Photo credit: Tim Davis
Sometimes the best plan is the simplest one: walk on a ferry, watch the sun drop over the Olympic Mountains, and end up at a market full of music, makers, and the smell of something good cooking nearby.
That’s the Kingston Sunset Market — and it’s the easiest “I should plan a trip” idea you’ll have all summer.
Photo courtesy of Kingston Sunset Market
Held on the first Saturday of every month from June through October, the Kingston Sunset Market transforms Kiwanis Park at the Port of Kingston into an open-air gathering of local makers, food vendors, and live musicians — set against the backdrop of ferries gliding in and out of the harbor.
The market runs from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. — long enough to catch dinner, browse for that perfect handmade gift, and stick around for golden hour over Puget Sound. Admission is free, and you can walk straight to it from the ferry terminal.
Pro tip: The July 4 market overlaps with the Kingston Pirate Festival happening across the street at Mike Wallace Park — making it one of the busiest, most fun nights of the season. Plan to arrive early and stay late.
Photo credit: Kingston Sunet Market
Kingston is one of the easiest day trips most Seattleites have never tried. From Edmonds, the Washington State Ferry crossing is a 30-minute glide across Puget Sound — and you can walk on. No parking hunt. No reservation. Just board, find a window, and watch the Olympics get bigger.
Once you arrive in Kingston, the market is a five-minute walk from the terminal. Kiwanis Park sits right at the Port of Kingston, with sweeping views of the harbor and the ferry coming and going while you shop.
More on getting here: visitkitsap.com/get-here
Each market has its own personality, but you can plan on:
Want to see who’s coming to a specific market? The Kingston Sunset Market keeps an updated vendor and musician roster on their site.
The market is great on its own — but Kingston rewards travelers who stay longer.
Spend the afternoon walking the Kingston waterfront, picking up coffee at a downtown cafe, or browsing the small shops along Central Avenue. If the weather’s cooperating, head north to Point No Point Lighthouse in Hansville (about a 20-minute drive) for a windswept beach walk before market time.
On a clear evening, the view from Kiwanis Park across Apple Tree Cove is hard to beat. Bring a layer — even in summer, the breeze comes off the water — and pick a bench by the rail.
If “one market night” turns into “a whole weekend,” Kingston has nearby short-term rentals, like this one. Enjoy slower mornings, quieter evenings, and a much shorter line for the ferry home.
Want to support Indigenous-owned hotels? Book at The Point Casino & Hotel just a 10-minute drive from the Kingston ferry terminal.
Browse all places to stay on the Kitsap Peninsula: visitkitsap.com/stay-here
Pack a tote bag, a light jacket, and cash for vendors who don’t take card. The market is dog-friendly on a leash — but on a hot or crowded night, your pup might be happier at home.
Kingston is 30 minutes from Seattle and a world away. Looking for more Kingston ideas? Explore the Kingston destination page or browse upcoming Kitsap events.