BREMERTON, Wash. — One of the biggest winter events in Bremerton has announced that it will be canceled “indefinitely” about four weekends before the event was set to start.
Krampus Bremerton started several years ago, and has been hosting Krampusnacht Bremerton every year.
Krampus is an ancient mythical creature found in Bavarian holiday traditions. The figure pre-dates St. Nicholas and was intended to deter children from being naughty before the holidays, Krampus Bremerton explained on its website.
In folklore, Krampus is depicted as a goat-like monster with claws and horns who swats misbehaving children and carries them away in his sack.
Krampusnacht, German for “Krampus Night,” is the prelude to Yuletide celebrations and is usually held on Dec. 5.
Krampus Bremerton was held in downtown every year and drew thousands for the parade and celebrations on Dec. 5. The organization also hosts events year-round.
On Nov. 9, the organization announced that Krampusnacht Bremerton 2026 is canceled
“After careful consideration, I have decided to indefinitely cancel Krampusnacht Bremerton, which was scheduled for December 5. Sponsors, vendors, and registered participants have been contacted directly. Thank you to everyone who has walked with us, cheered from the sidewalks, and helped make this night part of Bremerton’s winter for the past several years. It has been an honor,” organizers wrote on Instagram.
It’s unclear what specifically led to the decision, but two days prior, Krampus Bremerton issued another statement on Instagram, calling out hate and racism.
“Krampus is folklore, not ideology. Krampus Bremerton welcomes everyone who comes to celebrate this tradition with respect, and there is no place at our events for Nazism, white supremacy, or hate in any form,” organizers wrote on Instagram on Nov. 7.