We’re On Vacation!
No big post from us this week. The whole family is at the Strawberry Music Festival in northern California! Back when Vienna and Rhiannon were wee little things we attended Strawberry a handful of times, but last year marked our first return as adults.
Strawberry 2024: A triumphant return! (L to R: Vienna, Rhiannon, Michael, Ginny)
Strawberry started in 1982 and has been going strong ever since. “The Strawberry Way,” as it’s known, is built on kindness, community, and fun. The phrase “leave a clean wake” may not be known, but the concept is at the heart of the festival and is part of what makes Strawberry such a magical place for kids and adults alike.
We’ll be releasing a special post next week with a deeper dive into the ethos of Strawberry, how it relates to leaving a clean wake, and a recap of our experience this year. In the meantime, enjoy some throwback photos of us at Strawberry in the late 90s/early 2000s!
If you’re curious to know more about Strawberry right away, SFGate did a really nice article on the history and culture of the festival. You can find it here! Or you can go directly to Strawberry’s website here.
2000: …And the unicorn shall lie down with the dragon…
Bundled up in sleeping bags on the music meadow waiting for the evening show.
Multigenerational from the start, Strawberry programs activities for all ages: Barrel-of-Monkeys Play-Doh Twister? Ginny with an upside down Rhiannon and Vienna making art.
And kids organize their own activities. Vienna in a crocodile bandana from the New Orleans Jazz Festival where we first learned about Strawberry with camp-friend Krista.
Stylin’ in shades and a pacifier. Ginny’s Strawberry tank top is still with us and on the scene in 2025!
2000: Facepainting (and spray on tattoos these days) are festival fixtures. Vienna, 6, as soulful unicorn….
Rhiannon, 4, as fire-breathing dragon. Some things never change.
Fun for all at kid lamp by the lake.
1997: Vienna (3) and Rhiannon (blob) and Ginny in the Sunday Children’s Parade, a festival highlight.
Free range kids. Hoola-hoops and pennants by day, glow sticks by night.
Michael enjoyed two-man sand volleyball. Rhiannon enjoyed everything. And teen-aged Nickel Creek waiting for us that evening… who knew?