Your Insider’s Guide to Navigating the Strawberry Festival Like a Local

Every third weekend in July, Vashon Island transforms into a bustling celebration of community, music, food, and creativity. While the ferry lines and crowds may hint at something big, those who’ve been here before know it’s not just a festival, it’s a tradition. And navigating the Strawberry Festival like a local means knowing when to show up, where to wander, and how to make the most of every performance, parade, pancake, and puppet.

Friday: Ease Into the Weekend

Kick off the festival at the Vashon Heritage Museum’s Ice Cream Social in the garden from 5:30 to 8 PM. It’s a free, family-friendly tradition featuring lawn games and live music by The Lazy Dog String Band. There’s no better way to settle into the weekend than with a cone in hand and strings on the breeze.

For teens, the energy shifts up a notch at TeenJam, happening from 6 to 9 PM at Pandora’s Box. This free, substance-free event is open to middle and high schoolers and features live performances by island youth, art, games, and a surprise headliner. It’s more than a concert, it’s a creative space by and for local teens, hosted by VYFS, VARSA, and more.

Later Friday night, head to the Vashon Eagles for Blue Monster at 7 PM. Open to the public, this three-piece instrumental funk band brings high-octane grooves and psychedelic jams. Expect a full-body experience of rhythm and improvisation that just might keep you dancing into Saturday.

Saturday: Parade, Pancakes, and Puppets

Start Saturday morning right with the Bill Burby Inspirational Run/Walk, a Vashon tradition beginning at 8:30 AM at the VES Fields. Whether you’re racing for time or strolling for fun, it’s a community event rooted in spirit and movement.

Once you’ve crossed the finish line, grab a shady spot on the parade route. The Strawberry Festival Parade starts at 10 AM and brings all the charm you’d expect from a small island with a big personality, classic tractors, the ever-ridiculous Thriftway Shopping Cart Drill Team, and the joyful chaos of the Kazoo Band.

Looking for front-row seats? The Vashon Presbyterian Church is offering reserved parking and lawn seating. It’s free with a donation to the Journeymen Institute. Email Bob at rwspang@centurytel.net to request a spot (wheelchair accessible spaces available).

From there, the day is yours. Take a walk down Vashon Highway and explore a mix of local artists, crafters, and food vendors curated by the Vashon Chamber, plus a few off-island favorites.

For families, kid-friendly activities are everywhere:

• Bouncy houses, bungee jumping, and inflatable soccer
• Water walking balls to cool off in motion
• Putt-putt with Recess Lab
• Dunk tank fun at the VIGA booth
• Nature games and face painting with Camp Sealth and Girls to Girls
• A puppet show at Vashon Theatre from Jawbone Puppet Theater’s Magic Puppet Jambulance, an immersive, interactive puppet museum on wheels with performances all day Saturday and Sunday.

As evening sets in, you’ll find live music filling the streets. Whether it’s swing dancing to Portage Fill, soaking in the soul of Ron Artis II, or catching a late-night set with Publish the Quest, Saturday’s lineup is stacked with talent. If you’re looking for a different kind of wind-down, stop by Mind+Set Apothecary’s EOS experience at 6:45 PM for a moment of peace in the heart of the chaos.

Sunday: Breakfast, Chrome, and Community

Fuel up at the Strawberry Festival Pancake Breakfast hosted by the Vashon Eagles from 8 to 11 AM. $12 for adults, $8 for kids 12 and under, and open to the public—bring your appetite and start the day sweet.

Then head straight to the 15th Annual Car Show & Parade, starting with registration and staging at 9 AM and the parade rolling through town at 10 AM. From hot rods and muscle cars to antique beauties and “Best of Vashon” character cars, the show continues until 2 PM in Town Square with a 1:30 PM awards ceremony. Brought to you by Island Insurance Center, this is one of the festival’s crown jewels.

Still hungry? The Vashon Maury Community Food Bank is offering sack lunches all weekend long at their booth—perfect for a midday recharge. Lunches are available by donation and include kid- and adult-friendly items like sandwiches, fruit, cheese, and granola bars.

And if you missed the puppet jambulance on Saturday, it’ll be back out front of Vashon Theatre from noon to 5 PM, serving up more weird, wild, and wonderful puppet performances.

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Whether you’re a first-time visitor or an island old-timer, knowing where to go, when to get there, and how to soak it all in makes all the difference. From kazoo bands and classic cars to puppet theaters and youth concerts, the Strawberry Festival isn’t just an event—it’s Vashon’s way of opening its arms to everyone who steps off the ferry and says, “let’s see what this place is all about.”