Under normal conditions, Bainbridge Island is a wonderful place to shop, browse and nosh. But during the holidays, the island community is transformed into a glittery, festive wonderland.

Beginning with a traditional community tree-lighting ceremony on Dec. 5, through Christmas Eve, there are events, performances and shopping escapades aplenty — open houses, holiday performances, the Studio Tour of Artists, Santa Claus photos, U-cut Christmas tree places, Christmas in the Country, great eats, and unique places to dodge the rain and chill of the holiday season.

Merchants on Winslow Way, High School Road, Lynnwood and Island centers and Rolling Bay decorate and dress up their stores with lights and garlands, while the City chips in with a star-topped tree.

Any day tour of Bainbridge should start at the Blackbird Bakery on Winslow Way or at nearby Bainbridge Bakers. At both venues, you will find exquisite desserts, pastries, superb coffee and friendly service. If you want heartier breakfast fare, try the Big Star Diner, a replica of an old 1940s Diner, the Streamliner Diner, known for it’s healthy cuisine, Café Nola, know serving brunch, or Doc’s Marina Grill, at the foot Madison Avenue South.

To get a feel for the island’s incredible diversity of artists, plan to take the “Bainbridge Island Winter Studio Tour.” It’s held the weekend of Dec. 5, 6, and 7 and includes works from 55 artists offering an enticing variety of fine art-paintings, furniture, fabric, jewelry, photography, pottery, and glass in eight studios and community halls. There is no admission fee. For more information, check out: www.bistudiotour.com, or call (360) 779-2097. You will need a car to do the Studio Tour.

Another island holiday treat is “Christmas in the Country,” now in its 10th year. It features tours of historic Bainbridge Island homes, farms, cottage industries, artist studios and stables. On this free, self-guided driving tour, you will discover a mélange of arts and crafts, books, collectables, gift items, entertainment and free pony rides. Christmas in the Country is also held on the weekend of Dec. 5, 6, and 7 and it features the works of more than 50 local artists and craft people at nine separate stops. For more information, check out www.christmasinthecountry.info or call (206) 842-6883.

The two tours, however, only begin to scratch the surface of what you can hope to find on Bainbridge Island. Stroll down Winslow Way from Highway 305 and you’ll soon discover a unique blend of shops, galleries, gift stores and businesses with merchandise suitable for any pocketbook.

There are any number of gift shops on the island that cater to varying tastes. Bad Blanche, one of the oldest, has home décor, furniture and antiques. Bill McKnight Design, Fox Paw, Dana&Mac226;s Showcase, Zamboanga, and Ace and Winslow Hardware stores have all sorts of unusual furnishings, keepsakes and personal and household gifs.

A handful of art galleries, such as Art Soup, Bainbridge Art & Crafts, The Island Gallery, Mandarin and Roby King sell paintings and prints — many from local artists — fine crafts, textile art, Northwest wood fire ceramics, Chinese and Tibetan antiques and accessories for the home. Two shops — Shirvan Rug Gallery and Tasdemir Rugs — broker in handmade rugs from all over the world. Shirvan even restores and cleans them.

Looking for fun and funky clothes, try Blinz, Noir-Blanc or Heart — all located in the center of Winslow. Fabulous fashions for women and children can be had at Skookum, while Lindley’s Fine Clothing caters to the apparel needs of the whole family. Want to add shoes to your assemble, check out Magnolias.

Know someone who likes to knit or saw. There are two island places — Churchmouse Yarns & Teas and Esther&Mac226;s Fabric — where you can find knitting, needlepoint, fine teas, collectables, fabric by yard, and great buttons and beads.

If you’re in the reading mood or have a friend or relative who likes a good tome, be sure to check out Eagle Harbor Book Co, which has more than 30,000 new and used books and was nominated bookseller of the year. Up the street, The Traveler has a nice selection of travel books, maps and gear.

When you&Mac226;re tired of shopping, there are more than 25 restaurants on the island to choose from. Check out the Bainbridge Island Chamber of Commerce web site, www. bainbridgechamber.com or call the Chamber at (206) 842-3700 to get more detail about these fine establishments.

If you’re arriving to the island by ferry or wish to extend your stay, you might want to consider spending the night at the Island Country Inn or at one of the island’s lovely B&Bs.

(Editor’s Note: Kevin Dwyer is Bainbridge Island free-lance writer.).