The Countdown to Strawberry Festival 2021 Is On

Published 1:30 am Thursday, July 1, 2021

Strawberry Festival 2021 is coming soon, with what organizers are calling “a hyper-local, for Vashon by Vashon” theme, featuring local music, beverages, food and more from Friday, July 16, through Sunday, July 18.

Although much of the planning of the festival took place during the pandemic, the festival will land in the changing landscape of Vashon following Gov. Jay Inslee’s full re-opening of the state on June 30. Although the full details of the re-opening were not completely known at press time, Cheryl Lubbert, president of the Vashon Chamber of Commerce, said the festival would be in complete compliance with state guidelines.

“We will be following King County recommendations for the Strawberry Festival on PPE,” she said. “We have also considered the size of previous festivals and are deliberately only advertising on Vashon. The 2021 festival is intentionally decentralized, and while events will still be happening uptown, we are advertising and encouraging patrons to explore many other events across the island.”

Here are the festival’s main attractions:

From July 16 through 18, the Vashon Chamber of Commerce will close Vashon Highway between Subway and the Vashon Theatre for islanders to safely stroll and patronize local shops and eateries.

One festival spot in town will be prominent, though, on Saturday, July 17: the parking lot of Vashon Market IGA will be transformed into the festival’s beverage garden.

Lubbert expressed gratitude for the community spirit of Shawn Hoffman, owner of Vashon Market IGA, who made the parking lot available for the festival — adding that he hopes Vashon restaurants will offer easy take-out menus for festival-goers to either enjoy at the eateries or bring to dine on while enjoying events at the main stage and beverage garden.

Keeping it local, Vashon Events has signed on to produce the all-day musical line-up, featuring notable Vashon and Seattle bands and musicians. There will be plenty of room for dancing, said Lubbert. For more on the bands and performers, visit vashonevents.com.

Kicking off the weekend will be the Strawberry Festival Parade, a mobile parade in vehicles, beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday, June 17. Cars will leave from Vashon Center for the Arts to traverse the island, so as many people as possible, from all over Vashon can watch and wave. All cars and drivers are welcome to participate.

In a return to the festival’s commemorative art poster tradition, originally started by Sandra Noel, of Noel Design, three artists were selected from local submissions. Limited, signed posters created by artists Ashley Armsby, Breanna Bean & Kristin Reitz-Green are now available through the chamber website and will be for sale at the Chamber’s merchandise booth during the festival.

Zero waste is another focus for this year. Inspired by Zero Waste Vashon, the Chamber will make it easy for festival-goers to keep water bottles filled at water stations. (Insulated 2021 Strawberry Festival cups will also be for sale.) Windermere Real Estate will sponsor the water filling station and Vashon Island Community Church will distribute boxed water at the main stage.

Competitive fund-raising will also be back, with the return of the Unofficial Mayor Race — where candidates representing local nonprofits vie to receive the most votes, at $1 each. In the end, the candidate with the most votes wins and serves as Vashon’s unofficial mayor for the next year.

“This is one place where buying a vote does good – by supporting our local non-profits,” said Steven Brewer, Chamber’s Marketing Director and lead for the Mayoral Race.

It wouldn’t be Strawberry Festival without other traditional favorites like the Bill Burby 5K Run, antique cars and local art, and those elements of the festival will also return.

Keeping it safe is the overall mission this year, said Lubbert, and with that in mind, the Bill Burby Run will be charted on a shorter course that will start at the Vashon Park District Soccer fields.

Sponsored by Island Insurance, antique cars will be on display at Vashon Center for the Arts on Sunday morning. Islanders can also check out what’s on exhibit at Vashon Summer Arts Fest, an annual presentation by VCA. The arts center will be open from 12 to 5 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

Other local organizations and businesses including Vashon Heritage Museum, Mukai Farm & Gardens, Whole Vashon Project, Snapdragon and Sugar Shack have also planned events for the weekend, and Lubbert urged islanders to check their websites and follow them on social media.

Many local businesses are providing financial support for the festival this year, but more is needed, Lubbert said. She urged those who are interested in becoming sponsors to visit the Chamber’s website for information on sponsorships.

For up-to-the-minute updates, parade and street closure map, the music line-up and details of community-led events, visit vashonchamber.com/strawberryfestival and follow @vashonchamber on Instagram.