Nothing But Good Times at Richmond Beach Celebration this weekend

Strawberry Baby.  Photo courtesy RBCA.

By Tom Petersen and Sheri Ashleman

Strawberry Festival

The Richmond Beach Community Association will be hosting its 12th annual Strawberry Festival at the Richmond Beach Community Park next to the library on Saturday, May 14, from noon to 5:00 p.m. This event is co-sponsored by the city of Shoreline and the music is supported by a Community Arts Project grant from the Shoreline-Lake Forest Park Arts Council. Here’s what you have to look forward to:

Entertainment

It will be one peppy act after another on the Shoreline-LFP Arts Council Showmobile at the Strawberry Festival, May 14. Five great local bands will play, from noon to 5 p.m., at the west end of the Community Park.

Quarter Past 8. 
Photo by Kim Barlow.

Noon: Quarter Past 8, featuring Richmond Beach native Cat Henderson, will kick things off with some good time classic rock. They are as sunny as the weather will be!

1 p.m.: The Portage Bay Big Band, directed by Richmond Beach’s Todd Nordling, was so popular last year that they just had to come back for more!

The Jangles - western swing band

2 p.m.: The Jangles are old neighbors but new to the Strawberry Festival, as is their style – Western Swing, which is about as much fun as is legally permissible!

3 p.m.: Shoreline Community College has a popular and growing Bluegrass Music program, and teachers Cliff Perry and Tom Moran will direct their hottest pickers to Richmond Beach!

4 p.m.: Shorewood High School’s award-winning Jazz Band will hit the stage for all of the community, not just their parents. Prepare to be impressed! 

Junior Pom Team. Photo courtesy RBCA.

Back to steal the show will be the cute and bubbly young ladies of the Horizon School Junior Pom Team at 2:45 p.m. This talented group is always a crowd pleaser.

Strawberry Shortcake. Photo courtesy RBCA.

Restaurants

The food offerings at this year’s Strawberry Festival are reason enough to attend! RBCA will be featuring its signature Strawberry Shortcake (freshly baked shortcake from Edmonds Bakery and fresh, juicy strawberries smother in whipped cream), along with a variety of beverage choices, including Italian sodas.

Additional culinary delights will be provided by Flying Dragon Chinese Cuisine, Full Moon Thai Cuisine, Naknek Seafood and Swannie’s Sports Club and Eatery.

Activities

A walking tour of historic Richmond Beach by Vicki Stiles of the Shoreline Historical Museum will begin at 1:00 p.m. Meet in front of the library.

Two bounce houses for the kids. Photo RBCA.

Activities for the kids include fish prints sponsored by Friends of the Richmond Beach Library, gardening projects offered by Kruckeberg Botanic Garden, face painting, a chalk mural, whiffle ball baseball, volleyball and two bounce houses, one with a slide. And, of course, there is always the playground!

Representatives from the Shoreline Police Department and Fire Department will be present with equipment to explore and other kid-friendly activities.

Don’t miss a minute of the fun!

Olive by Lynn Ahnen-Turnblom,
Sue Williams and Ann Blanch.

45th Annual Art Show

Friends of the Richmond Beach Library will be hosting its 45th annual Art Show at the Richmond Beach Library on Friday, May 13, from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. (includes Meet the Artists reception), and Saturday, May 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Local artists will be displaying handcrafted items including jewelry, textiles, ceramics, photography and original framed and unframed art for your enjoyment and purchase. The popular raffle baskets will also be available both days. All proceeds benefit programs at the Richmond Beach Library.

Photo courtesy RBCA

Classic Car Show

Richmond Beach Rehab is once again hosting its annual Classic Car Show as part of this year’s Richmond Beach Celebration on Saturday, May 14, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by The Gentlemen Callers (classic rock) from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The facility has hosted a car show for the last several years as part of National Nursing Home Week—celebrated the second week of May. For information regarding how to enter a car into this free classic car show, call Sandi Sweeters @ 206-546-2666 or Ken Morken at 206-782-7171.

Shuttle Parking

Due to limited parking at the event sites, please walk or carpool if possible. Off-site parking and shuttle service to the Strawberry Festival, Art Show and Car Show will be provided on Saturday, May 14.Guests are encouraged to use the shuttle to reduce the impact on the neighborhood. Richmond Beach Congregational Church, 1512 NW 195th, is reserved for off-site parking and shuttle service. (map).