When it comes toVashon’s Strawberry Festival (going strong since 1909), islanders reside in two camps: those who love it and those who hate it. My tent is tethered to the first camp. (I have my suspicions that the other camp may also prefer handshakes to hugs, avoid puppies and Popsicles, and be quick to profess they never watch TV. Just a theory.)
Sure we import the requisite carnie folk, funnel cakes and midway rides to the island, but Strawberry Festival is really more about the homegrown events and venues unique to Vashon. You can run the other way or you can embrace the crowds, craziness and corndogs. Umm, deep-fried food on a stick…I choose the latter.
Why I love Vashon Strawberry Festival.
1. It’s an event where farming is fashionable.
2. I get to shore up some bragging rights.
2. The talents of neighbors and friends are on parade.
3. Shimmying and shaking take center stage.
5. Street dance fever takes over downtown (thanks to the Portage-Fill Harmonic and Captain Dick and the Portholes (though cameras should not be allowed).
6. Nice rides rule the road.
7. You’re hard-pressed to find any strawberries (raspberries are another story).
8. And probably the best reason of all, the company can’t be matched.
Strawberry Festival Activities include:
- Saturday Street Dances
- Grand Parade
- Classic Car Parade
- Vashon Artists in Ober Park
- Kid’s Carnival
- Beer Garden, Wine and Jazz Fusion
- Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast
- Bill Burby Fun Run
- The Fireman’s Water Challenge
- And a whole lot of great Music
- Related links: Photos
What I was blogging about:
- One year ago: Tomato Plants: Leave the Little Suckers Alone
- Two years ago: The Grow Report: Cherry Trees
13 responses so far ↓
1 Dawn // Jul 21, 2010 at 5:51 pm
Aww…I missed it! That does sound fun. I’m going to the Go, Dog Go! festival in Kirkland this weekend…looking forward to it. It will be happening on my dogs birthday, so we’re pretending it’s all in her honor.
2 Tom // Jul 21, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Wow, Dawn…you have dogs that run? I won’t share that with Boz and Gracie. Sounds like a fun event.
3 Sustainable Eats // Jul 21, 2010 at 8:42 pm
How lovely! What did you take the prize for?
4 Tom // Jul 21, 2010 at 8:47 pm
Hi Annette, first place for ketchup in the Savory jam category and second place for Peach Bourbon Preserves in the “Other” jam category. I hope to have a post about it, being the show-off I am.
5 Chris // Jul 22, 2010 at 2:54 am
What fun! Looks like a great time was had by all. Congrats on the Blue Ribbon!
6 rowena // Jul 23, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Why anyone would snub a strawberry festival is crazy. Not must be italians (ha!), because we love anything and everything that celebrates food. I, unfortunately, did not get to attend any strawberry festivals this year. Thank you for sharing yours though…that last photo says it all…it’s the company that matters most!
7 Tim Morris // Jul 25, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Another Islander here just wanting to say what a nice looking site you have. I stumbled across it on a web search for currant recipes, noticed your dogs and had to touch base with an old friend who also loves bulldogs, Molly Hassain. Great gal. So thanks.
8 Tom // Jul 26, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Hi Tim, nice to meet you neighbor. Thanks for the kind words. Noticed my dogs, eh? Can only mean one thing: you are man of superior taste and high intelligence. (And say to ‘Hi’ to Molly from Boz and Gracie.)
9 renae // Jul 26, 2010 at 4:57 pm
Can’t wait to see your post about the winning ketchup.
10 Sophie // Jul 27, 2010 at 11:31 am
Thanks for sharing this funny festival with us!
It looks that you all had a fab time!
11 How to Make Ketchup & Blue Ribbon Redemption // Aug 10, 2010 at 12:56 pm
[...] placed first in the Savory category of the Vashon-Maury Island Heritage Museum’s annual Strawberry Festival Jam Contest. Yep, there’s a shiny wide blue ribbon pinned to my kitchen door jam, after [...]
12 Joan // Sep 23, 2010 at 4:17 am
What a fine looking family!
13 A Marriage and Toaster Built to Last // Jan 29, 2011 at 11:43 am
[...] Bundled up last July, Mom and Dad taking in the festivities of Vashon Island’s Strawberry Festival. [...]
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