Commentary: Help us bring magic to kids at Strawberry Festival

There’s a special kind of magic that fills the air every July during Vashon’s beloved Strawberry Festival.

It’s a weekend when neighbors reconnect, music fills the streets, and the community comes alive with creativity, celebration, and connection.

But if you’ve ever walked past Ober Park during Festival weekend and heard squeals of laughter, caught a glimpse of face paint and bouncy castles, or watched a child’s eyes light up as the Festival Train rolled by, then you know: The true heart of the Festival lies in the experience we create for our kids.

This year, the Vashon Chamber of Commerce is asking our community to help bring that magic to life.

We’re working to raise $6,100 to fund the return of the Festival Train for the Saturday of the 2025 Strawberry Festival and support the overall kids’ experience at Festival. This joyful little train is more than just a ride — it’s a symbol of accessibility, inclusion, and the whimsical freedom that defines childhood. Most importantly, it’s free for every child, making it a meaningful piece of our commitment to keeping the Festival fun and equitable for all families, no matter their circumstances.

Unfortunately, the cost of the train, along with many other Festival essentials, has increased significantly this year. While the Chamber works hard to keep costs down and sponsorships strong, we’re facing rising expenses across the board. Rather than tap further into our already generous business community or strain long-standing sponsorships, we’re turning to you — our friends, neighbors, and fellow Festival lovers — for help.

We believe the best traditions are those powered by the people. We’re inviting anyone who can contribute to join us in making this year’s Festival Train and Kids Zone a reality. And here’s the beautiful part: Any funds raised beyond the $6,100 goal will be used to seed next year’s Kids Zone, setting us up to grow and enhance this vital part of the Festival even further in 2026.

So what does this year’s Kids Zone look like? It’s shaping up to be a weekend full of laughter, learning, and energetic play, centered in Ober Park and sprinkled throughout town thanks to incredible collaborations with local businesses and organizations.

We’ll kick things off on Friday night with a crowd favorite: the Reptile Man on the Main Stage. This thrilling and educational show is always a hit, captivating kids and adults alike. From there, the excitement spills into the weekend with a wide array of activities, including:

• Bouncy houses and bungee jumping

• Inflatable soccer and water walking balls

• Nature games hosted by Camp Sealth

• Face painting by Girls to Girls

• Fast pitch and tee-Ball (sponsored by Colvos)

• Dunk tank at VIGA (thanks to the Parks Department!)

• Mini putt-putt golf (TBD, at Recess Lab)

• Puppet show at Vashon Theatre with Adam Ende

• Hands-on fun hosted by Island Queen

• Teen Jam (by VYFS) at Pandora’s Box on Friday from 6-9 p.m.

• Lego Land at Vashon Library

• More activities, sure to pop up as Festival fever spreads across the island.

Additionally, we want to borrow large yard games, such as Connect 4, checkers, tic tac toe, bean bag toss and ladder toss. Please let us know if you have a game like those to loan us.

We’ve also invited local businesses to host kids’ activities of their own. In return, we’re offering placement on the official Festival Map (as time permits) and our dedicated Kids at Festival web page. It’s a great way for businesses to connect with families while contributing to the fabric of Festival weekend.

At its core, this isn’t just about rides or games. It’s about creating joy, access, and unforgettable memories for every child on Vashon Island. It’s about celebrating what makes our community so special: our generosity, our creativity, and our ability to come together to make something beautiful happen.

We know times are tight for many. But if you’ve ever smiled watching a child’s face light up at Festival — or if you’ve ever enjoyed the Festival yourself and want to pay that joy forward — we hope you’ll consider making a contribution.

Every dollar helps. Every donation, no matter how small, is an investment in the spirit of our community and the wonder of childhood. Let’s work together to keep the Festival magical, inclusive, and people-powered.

To donate, please visit thisisvashon.com/strawberry-festival#sftrain.

Connie Sorensen is the co-chair of the Vashon Chamber of Commerce.