July 10, 2026

Building Community One Market at a Time

Sometimes the most meaningful connections begin in the smallest ways. Megan and I first connected a few years ago through a Facebook post. In true small town fashion, we quickly discovered that her sister in law and I had gone to high school together and that our families had long standing roots together, but that is a story for another day. What started as a simple online conversation grew into a shared love for our communities and a passion for celebrating local artists, makers, musicians, and small businesses. The more I learned about Megan and the work she does, the more I realized she is one of those people whose impact reaches far beyond what most people see.

If you have ever visited the Kingston Public Market or the Kingston Sunset Market, you have likely experienced the atmosphere Megan helps create. You see families walking through the park, musicians filling the air with music, children laughing, vendors proudly displaying their work, and neighbors stopping to visit with one another. What many people do not see are the countless hours of planning, organizing, problem solving, and community building that happen long before the first tent goes up. For Megan, however, creating these experiences is not just a job or volunteer position. It is a calling that began long before she ever organized her first market.

Megan jokes that her mother would tell you she has been planning events her entire life. As a child, she was always the one organizing her friends and deciding what everyone would do together. Whether it was a trip to the roller skating rink, a movie night, or simply gathering friends to spend time together, she naturally stepped into the role of organizer. Years later, after moving from Bremerton to Hansville in 2016, she found herself exploring the beaches and collecting sea glass. What began as a creative hobby eventually led her into the world of local markets. When she and her artist neighbor Shelley wanted to participate in a holiday market and discovered there was no room available, they decided to create their own. That decision would become the beginning of a journey that has touched countless lives throughout North Kitsap.

In December of 2020, during a time when many people were still struggling with the isolation and uncertainty left behind by the pandemic, Megan organized her first holiday arts and crafts show at the Hansville Community Center. The event was not about making money or creating a large production. It was about giving people a place to reconnect. It was about helping local artists share their work and helping community members find joy and connection again. Megan remembers standing quietly and looking out across a room filled with talented artists and supportive neighbors. In that moment, she felt overwhelmed by the amount of creativity gathered under one roof and by the community members who showed up to support one another. That experience confirmed something she had always believed. Communities are strongest when people come together.

That belief continues to guide everything Megan does today. When asked what being a community builder means to her, she speaks about creating connections, encouraging collaboration, and supporting others. She believes that communities thrive when people work together rather than compete against one another. Throughout North Kitsap, she has witnessed business owners helping fellow business owners, vendors encouraging one another, volunteers stepping in wherever they are needed, and residents showing up to support local events. To Megan, those connections are the true foundation of a successful community.

Her work expanded even further in 2023 when she was approached by local business owner Shannon from Thistle Home and Floral and fellow vendor Cathy Johnson of Dreambird Candles about creating an evening market in Kingston. The goal was simple but meaningful. They wanted to bring people back together after COVID and create another opportunity for local businesses, artists, and community members to gather. What none of them expected was the heartbreaking loss that would occur shortly before the market opened. Shannon passed away unexpectedly only weeks before the first Kingston Sunset Market. Faced with unimaginable grief, Megan and those around her made the difficult decision to move forward with the event. They knew Shannon would have wanted her dream to become a reality.

That first season carried both joy and heartbreak. Every successful market felt like a tribute to Shannon and a reminder of the power of community. One of Megan's most treasured memories came at the final market of that first season when vendors surprised her with a giant bouquet of flowers and gifts to thank her for everything she had done. It was a moment that reflected the appreciation, gratitude, and sense of family that had developed among the market vendors and organizers.

Today, Megan serves as the onsite manager for the Kingston Public Market while continuing to help support the Kingston Sunset Market. One of her greatest joys is watching vendors grow. She has seen businesses that started with a small table at a holiday market evolve into successful brick and mortar storefronts. She has watched artists gain confidence, entrepreneurs build customer bases, and community members turn dreams into thriving businesses. Those success stories remind her why local markets are so important. They provide opportunities for people to take chances on themselves and build something meaningful.

What makes Megan happiest on market days is not necessarily the crowds or the sales numbers. It is seeing people connect. She loves watching children participate in activities like Ollie the Harbor Seal's Market Bingo and the downtown Kingston scavenger hunt. She enjoys seeing families explore local businesses together and vendors support one another. She believes markets should feel welcoming and inclusive, creating spaces where people feel like they belong. For many vendors, customers, and visitors, the market community has become an extended family.

Of course, creating these experiences comes with challenges. Many people assume markets are seasonal events, but Megan is quick to point out that they require year round work. There are permits, health department requirements, meetings, applications, scheduling, vendor placement, volunteer coordination, and countless details that must be managed. There are unexpected cancellations, weather concerns, logistical issues, and last minute problems that seem to arise at every event. Yet despite those challenges, Megan remains motivated because she knows what waits on the other side. She knows that when people gather together by the waterfront, listen to live music, support local businesses, and connect with their neighbors, all of the hard work becomes worthwhile.

One lesson Megan has learned through years of organizing events is that leadership is not about controlling everything. Instead, it is about adapting, listening, and responding to the needs of the people around you. Every event is different. Every challenge requires flexibility. She believes some of her greatest lessons have come from being willing to learn, adjust, and trust the people working alongside her.

Perhaps one of the most powerful things Megan shared is the role community events play in helping people feel less alone. In a world where many people struggle with isolation, market days create opportunities for connection. For some visitors, a trip to the market may be the most meaningful social interaction they have all week. It gives them a place to feel welcomed, valued, and connected to something larger than themselves. Whether they are shopping, listening to music, talking with vendors, or simply enjoying the atmosphere, those moments matter.

Looking toward the future, Megan hopes to see both the Kingston Public Market and the Kingston Sunset Market continue to flourish. She wants to see more vendors grow successful businesses, more artists and musicians find opportunities to share their talents, and more community members discover the joy of supporting local. She hopes to continue mentoring others and helping ensure that these markets remain vibrant gathering places for future generations.

As someone who has spent years highlighting the incredible people who make our communities special, I can honestly say that Megan embodies what community building is all about. She understands that markets are about far more than products and sales. They are about relationships, encouragement, opportunity, and belonging. They are about creating places where people can gather, celebrate one another, and feel connected.

When I asked Megan what she hopes people leave with after attending one of her markets, her answer was simple. She hopes they leave with a smile, a sense of connection, and a reminder of why Kingston is such a special place. After hearing her story, it is clear that through her dedication, compassion, and leadership, she has helped create exactly that. In doing so, she has become one of the many remarkable people who continue to make North Kitsap feel like home.

Meghan doesn't do this on her own, she has a community that loves this event as much as her, making sure that all of the team to make this summer night market happen. Here is the list of people we owe a thank you for a wonderful event.

KPM | KSM Board of Directors

Zoe Poulakis - Co-Chair, Manager