Heron’s Nest will celebrate its 30th anniversary Friday night with music, prizes activities, drinks and appetizers as a thank you to the island for supporting the nonprofit over the last three decades.

Heron’s Nest began as the brainchild of Penny Grist, who suggested selling lower-priced items to augment gallery sales after VAA bought the historic Odd Fellows Hall building in 1985. Tom Bardeen and Director Cindy Metler raised public funds to renovate the building, while Grist and Steve Schlossman built out the Craft Gallery with lumber donated by Loren Sinner. Grist was hired to run the shop, which was only open on Saturdays.

As more artists moved to the island and interest in local arts grew, so did the need for more space. In 1995, under the guidance of manager Brenda Moore, the Craft Gallery relocated to the Vashon Landing Building and was renamed Heron’s Nest. Debi Cekosh designed the new space, and many volunteers helped with construction running the shop.

Three years later, Moore organized the move into the gallery’s current space. While the location has remained the same, the Heron’s Nest has gone through several changes. Managers Priscilla Schleigh, George Wright and Ellen Parker each added to the Nest, enhancing its look, adding more artists and new computer systems. Heron’s Nest is now open seven days a week and represents 125 part or full-time Vashon artists, while dedicated volunteers help with a number of gallery tasks.