When Debi Richards joined the Vashon Island Chamber of Commerce staff half a dozen years ago, almost all vendors at the Strawberry Festival were from off-Island. Though the Grand Parade was packed with Island kids and clubs, Ober Park was filled with local artists and the sounds of Vashon bands floated through the air, off-Island merchants seemed to provide almost all the food and merchandise at the event.
This year Richards, who became the chamber director last October, was pleased to announce that more than half the booths at the Strawberry Festival this year will be filled by Island vendors — a huge increase compared to six years ago, and nearly 10 percent more than were featured at the Strawberry Festival last year.
“The festival used to be all about Vashon and it’s drifted away from that,” Richards said. “It’s important to the the community that it changes back to Vashon, and the Chamber wants to help with that.”
Several years ago, Richards explained, the Chamber began a campaign to bring more local merchants to the festival, explaining to them the benefits of doing business at the event and offering free or discounted booths.
“It’s been kind of like turning around a battleship in a bathtub, it’s so big,” she said.
For the third year in a row, festival booths featuring Vashon vendors will be marked with bright signs reading “Homegrown Vashon Vendor,” making it easy for Islanders and visitors alike to shop local.
Richards said she’s been pleased to see the festival feature more and more Island vendors, not only because the festival is a Vashon tradition, but because if the revenue it brings to a wide variety of local businesses.
“For a lot of businesses, Strawberry Festival is their strongest weekend of the year,” she said.
Richards added that local nonprofits benefit from the festival as well.
Several organizations have earned a following at the Strawberry Festival by providing delicious and dependable food. Bethel Church’s Caesar salad, the Vashon Senior Center’s pesto sandwiches and, of course, Vashon Rotary’s strawberry shortcakes and sundaes will all be back this year. And for some of the organizations, Richards said, the festival food is their largest fundraiser of the year. The same is true for the local Boy Scouts troupe, which provides garbage services at the festival.
“It’s a win, win, win. It really is,” Richards said.
This year’s Strawberry Festival will feature all the usual and much-loved events and activities. Seasoned festival-goers, however, will notice some subtle but exciting changes, Richards said.
The Grand Parade will have a few more floats, more ribbons will be given at the car parade and the Beer Garden will feature more bands and food from La Playa Mexican Restaurant. “And I heard a rumor that there will be some big, wild rides at the carnival this year” Richards said.
Also to appeal to a young adult crowd, the Chamber has added another stage to this year’s musical lineup. The Concert Stage at Vashon Plaza, outside the Vashon Market IGA, will feature bands that will get teens and 20-somethings on their feet. Richards said the Chamber hopes that in coming years the Vashon Plaza will feature even more activities for young people.
“There has been a lot for kids and adults to do at the festival, but not as much for those in the middle,” she said.
Richards said the event she is most excited for this year is the Wine & Jazz Fusion, which the Chamber is sponsoring for the first time. The event will take place in the cobbled Vashon Village courtyard, which she said will give it a European feel. This year tasters can chose from more than 40 wines, most of them limited allocated bottles, vintages only available at the wineries themselves.
Enclosed within next Wednesday’s Beachcomber is a special pullout section devoted entirely to Strawberry Festival. Check it out to learn more about every aspect of this year’s festival.
The Chamber still needs Strawberry Festival volunteers. To find out more or to sign up, contact the Chamber at 463-6217.
