It’s that time of year again when Burien’s downtown will be bustling with music, dance, arts, crafts, food, a car show and ample family fun for the 2013 Wild Strawberry Festival, put on by the City of Burien and supported by a number of sponsors, including the Highline Times.

The event runs Saturday and Sunday, June 15 (10 to 6pm) and 16 (10 to 4 pm). Plenty to enjoy!

Entertainment Schedule

Saturday, June 15

Town Square Stage (152nd & 5th)
Band-a-Palooza
10:00am - 10:45am Highline Community Symphonic Band
11:00am - 11:45am Renton City Concert Band
12noon - 12:45pm Backwoods Wind Jammers
1:00pm - 1:45pm Woodinville Community Band
2:00pm - 2:45pm Bellingham High School Alumni Band
3:00pm - 3:45pm Bellevue Community Band
4:00pm - 4:45pm Around the Sound Community Band
5:00pm - 6:00pm Ballard Sedentary Sousa Band
6:00pm - 6:45pm MJJO Swing Band

150th Street Performance Pavillion (150th & 5th)
10:00 - 12noon PK Dwyer (Blues)
12noon - 12:30pm Vovinam (Dragon/Lion Dance, Martial Arts
1:00 - 1:45pm New City Dance - Hip Hop workshop
2:15 - 3:00pm Bubble Man
3:15 - 4:15pm Voices of Burien Poetry Slam
4:30 - 5:30pm Spank Williams

Town Square Garage (151st between 5th & 6th)
10:00am - 8:00pm B-Boy Jam Break Dance Battles

Wandering Performers
11:00am - 1:00pm Steve the Pretty Good (Comedy, Magic)
TBA The Hi-Liners
Noon - 2:00 Mariachi Fiesta Mexicana
3:00 - 4:30pm Spank Williams

Sunday, June 16

Town Square Stage (152nd & 5th)
10:00am - 11:00am Cornerstone Burien Band (Rock/cover)
11:15am - 11:45am New City Dance Studio
12:15pm - 1:00pm Git Hoan Dancers - The People of the Salmon (Native American Dance)
1:30pm - 2:00pm Momentum Dance Studio
2:30pm - 3:45pm Banda Vagos (Latin Rock)
3:45pm - 4:00pm Chili Cook-Off winners announced

150th Street Performance Pavillion (150th & 5th)
11:30am - 12noon RopeWorks
12noon - 1:00pm Shumba Marimba Ensemble
1:00pm - 1:30pm RopeWorks
1:45pm - 2:45pm Abrace
3:00pm - 4:00pm Summer Januaries

Wandering Performers
11:30am - 3:00pm Summer Januaries
11:00am - 3:00pm The Laff Master--Mr Mario!
10:00am - 4:00pm Turtle Theater

Other events (for more details, visit www.WildStrawberryFestival.org)

The Bubble Man - Saturday 2:15 - 3:00pm, 150th St Performance Pavillion
Father’s Day Car Show & Chili Cook Off
Kiwanis Pancake Breakfast
Strawberry Jam: Break Dance Battle workshops and competitions
Carnival Days
Games & Activities--Find games & activities at vendor booths!
Spray Park--Bring a towel and play in the Town Square Park fountain!
Hands On Art Booth - Make cool kites and ties for fathers day!
Turtle Theater - Storytelling on Sunday by Alleyoop
Face Painting
Burien Parks and Recreation Booth - Saturday and Sunday: Come test your knowledge and answer questions about all things Burien Parks & Recreation. You could win a PRIZE!

The Burien Arts Association, which you can help support through the purchase of strawberry shortcakes during the event, shares a bit of history:

The Burien Strawberry Festival was first initiated by the Burien Arts Association (Burien Arts) in 1976 to celebrate the US Bi-Centennial by showcasing the music, dance, visual arts and fine crafts that represent the rich cultural heritage of this region, and the historical role strawberry farming played in the greater Highline area. From its beginnings over 35 years ago, the Burien Strawberry Festival has grown into a community-wide effort, bringing together residents, visitors, artists, performers, businesses and others in a 2-day celebration of the start of summer, the arts, and family fun – all set in the heart of Burien’s dynamic downtown shopping, restaurant, and business district. While the event is now organized and managed by the City of Burien, the signature Burien Arts Strawberry Shortcake Booth continues to pay homage to the festival’s beginnings by serving up hundreds of freshly made strawberry shortcakes to festival-goers. Proceeds from the shortcake sales are a critical source of funding for the many FREE public arts programs and services Burien Arts provides year around