Armed Forces Festival offers fun for all

Those huge warbirds rumbling over Bremerton today aren’t a military exercise. Rather, they are a military tribute.

From 10 a.m. -1 p.m., the Cascade War Birds will be buzzing over Bremerton as a part of the 56th annual Bremerton Armed Forces Day Festival in downtown Bremerton.

This year, what used to be a parade has become a full-blown festival under the auspices of Cris Larsen, the high-energy, full-speed-ahead festival chairman.

In addition to the parade which starts at 10 a.m., this weekend’s events include:

l The Bremerton Central Lions pancake breakfast and oatmeal bar from 7-10 a.m. on Fourth Street between Washington and Pacific Avenue

l The Bremerton Masonic Lodge Pancake Breakfast from 7-10 a.m.

l The Kitsap County Historical Society Museum at 280 Fourth St. will pay tribute to the contribution of women in service, both on the front lines and on the homefront, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

l The USS Turner Joy, adjacent to the Louis Mentor Boardwalk, will offer a special admission price of $1 from 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

l After the parade, there will be a street festival from noon-5 p.m. with live music, a barbecue and family activities.

l From 2- 6 p.m. there will be a Military ID eat for free barbecue, in which the first 5,000 military members and their families can eat for free.

l At Olympic College, there will be a Military Culinary Arts Competition from 1-2 p.m.

l The Cascade War Birds will be on display from 1-6 p.m. at the Bremerton National Airport.

l The Navy League will present “The Road to Freedom” at 5 p.m. at the Admiral Theatre.

l From 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. today and tomorrow, the Kitsap Hydrofest power boat races will be on Kitsap Lake and there will be a youth baseball tournament at Lions Field.

The festival is all about paying tribute to the armed forces and having fun with the entire family. The events start at 7 a.m. and whether the interest is pancakes or power boats, there will be something to appease everyone.

Everyone in Bremerton and beyond should come downtown and enjoy the festival.

And to those who serve ... thank you.

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