The Week Ahead
November 24, 2025
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Late November on Bainbridge Island marks a shift from the fall routine into the start of the winter season, and with it comes a series of community events that are practical, well-attended, and firmly rooted in local tradition. Between Thanksgiving morning and the final days of the month, island residents have multiple opportunities to gather, participate, and support programs that directly benefit the community. This period is less about large-scale celebrations and more about small, reliable events that reflect how Bainbridge functions at its best—collaborative, locally focused, and easy for households of all kinds to take part in.
Each year, Thanksgiving morning begins with the Helpline House Turkey Trot at Battle Point Park. The event is straightforward: a morning run or walk on a flat course with the central purpose of raising funds for a local nonprofit providing year-round social services. It’s an example of the island’s tendency toward purposeful activity rather than spectacle. Families show up with strollers, individuals participate at their own pace, and the community contributes to a cause that is immediately relevant to local needs. The Turkey Trot sets the tone for the long weekend by combining outdoor activity with practical support for a service-oriented organization.
That same emphasis on community involvement continues into Saturday evening with “Celebrate the Lights of the Season” at Town Square. While many cities dedicate extensive resources to holiday lighting ceremonies, Bainbridge keeps its event concise and focused. Student groups perform, the Bainbridge Island Police Department offers a brief engagement activity, and the evening concludes with the lighting of the community tree. It is rain-or-shine, predictable in format, and held in a central, familiar public space. The event connects the end of Small Business Saturday with the beginning of winter programming, creating a natural link between local commerce and community gathering.
The final event of the month shifts attention from outdoor programming to the region’s arts community. Museum Store Sunday at the Bainbridge Island Museum of Art provides a focused opportunity for residents to support local artists and the museum’s operations. With storewide discounts, a curated holiday collection, and a custom seasonal installation by local artist Max Grover, the day functions as both a shopping opportunity and a reminder of the museum’s role in the cultural landscape. It avoids the scale and pace of holiday markets and instead offers a controlled, intentional environment for purchasing original and small-batch works.
Taken together, these three events illustrate how Bainbridge approaches the start of the holiday season: with practical activities, consistent traditions, and an emphasis on supporting local institutions. None of the events are designed as large regional attractions, but each one reflects a piece of the island’s identity—service, education, public gathering, and the arts. For residents, participating in even one of these events offers a grounded way to mark the transition into winter. For visitors, they provide a clear look at what defines community life on Bainbridge Island as the year draws to a close.
Featured Events:
Bainbridge's Annual Turkey Trot
Bainbridge Island’s annual Turkey Trot, organized by Helpline House, will take place again this year on November 27, 2025. The event is held at Battle Point Park, one of the island’s largest public spaces, located at 11299 Arrow Point Drive. The Turkey Trot has become a consistent community fixture, drawing participants of all ages who want to start their holiday morning with an outdoor run or walk while supporting an essential local nonprofit.
The 2025 event is presented by Mark Middleton Real Estate | The Agency, continuing the trend of local business involvement in community programming. While some holiday runs lean heavily into costume contests or novelty elements, the Helpline House Turkey Trot focuses on being accessible, well-organized, and family-oriented. Its primary aim is to bring neighbors together while raising funds for Helpline House’s food bank and social service programs.
The race course at Battle Point Park is designed for broad participation. It is mostly flat, with gentle rolling inclines that accommodate a wide range of fitness levels. Families with young children often attend because both the terrain and course layout allow strollers without difficulty. This feature makes it appealing not only to runners but also to walkers who want to take part without needing extensive training. The route uses the park’s internal pathways and open areas, allowing for clear visibility and predictable footing throughout the event.
While the race is intentionally inclusive, the organizers have a few guidelines to protect the park’s facilities. Dogs and food are not allowed on the turf fields, a restriction tied to preserving the condition of the athletic surfaces that get heavy community use year-round. Participants planning to bring pets or snacks should be aware of these limitations and plan accordingly.
Beyond the athletic aspect, the Turkey Trot supports Helpline House’s mission. Registration fees contribute directly to funding local assistance programs, including essential services that operate throughout the year. The event provides a structured, community-supported way for residents to contribute to these efforts during the holiday season when demand for services is typically higher.
The Turkey Trot continues to serve as a straightforward, practical community event: a morning run at a familiar park, clear rules, accessible courses, and a direct link to supporting Bainbridge Island residents in need. It remains a reliable anchor in the island’s Thanksgiving week activities and a steady fundraiser for an organization that plays an important role in local well-being.
Cost, tickets and logistics:
Thursday, November 27, 8am
Battle Point Park 11299 Arrow Point Drive Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Full details here
Sign up to volunteer here
Register to be a runner here
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Celebrate the Lights of the Season!
Bainbridge Island’s annual “Celebrate the Lights of the Season” gathering will take place on Saturday, November 29, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Town Square, the open space located between City Hall and Bainbridge Performing Arts at 280 Madison Avenue North. The event is scheduled immediately after Shop Small Business Saturday, making it a natural continuation of a day already centered around supporting local institutions.
The program is structured around stage performances and the lighting of the community tree, an activity that has become a recognizable marker of the transition into the island’s winter festivities. The event includes several performances from local student groups. The Bainbridge High School Band will provide instrumental selections, followed by the Bainbridge Island School District Choir presenting seasonal vocal pieces. Bainbridge Ballet will perform short excerpts from its annual Nutcracker production, offering a preview of the show many island families attend later in the season.
Alongside the performance lineup, the Bainbridge Island Police Department will host “Sweets with the Squad,” a brief meet-and-greet activity paired with treats. The event also includes a hot apple cider station, which is one of the few provided refreshments. Beyond these offerings, the focus remains on the stage program and the tree lighting rather than on an extended festival environment.
The lighting of the community tree serves as the concluding moment of the evening. While many cities hold larger lighting ceremonies, the Bainbridge version is intentionally concise. It functions less as a spectacle and more as a unified signal that the winter season has begun. Local families regularly attend, but the event is designed to be open to anyone who is already downtown or participating in Small Business Saturday.
Because the gathering is outdoors, organizers note that the event will proceed regardless of weather conditions. Attendees typically dress for late-November temperatures and potential rain, which is common for the region. Town Square’s location between City Hall and BPA provides a central, accessible space with clear sightlines to the stage and tree.
Overall, “Celebrate the Lights of the Season” is a short, structured community event that blends student performances, brief engagement with local public safety personnel, and the formal lighting of the tree. It is designed to be predictable, family-friendly, and easy to attend without special planning.
Cost, tickets and logistics:
Saturday, November 29th, 6-7pm
Town Square, located between City Hall and Bainbridge Performing Arts 280 Madison Ave North, Bainbridge Island WA 98110
Full details here
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Museum Store Sunday
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art will participate in Museum Store Sunday on November 30, offering visitors 10% off all items storewide for the day. The event is part of the broader international Museum Store Sunday initiative, which encourages the public to support museum shops and, in turn, the cultural organizations they fund. At BIMA, the focus remains on providing access to items connected to the region’s artistic community and giving shoppers an alternative to standard retail options during the holiday season.
The museum store’s holiday collection is prepared specifically for this period and emphasizes work that cannot be found in conventional retail settings. Rather than functioning as a souvenir stand, BIMA’s shop features pieces created by regional and independent artists, including handcrafted jewelry, limited-edition prints, and other small-batch items. The store’s inventory reflects the museum’s broader mission of supporting contemporary art and artists from the Pacific Northwest.
For this year’s event, the museum collaborated with local artist Max Grover on a custom window installation. Grover, known for his bold, graphic work, created the piece as a visual anchor for the store throughout the holiday shopping season. The installation is intended to be viewed both by museum visitors and by passersby downtown, reinforcing the museum’s connection to the community even outside its gallery spaces. The added visual component also helps distinguish the day from typical shopping activity by offering a temporary, site-specific work that is only available during this period.
Shoppers who cannot visit the museum in person still have access to the store’s offerings. BIMA provides online shopping for its holiday collection, allowing remote customers to participate in Museum Store Sunday and take advantage of the 10% discount. This option also supports the museum financially, as proceeds from store purchases contribute to exhibitions, public programs, and year-round operations.
Unlike many holiday markets or fairs, Museum Store Sunday at BIMA is intentionally streamlined. There are no scheduled performances or extended programs. Instead, the event centers on shopping for art-related goods and highlighting the role of museum stores as revenue sources for cultural institutions. Visitors typically browse at their own pace, view the temporary installation, and select gifts without additional scheduled activities.
Overall, BIMA’s Museum Store Sunday offers access to curated, small-scale works by regional artists, a storewide discount, and a temporary installation created specifically for this season. It provides a straightforward way for community members to support the museum while purchasing distinctive items for the holidays.
Cost, tickets and logistics:
Sunday, November 30, 10am-5pm
Bainbridge Island Museum of Art 550 Winslow Way E, Bainbridge Island, WA 98110
Full details here
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