Vashon Island Strawberry Festival

A jam-packed weekend of uniquely old-fashioned fun, food, arts and crafts, music events, parades, family activities, carnival rides, pancake breakfast, and much, much more…

Friday evening July 15 kicks off the 102ndVashon Island Strawberry Festival and runs thru Sunday the 17th.

The Strawberry Festival is Vashon Island’s largest and most celebrated community-wide festival hosting more than 30,000 visitors, 200 vendors, and featuring nearly 200 musicians. There are approximately seventy-five sets on seven stages playing over three days, from Friday night to early Sunday evening.

All your favorites are returning in 2011! The Saturday Night Street Dances, the Traditional Grand Parade, Beer Garden, Wine and Jazz Fusion, the Classic Car Parade, Vashon Artists in Ober Park, Kid’s Carnival, Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast, Bill Burby Fun Run, The Fireman’s Water Challenge, Music, Music and MORE!

The music at Strawberry Festival is one of its biggest draws. Local musicians from Vashon Island are featured. Some are seasoned musicians, and some are performing for their first time.  Five stages are hosted playing music nearly continuously from Friday night to early Sunday evening. Music ranges from jazz to reggae, country to rock. All concerts are in an open air setting. Most of the seven stages are all ages. Two are located in a 21 and over setting.

Peter Welch has been producing and booking music events for the past ten years. He currently books music for the Strawberry Festival, Red Bicycle Bistro and Sushi, and the Church of Great Rain. Pete will be responsible for all the music production during the event.

With seven stages including our beer garden and wine & jazz, and two street dances, your weekend will be filled with Vashon’s best musicians and entertainers!

The Parade begins at 11 am on Saturday, July 16th!  Some of the best viewing can be found south of Bank Road and in front of our Beer Garden located right across the street from the library. Booths are open at 10:00 am for shopping prior to the parade.

The Classic Car Show & Parade have been renamed in honor of Tom Stewart and Misty Isle Farm who began this car parade and show over a decade ago.  Vashon's event continues to gain momentum with our new marshaling area, shorter parade route, and downtown car show placement. We will again have the "Vashon Strawberry Festival 2011 - Best of the Show" award.  The cars will park for viewing on Vashon Hwy SW, south of Bank Road immediately following the parade.  Don't miss the chance for a close up look at these hot machines and cool classics. Parade begins at noon on Sunday, July 17th.Grand

PLEASE NOTE-The main highway is closed several blocks away from the main Festival activities. Disabled parking passes for Ober Park are available through the Chamber Office.  Please call in advance.  206-463-6217

Festival Shuttle Provided by First Student Services

Saturday and Sunday, July 16th & 17th there will be a shuttle leaving the north Vashon ferry terminal approximately every 30 minutes from 9:00 AM -6:00 PM on Saturday and Sunday dropping off riders at Ober Park. The last shuttle leaving Ober Park will be at 7:30 pm to catch the ferry back to Fauntleroy and Southworth . The shuttle will wait for incoming boats rather than leave at strictly scheduled times. SHUTTLE PICK UP IS LOCATED AT THE END OF THE DOCK.  The shuttle will run both Saturday and Sunday. The cost is $1.00 each way. Children under 5 are free.  Please plan to bring exact change.

NEW THIS YEAR - Festival goers from Tacoma and Pierce County will be happy to know we are now offering shuttle service from the Tahlequah ferry dock.  Shuttles will meet arriving ferry boats and drop visitors at the Vashon Senior Center. The last shuttle leaving Vashon Senior Center for the south end ferry dock to Point Defiance, Tacoma will be at 7:00 PM.  The cost is $1.00 each way per person.  Children under 5 are free.  Please plan to bring exact change.

For Island Festival goers, a shuttle bus will also run from Agren Park to the Festival area on Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 AM to approximately 6:00 PM . The drop off will be the Vashon Senior Center.   The last shuttle leaving Vashon Senior Center for Agren Park will be at 7:00 PM.  The cost is $1.00 each way per person.  Children under 5 are free.  Please plan to bring exact change.

The regular Saturday Metro schedule will also be in service that weekend and will be following a detour around town. Times will vary slightly from the schedule. There is no regular service on Sundays.

More information visit www.vashonchamber.com/strawfest