Strawberry Festival

2012 Vashon Island 103^rd Annual Strawberry Festival

July 20, 21, 22

All Vendors Open Saturday 10 am - 7 pm/Sunday 10 am - 6 pm

Grand Parade - Saturday 11 am

Tom Stewart Classic Car Parade - Sunday 12 noon

Festival Photos Courtesy of Steve Amos

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…

…A  DEFINITE nostalgic walk-back in time to the small town festival of days gone by.

It's true! The very first Strawberry Festival was held in 1909 at a time when Vashon Island was referred to as "The Island Gem of the Puget Sound", "Staten Island of the Pacific Coast", and "The Home of the Big Red Strawberry". In 1909 Vashon shipped more than 120,000 crates of strawberries. A reason to celebrate, indeed!  The Strawberry Festival has changed names a few times since the very first one. The celebration has been called the Peach Festival, the Harvest Festival. and the Vashon Island Festival. In 1980, the event again became the Strawberry Festival, a moniker that continues to this day.

We may not have the strawberry farms from our past, but Vashon has become home to many growers whose produce is available in our local markets, a thriving farmers market and U-pick farms scattered throughout our wonderful Island. Although our fresh strawberries are picked in June, you can still enjoy strawberry sundaes, strawberry lemonade, strawberry funnel cakes, strawberry topped pancakes, strawberry smoothies, strawberry ice cream and chocolate dipped strawberries from our many food vendors.

All your favorites are returning in 2012! The Saturday Night Street Dances, the Traditional Grand Parade, Beer Garden,  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!

Approximately 200 vendors will be selling crafts, clothing, jewelry, art and of course, delicious “Fair Food”. There are information booths on home improvements and Island issues, as well as a plethora of opportunities for you to support your favorite non-profit cause. Be sure to look for our "Homegrown Vashon Vendor" signs displayed at booths offering Island made products and information!