LAST YEAR, BEFORE THE CARLISLE II ferried packed trips of festival goers from Dyes Inlet through the Port Of Washington Narrows for the Blackberry Festival and enlisted to carry passengers from Bremerton to Poulsbo for the winter’s Frosty Fest, a Port Orchard group had hosted a low-key ‘Story Sail’ aboard the historic Mosquito Fleet Era vessel. The laid-back August afternoon event featured former Kitsap Sun reporter, Bremerton historian and current Seattle Times opinion writer Josh Farley telling local stories about the history of the area and the era of the mosquito fleet. The cruise traveled parallel to Beach Drive for a stretch then across Sinclair Inlet past the horn of Manette into Port Orchard Bay between Bainbridge and Illahee State Park and back. Quick fire story topics and tidbits included a man-made sand beach, a 1930s-era brewery once located in Port Orchard and the summer home of the Bremer family located on the Illahee shore. Passengers were free to roam around the boat, taking in the scenery, the stories and the history of this old mode of public transportation unique to this area. This year, the Port Orchard Bay Street Association is celebrating that, hosting two more Story Sails with Josh, kicking off its new Mosquito Fleet Festival, May 25. There will be curated vendors, farmers market stuff and more to be announced. Plus another unique local tradition, Port Orchard’s Seagull Calling Contest, returns. // BILL MAN
The New Mosquito Fleet Festival w/ ‘Story Sails’ aboard the historic Carlisle II plus curated vendors, a scavenger hunt and more, with the Port Orchard Farmers Market and the South Kitsap Chamber Of Commerce Seagull Calling Contest, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 25 on the Port Orchard waterfront. More at pobsa.org
