Classes
Vashon Center for the Arts has announced its lineup of new spring classes for children, teens, families and adults. Find out more and sign up at vashoncenterforthearts.org.n
Americans in Paris
Four noted musicians from the Governor’s Chamber Music Series will perform a tribute to the City of Lights in “Americans in Paris,” at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at Vashon Center for the Arts.
Pianist Judith Cohen will lead the evening of chamber works by American composers inspired by their time in Paris — George Gershwin, Cole Porter, Aaron Copland and Astor Piazzolla. Featuring Brittany Breeden (violin), Kevin Krentz (cello) and Stephanie Porter (American jazz vocalist), the program brims with romance, sophistication and jazz-infused flair. Find out more and get tickets (free for those 18 and younger) at vashoncenterforthearts.org.
Tell stories on Family Day
Vashon Heritage Museum will hold its first Family Day of the year from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at the museum, 10105 SW Bank Road. The day is a last chance to see “An Island Revered: Honor and Friendship: the Swift Water People and Sherman Family Collection,” containing artifacts gifted to and otherwise acquired by generations of the Sherman family. The exhibit, which opened last June, closes on Jan. 18.
On that day, museum staff will also collect Vashon stories from adults. An open call for five-minute oral histories, which will be filmed on site and kept in the museum’s archives, will take place from 1 to 4 p.m. Islanders can tell stories alone or with a friend. Find out more at vashonheritagemuseum.org.
Wassail
Wassail, a winter tradition of blessing an orchard to ensure that trees wake up from winter slumber, will take place at Dragon’s Head Orchard from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 17, at 18201 107th Ave. SW.
The event will include entertainment, participation in the orchard blessing, food from Dragon’s Head Orchard chef Jacob Wiegner and one drink ticket good for a glass of cider (for those 21 and older) or a nonalcoholic beverage.
This event will happen rain or shine, so dress and prepare accordingly. Costumes and a participatory nature are highly encouraged — bring noisemakers, including pots and pans, drums, horns or other instruments. Find out more and get tickets — free for children 12 and younger — at tinyurl.com/5n73s7w3.
Early Music
The first in a series of noon concerts by the Salish Sea Early Music Festival will take place at 12 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19, at the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, 15420 Vashon Hwy. SW.
“Little Evening Concerts for Louis XIV” will feature music from an almost completely unknown manuscript discovered by festival director and flutist Jeffrey Cohan — suites of music prepared in 1713 for the aging king that recalled the music of his youth. The concert will feature Anna Marsh on baroque bassoon; Ethan Lin on baroque violin; Vicki Gunn on baroque viola; and Cohan on baroque flute.
There is a suggested donation of $20-$30 for the concert, with those 18 and younger admitted free. Find out more about the concert and the upcoming season at salishseafestival.org/vashon.
Soldiers of Song
A screening of Ukrainian documentary film, “Soldiers of Song,” will take place at 6 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20, at Vashon Theatre. The film tells the story of Ukrainian musicians who perform on the front lines during the war, highlighting the vital role of art and music in times of crisis and resilience.
This event is a fundraiser for Ukraine Defense Support, a nonprofit, and all proceeds will support humanitarian aid for Ukraine, specifically the purchase of portable power and charging stations, which are critically needed due to ongoing power outages and damaged infrastructure.
Get tickets and find out more at tinyurl.com/3vpv7vyc.
Whim W’Him
The award-winning contemporary company Whim W’Him will soon return to Vashon with new creations by celebrated choreographers FLOCK (Florian Lochner and Alice Klock), Emilie Leriche and Olivier Wevers.
The show, “Winter ’26,” will take place at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 22, at Vashon Center for the Arts.
Expect breathtaking movement, poetic physicality and bold artistry in an evening that showcases the very best of contemporary dance. Reserve tickets — free for ages 18 and younger, although those 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult — and find out more at vashoncenterforthearts.org.
The show is also part of a collaboration between VCA and Vashon Lodges, which is offering a package of discounts to those coming to Vashon for the show.
14/48 Vashon
Join the madcap theater-makers of 14/48 Vashon as the annual festival returns for a thrill-packed two-night run, with performances at 7 and 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Jan. 23 and 24, at Open Space for Arts & Community.
The festival — whose company includes seven writers, seven directors, a gaggle of actors and designers, musicians and technical wizards — famously results in the creation of 14 new plays, from scratch, in only 48 hours.
Here’s how it works: On Thursday night before the first show, the theater-makers gather — some meeting for the first time — and throw themes into a hat. After a theme is drawn, the writers head home to write new 10-minute plays overnight. The next morning, directors draw the play they will direct, then draw their cast, and then get to work. The result? Seven new plays are rehearsed, designed and scored throughout the day and performed twice on Friday night. Then the whole process starts all over again. By the end of Saturday, 14 new plays have been born, produced and presented in just 48 hours.
Get tickets and find out more at openspacevashon.com.
Songwriter Sessions
VCA will present Rob and Ryan Hotchkiss and Jeff Kanzler in its free Songwriter Sessions series, from 1-3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 24, in VCA’s Atrium.
Kanzler, who grew up in the Seattle area, eventually found his way to interior Alaska, where he lived and worked for a number of years. During that period, he released his album, “Blacktop Road,” in 2007. Kanzler is now based on Vashon.
Rob Hotchkiss won a Grammy Award (Best Rock Song) for five-time-nominated “Drops of Jupiter,” and founded the band Train. His solo album, “Midnight Ghost,” was likened to music of The Beatles, early Bowie and Neil Young. His son, Ryan, has been writing and playing music since he was a small child. They both currently live on the island, and collaborate together on stage and in the studio.
Find out more at vashoncenterforthearts.org.
Artists’ market and crafting
Attend a celebration of Imbolc — an ancient Celtic midwinter tradition marking the return of the light — where all are invited to honor the goddess and saint, Brigid, by making weavings called Brigid’s crosses to hang over doors.
The event, with an accompanying artists’ market, will take place from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 31, at the artists’ studios in the Beall Greenhouses, at 18531 Beall Road.
Participating artists include Dee Cherry, Robert Passig, Christina Nichols, Logan Price, Nadine Edelstein, Hope Black, Jon Haaland, Lee Cattarin, Brooke Osment, Mags McGinnis, Jennifer Hawke, Julie Shannon and Steve Rocketkar.
Find out more at tinyurl.com/58y8suk8.
The Ukrainian documentary film, “Soldiers of Song,” will be screened on Jan. 20 at Vashon Theatre. (Courtesy Photo)
Whim W’Him’s dance concert, “Winter ’26” will be performed on Jan. 22 at VCA.
Juniper Rogneby and Jon Kuzma, playing the roles of God and Satan in one of 14 new plays that was written in 48 hours for last year’s 14/48 Vashon festival. This year’s edition of the festival will take place on Jan. 23 and 24, at Open Space. (Michelle Bates Photo)
