Kingston waterfront and parks welcome music all summer long
Kingston’s waterfront Concerts on the Cove series wrapped another successful season by being named the Best Outdoor Concert Series in Sound Publishing’s Best of Kitsap contest.
2026 welcomed a whole new line-up to the waterfront every Saturday in August with a re-imagined all access beer garden set up to be more family-friendly. Concert goers were encouraged to bring take-out from one of the many Kingston restaurants within walking distance and settle in with picnic blankets and camp chairs in from of the Port of Kingston’s stage in Mike Wallace Park. The Chamber of Commerce held raffle prize drawings halfway through each concert and sold “Explore Kingston” merchandise as another way of helping to cover costs, along with generous sponsorship of Kitsap Bank, Michelle Cook-Windermere/West Sound, The Point Casino and Hotel, Kingston-North Kitsap Rotary, Port of Kingston, and Kitsap County.
The Saturday concerts welcomed music lovers of all ages with a variety of folk, rock, and cover bands to provide a diverse line-up. Holding the concerts Saturdays also allowed people to come over on the fast ferry from Seattle to enjoy an afternoon or evening in Kingston with music and local food, and hopefully introduce them to their new favorite small town experience.
Kingston also offered free concerts at the Village Green Wednesday evenings in July and August thanks to the Village Green Foundation. Cultivating a broad roster of artists, the Village Green line-up this year featured everything from Cajun/Zydeco to baroque! The Village Green is a huge supporter of the arts in general, offering rotating artwork displayed throughout their building, housing permanent historical pieces and displays, and offering indoor concert series in addition to summer music. They also offer a wealth of classes if you’d like to dabble in the arts yourself- everything from photography to dance to new crafts! And they provide space for nonprofits and community groups like the community choir (Village People) to meet and share their skills with the community.
Other downtown businesses also regularly host paid musicians, open mic nights and karaoke: Cellar Cat has built a reputation for truly incredible jazz artists on Thursday-Sunday evenings in their intimate wine shop, while Kingston Alehouse, Friends and Neighbors Brewing, The Lounge at d’Vine Bistro, Hood Canal Brewery, and Filling Station all regularly host musical evenings. Stop by the Kingston Chamber of Commerce & Visitor Center to learn more about where to find good live music any time of year or follow our tourism account online where we regularly re-share events and where to find good music locally.
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