-square-ft daylight basement in a 1930's brick Tudor home into a bright and cheery fully wheelchair-accessible ADU. This is the second national award McCabe By Design has received for this project. The project is on the Kitsap Building Association's 2026 Parade of Homes October 3rd and 4th which is free to the public. 

Erickson Event Design

FREE Adult Party Planning Guide

NEW! Erickson Event Design’s free Adult Party Planning Guide features venues, vendors & planning tips across Bainbridge Island + Kitsap County.

Download your complimentary copy and share it with anyone planning a celebration locally!

JeepPeep Doodles LLC

JeepPeep Doodles joins forces

with The Sloth Institute to raise money for

sloth conservation & wildlife trade regulations

JeepPeep Doodles is partnering this month with The Sloth Institute (TSI) in Costa Rica for their 2026 Slothtoberfest. Leading up to International Sloth Day (October 20th), The Sloth Institute will host an array of events, activities, and fundraisers to learn about and support sloth conservation. This includes a live, online drawing class, hosted by JeepPeep Doodles, where participants will draw baby sloths from life! Learn More in the Community Events section of this newsletter.

Sir Bean the Sloth by JeepPeep Doodles is also fundraising for TSI and Sloth Conservation Foundation’s partnership, The Sloth Protection Alliance, all month with a special sticker. 75% of all earnings from the ‘Support the Sloths’ sticker sales will go directly towards their efforts to pass legislation to protect wildlife and regulate wildlife trade in the U.S. 

Bainbridge/Suyematsu Farm

Suyematsu/Bainbridge Farm

Pumpkin Patch is Now Open!

Suyematsu Farms’ Pumpkin Patch opened on the last weekend of September and will be open Saturdays and Sundays 10:00am-5:00pm and Monday through Friday 1:00pm-6:00pm.



The pumpkin patch is located at their Day Road Farm Location at 9229 NE Day Road. Our patch is filled with everything you need for your fall decorating and baking–beautiful ornamental corn, corn stalks; unique and unusual pumpkins and gourds; autumn bouquets, fresh local produce, U-cut dahlias…and more!

This year, also includes the popular Kiddie Hay Maze and on weekends (weather depending) tractor rides around the pumpkin patch.

On Bainbridge Island...

Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation, City of Bainbridge Island (COBI), & Bainbridge Island Metro Parks & Recreation

The Lost Valley Trail opens October 1st

with Ribbon Cutting Event

The new Lost Valley Trail opens Oct. 1, fulfilling a 30-year vision and completing the final link in Bainbridge Island’s longest cross-island trail route. The public trail will be celebrated with a ribbon cutting at 2 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1, hosted by the three project partners: the City of Bainbridge Island, Bainbridge Island Parks & Trails Foundation, and Bainbridge Island Metro Parks & Recreation.

The mostly wooded, mile-long Lost Valley Trail connects the Head of the Bay with Fletcher Bay Road, across 40 acres of public open space. The trail includes 200 feet of boardwalk, protecting the Cooper Creek watershed and ensuring all-season access.The Oct. 1 trail dedication event will be held at the boardwalk at the Head of the Bay (Wyatt Way/Eagle Harbor Drive) trailhead.

Learn more at the button link below!

City of Bainbridge Island (COBI) & Kitsap Transit

Free Saturday Shuttle Downtown Loop (Route 385)

Extended to March 13, 2027

Just how successful has the Downtown Loop pilot been this summer? On average [Kitsap Transit] saw nearly 250 daily boardings with some buses rolling out of the ferry terminal with 50 people on board! That's close to maximum bus capacity. It's safe to say that the pilot has exceeded expectations" which is why COBI & Kitsap Transit are extending the program!

The Downtown Loop (Route 385) will run on Saturdays during the fall and winter months through Saturday, March 13, 2027. The Loop will be fare-free, run in a clockwise direction, and will get you to many destinations between Winslow Way and High School Road.

The Loop wouldn't be possible without strong community partnerships and advocacy efforts. A special thanks to Kitsap Transit for operating Route 385 and partnering with the City on this pilot service and to the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce for being the Loop's #1 fan since day one and for helping to spread the word about this new transit service.

City of Bainbridge Island (COBI)

Automated Traffic Safety Enforcement Cameras

Open House scheduled for

October 14th - Save the Date!

The City is exploring a potential speed safety camera program and wants to hear from the community.



Join COBI on October 14 from 6:30pm - 8:00pm to learn more, ask questions, and share your feedback. For more on why the City is considering Automated Traffic Safety Cameras, visit the link at the button below.

City of Bainbridge Island (COBI)

City receives 120-Day Extension

for Housing Compliance

The City of Bainbridge Island received notice on August 28 from the Washington State Department of Commerce that it has been granted a 120-day extension, until Decemeber 19, 2026, to comply with the Housing Accountability Act. The extension follows the City Council's adoption of Ordinance 2026-10 at its August 25 Regular Business Meeting.

The ordinance establishes interim development regulations that meet the employment and housing targets Commerce requested under the Act. Because the Council adopted it as an emergency ordinance, the City must hold a public hearing within 60 days. That hearing took place on Tuesday, September 22nd, During the Council’s Regular Business Meeting.

To learn more about the ordinance and what it does, read COBI’s news release on this item in the button below.

Across the Puget Sound & Beyond...

ACLU Washington

Midterm Elections are Coming Soon!

What's on the Ballot?

Washington Judicial Races

This fall, five seats are on the ballot for the Washington Supreme Court. Voting in these races is an essential part of determining the future of our civil rights and civil liberties. However, many voters don't know about the candidates running, or the many ways court rulings can impact their lives.

With five of the nine seats on the Washington Supreme Court up for reelection, it is the largest election in Washington Supreme Court history, which raises a unique question for the future of the court. The justices elected to these five positions will make critical decisions in the coming years that affect people across Washington state.

Learn about how the Judicial System works in Washington State and how your vote affect who sits on the Court for the indefinite future.

Bainbridge Island Land Trust

Native Plant Sale

Get ready to grow! Join the Bainbridge Island Land Trust at the 2026 Native Plant Sale! They’ll have over 45 species of native plants to choose from to brighten your garden or patio. Land Trust members will get exclusive early access from 9:00am - 10:00am, and the sale will be open to the public from 10:00am - 1:00pm.

When: Saturday, October 3rd from 10:00am to 1:00pm (sale opens at 9:00am for Land Trust Members)

Where: Bainbridge First Baptist Church

HeArt & Soul Studios

Costume Swap

Looking for a costume for Halloween? Stop by HeArt & Soul Studios for a community costume swap for kids & adults (big kids)! Leave a costume, take one, browse accessories to complete your ensemble! Costume donations accepted during open hours through Oct. 1st.

When: Saturday, October 3rd from 11:00am to 4:00pm

Where: Heart & Soul Studios

Kitsap Bank & Helpline House

Shred to Fed

Need to get rid of sensitive information? Bring your outdated documents to Kitsap Bank’s Bainbridge Island Branch for safe destruction and disposal, and help our local food bank at the same time! Must make a monetary donation to get your documents shredded. Maximum of 75 pounds of shred per vehicle.

All donations raised at this event will support the Helpline House.

When: Saturday, October 3rd 9:00pm to 12:00pm 

Where: Kitsap Bank, Bainbridge Island Branch

Bainbridge Play Cafe (BPC)

Spider-man Meet & Greet

Bainbridge Island Downtown Association (BIDA),

Bainbridge Island Rowing (BIR), & Bainbridge Events

Oktoberfest

Bainbridge Artisan Resource Network (BARN)

Refract '26 at BARN

Exhibit - Birds of a Feather: PNW Glass Takes Flight 

Art made in BARN’s Glass Studio and through collaboration with other BARN studios

When: Wednesday, Oct. 7th through Friday, Oct. 30th

Where: BARN Commons

FREE Film Screening - Holy Frit

Glass enthusiasts will love this 2021 documentary about glass artist Tim Carey! In a whirlwind of unexpected turns, Holy Frit follows Tim as he wins a bid to design and create the largest stained-glass window in the world. May not be appropriate for children under 14.

The event begins at 4:00pm with a social hour with refreshments & small bites, followed by an introduction by Aspire Glass artist Debra Arend. The film will begin at 5:00pm with popcorn provided!

When: Thursday, October 15th, from 4:00pm to 7:00pm 

Where: BARN

Demo Day in BARN’s Glass Studio

Demo Day will include four sessions of demonstrations by artists and makers extraordinaire, featuring Torchwork, Stained Glass, Mosaics, and Fused Glass, plus a display of classwork in each discipline.

When: Saturday, October 17th from 10:00am to 3:00pm 

Where: BARN

YWCA Kitsap

YWCA Kitsap to Celebrate

Women Making an Impact at Annual Gala

Following a fire at its emergency shelter, YWCA brings the community together for “A Bold & Beautiful Evening of Impact.”

When: Friday, October 9, 2026 from 5:30pm to 8:30pm

Where: Kitsap Conference Center at Bremerton Harborside

The evening will celebrate women making a difference across Kitsap County while raising critical support for survivors of domestic violence and their children. This year’s event is especially meaningful after a fire at YWCA Kitsap County’s A.L.I.V.E. Emergency shelter earlier this year temporarily disrupted the safe refuge survivors of domestic violence depend on when escaping dangerous situations.

YWCA Kitsap County operates the only state-certified domestic violence shelter in Kitsap County. This confidential shelter provides emergency housing, 24/7 advocacy and support for individuals and families fleeing immediate danger. The fundraising program will help strengthen services for survivors and their children, including emergency shelter, advocacy, safety planning, and other programs that help survivors move from crisis toward safety and stability.

Bainbridge Island Rowing & Kitsap Lindy

Swing, Waltz, & More

Swing out to live music from the Flamingos, a quartet made up of Bainbridge High Jazz Band students. An absolute beginner swing lesson will be held from 7:00pm to 7:30pm. Flamingos will perform from 7:30pm to about 8:15pm, then a DJ will take over for social dancing to swing/lindy, waltz and other styles until 9:30pm or 10:00pm.

This is a fundraiser for the Bainbridge Rowing scholarship fund. Suggested donation $25 adults, $15 students

When: Friday, October 9th from 7:00pm to 9:30pm

Where: Stan Pocock Rowing Center

Bainbridge Public Library

~ Public Speaker Series ~

U.S. Canadian Relations: What Happened? 

A conversation with Craig Weichel, Consul General of Canada

Bainbridge Vineyards

2nd Annual Bainbridge Vineyards Weinfest

Join Bainbridge Vineyards for the 2nd Annual Weinfest!

Enjoy Bainbridge Vineyard’s island-grown German wine varietals, like Siegerrebe, Muller-Thurgau, and our Ferryboat White blend. They'll have wine specials all day!

Grab a glass and enjoy a variety of activities throughout the day including:

• Live music (accordion & banjo) from local favorites The Bear & The Banjo 
• Pizza pop-up from One Two Kai with seasonal flavors 
• Mini cheesecakes from Fantail Farm
• Activities like a self-guided vineyard tour, scavenger hunt, and grape tasting.

When: Saturday, October 17th, 1:00pm to 6:00pm, 

Where: Bainbridge Vineyards

JeepPeep Doodles LLC

Sir Bean & The Sloth Institute Draw Baby Sloths from Life!

A Live, Online Drawing Workshop

Join JeepPeep Doodles and Sir Bean the Sloth in an interactive, online sloth drawing workshop, where participants will learn the basics of drawing sloths, chat with members of the veterinary and nursery team at The Sloth Institute, and draw baby sloths from life during their feeding time at the nursery! 100% of the proceeds go directly towards TSI’s efforts to rescue, rehabilitate, and release sloths back where they belong, the wild.

When: Sunday, October 18th from 10:30am to 12:00pm

Where: Zoom (link provided with registration)

Tickets are $25 (or $15 with the promo code "SlothsRULE26")

Bainbridge Brewing & Bainbridge Island Museum of Art (BIMA)

Drink & Draw

Come for a drink and stay to draw during this fun, free, clothed-model life drawing session hosted by BIMA at Bainbridge Brewing Alehouse. These monthly meet ups are open to anyone 21+ that is interested in working from the model, regardless of experience level. All materials provided and no registration is required, so drop in any time! This month, the event will be held on Tuesday, October 20th! 

When: Every Third Tuesday, 6:30pm to 8:30pm, September 15th 2027 through May 18th 2027

Where: Bainbridge Brewing Alehouse (Winslow Location)

Bainbridge Island Senior & Community Center (BISCC)

Queer Bingo

It’s just like regular bingo except a lot more queer. Queer Bingo is the Queer Elders’ annual fundraiser for the Bill McKnight Legacy Scholarship, providing financial assistance to LGBTQ+ students from Kitsap County. It’s an evening of bingo, prizes, laughter, and fun. Join BISCC for a fabulous night of bingo, prizes, drag, and queer community on Bainbridge Island! LGBTQ+ members and allies equally welcome. Tickets are $20 at the door.

When: Saturday, October 24th from 6:00pm to 9:00pm, doors open at 5:00pm

Where: Bainbridge Island Senior & Community Center

Bainbridge Island Friends of the Library

September Friends of the Library Sales

Sale of thousands of gently used books, CDs, DVDs, audiobooks, and magazines. Sales are at the Bainbridge Public Library and all proceeds support the library. All sales are 12:00pm - 4:00 pm. Cash or check only.

Thursday, October 1st

Sunday, October 11th

Thursday, October 22nd

Eagle Harbor Congregational Church

Community Dinners & Super Suppers

Join your fellow community members for a warm and tasty meal! No matter what you’re looking for, everyone is welcome at the table. These meals are offered at no charge and are prepared with care by local volunteers.

FREE/Pay What You Can

Super Suppers

(5:00pm to 7:00pm)

Eagle Harbor Congregational Church

• Sunday, October 25th
• Monday, October 26th
• Tuesday, October 27th
• Wednesday, October 28th
• Thursday, October 29th
• Friday, October 30th

Community Dinners

(6:00pm to 8:00pm)

Eagle Harbor Congregational Church

• Tuesday, October 13th

Looking For More events on Bainbridge?

Want to see a full calendar of upcoming events on Bainbridge Island?

 Check out CURRENTS by Arts & Humanities Bainbridge

Want to be a part of our newsletters? Want to get to know your local business and non-profit community better? Join our membership organization of 375+ local businesses, organizations, individuals, and municipal services to gain access to an exclusive network of local peers, partners, and leaders along with a variety of benefits including:

• Business Advocacy at the city, county and state levels
• Access to free local business resources
• Two free networking events each month
• Promotion of your work through our many channels, which include:



• Opportunities hosting monthly networking events
• Community & member newsletters
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• sponsorship and event hosting opportunities

For further inquiry, contact our Director of Member Services, Rachel Radtke

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