Islewilde, Vashon’s quirky performance arts festival, comes to a climax this weekend with performances on Friday and Saturday.

The festival, celebrating its 20th year, began on Aug. 3 with daily workshops in mask making, costume creation, circus skills and puppetry — all in preparation for this weekend’s homegrown, family-friendly and sometimes thought-provoking performances.

Islewilde was founded in 1992 by the popular performance troupe UMO. Four years later, ensemble members handed the festival off to other community members. It continues to be run by volunteers, with support from King County’s 4Culture and local contributors, and it annually draws both Islanders and visitors to its classes and festivities, held in a different Island meadow each year.

This year’s event is being held at a field on Old Mill Road and is directed by Islewilde veteran Adam Ende and Sequin Hutton. Organizers promise a special surprise for the festival’s 20th anniversary.

“Suffice it to say that when you come, you will be treated to an experimental immersive participatory theater experience like you have never experienced before,” lead organizer Doug Skove said in a press release.

Islewilde workshops run by artist mentors continue through Thursday, beginning at 3 p.m. each day. On Friday a lantern walk at dusk will be followed by a shadow puppet show and other illuminated performances.

Saturday performances will begin at 1 p.m. and continue through the evening, culminating in a late-night campfire show.

Islewilde is held at a field at 21150 Old Mill Road. For more information, see www.islewilde.org.

 

Contact Vashon-Maury Island Beachcomber Reporter Natalie Johnson at njohnson@vashonbeachcomber.com or 206-463-9195.

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