Silverdale is located on the Kitsap Peninsula, a short ferry ride from Seattle across the Puget Sound. When the Navy built a submarine base in nearby Bangor in the 1970s, Silverdale underwent a revolution. Now known as the major retail center for Kitsap County, the unincorporated community is home to both quaint shops on the waterfront and Kitsap Mall, one of the largest shopping complexes on the West Sound. Its population is growing steadily, and though the county government benefits from its tax revenues, residents are fervently working to become incorporated within the next year. In July, locals and visitors alike take part in Whaling Days, an annual festival featuring fireworks, music and other family-friendly activities.