2026 Mosquito Fleet Fest coming May 23rd & 24th
Set the tone for your upcoming adventure
Community member Andy Olmsted has created this song, Mosquito Fleet Revival, as a “nostalgic love letter to Puget Sound and the interconnected Coastal Pacific Northwest waterways.” We hope you enjoy the song and accompanying historic photos of the Mosquito Fleet as you get ready to experience living history at Port Orchard’s very own Mosquito Fleet Fest!
Thank you for joining us during the 3rd annual Mosquito Fleet Fest on the Port Orchard waterfront! We look forward to being together again this year, May 23rd & 24th, 2026.
thank you!
Love Kitsap created this wonderful Mosquito Fleet Fest Guide!
2026 schedule of events
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Sailing Option Story Sails Carlisle II
Foot Ferry Terminal
87 Sidney AveSail with narrator Josh Farley and hear tales of the Kitsap Mosquito Fleet
Sailings at 11a, 12:45p, 2p - tickets on sale after May 9th..
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Virginia v events
Port Orchard Marina
The Virginia V will be hosting four events on board while docked in Port Orchard! Scroll down learn more and purchase your tickets.
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Farmers Market Schedule
Waterfront Park
933 Bay StreetThe oldest and longest-running farmers market in Kitsap!
9am-2pm
SATURDAY ONLY -
Maritime Themed Vendor Market
Curated vendors and food trucks line the marina entrance with crafts and mementos.
Sat: 9-5
Sun: 9-4 -
Gigantic book sale
Kitsap Regional Library
87 Sidney AveFriends of the Library book sale (inside and outside) at the Library.
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Polaris Backstage Alley Family Zone
Polaris Backstage Alley
822 Bay Street
Saturday, May 23 from 1-4 PMFishing, art, bubble machine & more!
Gilligan’s Island costume contest.
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Historical banners
Foot Ferry Terminal
87 Sidney AveIf you miss the story sailings, you can still learn about Mosquito Fleet History here.
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Coloring Contest
Pick up Carlisle II coloring sheets all over town and return to the Kitsap Regional Library (87 Sidney Ave).
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Artists Alley
Alley between the Public Market and Myrhes
715 Bay StreetArtist market with interactive painting activities.
Sponsored by the SK Artists Association in the
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Pirates of Penzance
WWCA
624 Bay Street
3 PM on May 23rdEnjoy songs from Pirates of Penzance at our local performance theater.
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Historic Storywalk
Waterfront Park
933 Bay Street
12-2PM SundayGuided Tour through downtown Port Orchard learning about historic buildings and landmarks.
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Scavenger Hunt
30 participating businesses have play sheets available, download and print at home (coming soon), or pick up at the event info booth during the fest.
One lucky player will win a prize basket. -
Kitsap Ferries Panel and Mosquito Fleet Trivia Contest
‘Past, Present & Future’
Gathered by Josephine’s
702 Bay Street
Begins at 3 PMPanel presentation on the history & future of ferries in the Puget Sound. Audience & panel trivia contest after ferry presentation - win prizes!
Katie Walters
County Commissioner
Greg Nance
23rd District Representative
Steve Sego
Friends of the Fast Ferry Coordinator
Carla Sawyer
Passenger Ferry Consultant
Ed Brown
Senior Docent Virginia V
Josh Farley
Moderator
Carlisle II
StorySailings
* $15 Tickets on Sale May 9th *
A guided tour experience, learning about Kitsap’s Mosquito Fleet history with guest narrator and local historian Josh Farley.
Tickets are purchased on this site through the Port Orchard Waterfront Alliance.
Hosted by: Love Kitsap
Narrated by: Josh Farley
Starting Location: Foot Ferry Terminal
Please Note:
The Carlisle II is an historic vessels and as such, is not ADA compliant. Accommodations for those with limited mobility and special needs might be possible, but there are stairs, confined restroom spaces, and noisy environment.
Virginia v
Sailings and Events
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On Friday, May 22nd, ‘Dryft’ will be performing an onboard concert while Virginia V is docked at Port Orchard Marina! Boarding beings at 7:30 PM with the concert starting at 8 PM.
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Boarding begins at 4:30 PM and the boat will return at 7 PM.
Tickets are priced at $40 for Adults and $20 for Children.
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The Virginia V will be doing a Harbor Cruise around Port Orchard from 12-1:30 PM.
Tickets are priced at $28 for Adults and $10 for Kids.
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The Virginia V will be doing a Harbor Cruise around Port Orchard from 2-3:30 PM
Tickets are priced at $28 for Adults and $10 for Kids.
Meet the ‘Mosquito Fleet’
‘carlisle ii’
Meet the ‘Carlisle II’ during the Mosquito Fleet Fest!
Carlisle II was built in Bellingham in 1917 by Lummi Island Navigation Company, and first carried freight and passengers between Bellingham and the Carlisle Packing Company's salmon cannery on Lummi Island.
Story Sailings at 11am (east route) & 12:45pm (west route), 2pm (east route) are available to purchase through the link below.
Tickets: $15/per person
Tarry Not II
Explore the ‘Tarry Not’ during Mosquito Fleet Fest, Saturday only!
Built in 1924 for Joe Bucan by the Bucan Brothers. It is said that Joe could navigate her through dense fog, aided only by a pocket watch and a compass. While moored and working in Olympia for much of her career, Tarry Not II also served as the Sea Blossom Seafood’s company boat. She was originally used as a freight and passenger steamer, often calling at Arcadia, Mason County.
‘Virginia v’
Explore the ‘Virginia V’ during the Mosquito Fleet Fest!
The S.S. VIRGINIA V sailed her maiden voyage on June 11, 1922, as part of the Puget Sound Mosquito Fleet. Her original route was between the cities of Tacoma and Seattle, along the West Pass (also known as Colvos Passage) between Vashon Island and the Kitsap Peninsula.
‘colby’
The area known as South Colby was named after the Colby, a member of the Mosquito Fleet that regularly stopped there. The small community depended on the Colby for transportation by water since roads were almost non-existent. It was a small (really small!) steamboat built in Seattle in 1902.
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