The annual Strawberry Festival — with its parades, carnival, music and more — is right around the corner, set for July 11 through 13.

Carnival

The carnival opens the day before the festival begins. It will be behind Vashon Village near Windermere again this year and will be open from 3 to 9 p.m. Thursday, July 10, with a benefit session for the Vashon Maury Island Community Food Bank from 4 to 9 p.m. Bring four cans of food for the food bank and get a 30-ticket family pack for $20.

The carnival continues throughout the weekend, with sessions from 3 to 9 p.m. Friday, noon to 5 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.

Reduced-price coupons at $17 each are available now at Vashon Auto Parts/NAPA. Each coupon is good for unlimited rides during one session at the carnival. Coupons can be turned in for a wrist band at the carnival ticket booth. The coupons will not be for sale once the carnival begins.

Beer Garden

The Beer Garden will open at 5 p.m. Friday in the Vashon Plaza parking lot in front of Vashon Auto Parts/NAPA. Popular Island band Loose Change will play from 7 to 11 p.m., and House Engine will open for them at 6 p.m.

Music

The festival will include more music than ever before this year and will open on Friday evening at Ober Park from 6 to 10 p.m.

This year there will be one stage in the Village Green and Pandora’s Box and two at Ober Park. The Beer Garden will also offer music all the three days.

Pancake Breakfast

The Kiwamis all-you-can-eat breakfast is a tradition. Featuring pancakes, ham and strawberries, the breakfast will be open from 7 to 11 a.m. Saturday and from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday. The cost is $7 at the door, $6 in advance. Call JR Crawford for tickets at 954-9959 or stop by Vashon Island Coffee Roasterie.