Our History

A 30-Year Legacy

The story of Kitsap Pride is one of resilience, courage, and “unwavering community spirit.”

1997 | The Spark

Our journey began 30 years ago at Scenic Beach State Park. Just 35 people gathered for a picnic and a shared vision: to create a place where LGBTQIA+ people in Kitsap County could live openly and support one another.

In those early years, the community relied on private spaces and the hospitality of allies, like the beloved gatherings at John Foose’s Fox Farm, to build our foundation.

2005 | Stepping Into the Light

We took a historic step forward by hosting our first public Pride event at Evergreen Park. This move signaled a new era of visibility, proving to the county that the LGBTQIA+ community was a vital, vibrant part of the local fabric.

2007 | Securing Our Future

To better serve our expanding community and protect our local celebration, we reorganized as the Kitsap Pride Network. This structural shift allowed us to move out from under a previous organization that was winding down, ensuring that the local Pride movement would not come to an end. We formed into a formal, independent nonprofit organization dedicated solely to the movement of Pride.

2020 – 2021 | Growth through Adversity

Even a global pandemic couldn’t dim our light. In 2020, we launched Pride-in-a-Box to keep the community connected at home. In 2021, we moved the festival to the Kitsap County Fairgrounds, and we were greeted with record-breaking attendance.