Strawberry Festival is an exciting time each year on the Island, but it can also be a hectic or overwhelming one. We at The Beachcomber love the festival, and have a few suggestions to help you and yours enjoy the celebration without a hitch.

• Make time for play. Don’t rush through every aspect of the festival and scoot home. Take a few minutes to try to hit a balloon with a dart or toss a ring around a bottle. Wave at the classic cars as they drive by during Sunday’s car parade. And stand close to the Firefighters’ Challenge and get soaked.

• Have a plan in case of separation. Thousands of people often crowd the core of town at one time. Establish a plan with your friends and family before heading into the melée as to what should happen if one of you splits accidentally from the rest.

• Stay hydrated. It’s easy to get caught up in the fun of festival and forget to drink fluids. But sooner or later, dehydration will catch up with you and ruin your day. So, whether it’s a lemonade, shaved ice or ice-cold water, drink up. And this, of course, brings us to our next suggestion.

• Adults, drink alcohol in moderation. (Kids and teens, don’t drink alcohol at all.) It’s a good mantra at any time, but especially when the Island’s population has tripled. No, beer, wine and spirits don’t count as hydration — they actually dehydrate the body. There are several establishments devoted to pouring adult beverages for folks during festival, and it could be fun to stop by each one. But pay attention to how you’re feeling. You don’t want to overdo it.

• Share the experience with a friend who’s never been to the festival. Call up that aunt, uncle or high-school buddy who’s never made time to come to Vashon during Strawberry Festival. Convince him or her that it’ll be a blast, and then enjoy the role of expert and tour guide once he or she arrives. You may be surprised at what your guest discovers and loves, and you may find new aspects of the festival you’d never noticed before.

• Check out the artists at Ober Park. During the festival, Ober Park becomes a destination for art lovers, as Island artists of various mediums sell their wares from booths at the park. Their work is extraordinary and as homegrown and local as it gets. Stop by and pick up a piece or two for your home or as a gift.

• Remember where you parked. It sounds obvious, but many a festival has been rained on when the driver and his passengers forget just where they left the car.