MEDIA COVERAGE

With the state of Washington being the second-largest producer of wine grapes in the United States, it seems fitting that there would be a plethora of festivals in the area to celebrate. But Kitsap has never officially been part of the revelry — until now. “It all started with our wonderful former mayor Cary Bozeman and how much he loves Fountain Park,” said Terry Halvorson, lead organizer of the inaugural Kitsap Wine Festival.

“Nobody had done (a wine festival) in Kitsap County,” the former Bremerton mayor, now Port of Bremerton CEO Bozeman said. “And my thought was, there wouldn’t be a better place to do it than Fountain Park.”

So amidst the surging state of the Washington wine world — and the surging water features at Fountain Park — Kitsap is poised for its first ever wine festival from 2-6 p.m., Aug. 23, 2009 in downtown Bremerton. More than 20 Northwest wineries are slated to pour at the event, with cuisine provided by chef Marsha Henry of the Kitsap Conference Center and Chef Shawn Walker of Anthony’s at Sinclair Inlet, in addition to a variety of local artisan food booths, local wine shops and more, dispersed amongst the fountains at the Bremerton Harborside.

If you’re looking for a great reason to hop on a ferry, here it is—the Kitsap Wine Festival, a new outdoor wine and food celebration on Sunday, August 23. The inaugural festival is featuring wine tastings from over 20 Pacific Northwest wineries, including Kiona Winery, Yellow Hawk Cellars, DeLille Cellars, Corliss Estates, Chateau Ste. Michelle and many more. Tasty treats will be provided by Chef Marsha Henry of Kitsap Conference Center, Chef Shawn Walker of Anthony’s at Sinclair Inlet and a variety of local artisan food producers.

In this article about the "Rebirth of Bremerton," the newly revised city is worth seeing. Bremerton offers the best of the new and old; new restaurants and shops line the boardwalks while antique shops, art districts and historic buildings give the city the quaint feeling associated with a small town. You could take a walk in the beautiful Fountain Park, book a relaxing massage at the Iselia Day Spa, or schedule a meeting at the Kitsap Conference Center. Bremerton offers something for everyone!

The Kitsap Conference Center, which is part of the newly revitalized Bremerton waterfront, sits adjacent to the newly opened Bremerton Public Marina.

Kitsap Conference Center, the Fountain Room, and Harborside Fountain Park are just a few of the many contributing factors to Bremerton’s renaissance. Mayor Cary Bozeman’s vision of a ‘Harborside District’ is spotlighted in the article “Welcome to Boomerton”. The vision seeks to create an urban village on the shores of Puget Sound, with high-rise condos and apartments, street-level retail and pedestrian-friendly parks, all tied closely to the ferry terminal, a marina, and a boardwalk.

The Fountain Room, operated by the Kitsap Conference Center, is sure to make a splash with its unique view of Harborside Fountain Park. The park features ‘five large copper-ringed fountains, made to resemble the conning tower of a submarine, that spout water in theatric arrangements.’ Located in Bremerton, Washington the Fountain Room can be used for meetings and events accommodating up to 100 people.

The Fountain Room recently opened as a meeting space in Harborside Fountain Park on the Bremerton Waterfront. The 1,650 square-foot space is operated by the Kitsap Conference Center.