Buying Tickets & Volunteering

TICKETS can be purchased online by clicking the words "Purchase Tickets" wherever you see them on this site or by copying and pasting this address into your browser bar:

https://webstore.vashoncenterforthearts.org/TheatreManager/1/login?event=3183

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You can also purchase tickets in person at the VCA Box Office Wednesday–Sunday, from Noon to 5 p.m.

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VOLUNTEER for the Vashon Garden Tour by clicking the  "VOLUNTEER" button in the footer over any page on the website.

How long does the tour take? How long is my ticket good for?

We encourage you to take your time!

Your ticket is good for entry into the gardens on EITHER or BOTH days of the tour weekend! Gardens are open each day from 10am–5pm.

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There are six gardens on the tour (plus a gallery show called The Secret Garden which you could think of as a seventh garden). Depending on your travel time between each garden (car vs. bike) and how long you want to spend in each one (stroll or sprint), it could take as long as the whole weekend if you like!

Are there public restrooms in the gardens?

There are no public restrooms inside or outside the gardens.

There are, however, public restrooms available at the VCA campus in Katherine L. White Hall (where you got your map).

VCA is centrally located on Vashon Island, so feel free to swing by mid-tour and freshen up on your way to the next garden!

Can I bring my child?

Absolutely! Children 12 and under attend the garden tour for FREE!

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Always keep a close eye on curious little ones, as some gardens may have open water features, steep stairs or embankments, toxic plants, or other risks.

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Babies and small children should be with an adult at all times during the tour; children should not be left unsupervised outside or inside the garden.

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Please be aware that many gardens are not stroller-friendly.

How does the tour work?

1. Present your ticket (digital or printed) at the VCA BOX OFFICE to receive a MAP of the gardens.

2. Show your map to a volunteer at each garden. YOUR MAP GAINS YOU ENTRY TO THE GARDEN
   (don't lose it)!

3. Enter the garden and enjoy it at your leisure (between 10 a.m. & 5 p.m.). 
    

You can start your tour at whatever garden you choose and go in any order. You can arrive at your first garden any time after 10 a.m. on either day (gardens close at 5 p.m.)

Feel free to revisit a garden if you want a second look; just remember to show your map to a volunteer before entering.

Can I walk the tour? Is transportation provided?

We do not provide transportation.

We recommend that you drive a car. Better yet, carpool with friends!

Vashon is great for bike rides. Bikes can't be brought into gardens and must be locked up on the road outside the properties.

Gardens can be several miles apart, and walking between them is not recommended.

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WHEN GARDENS ARE FAR FROM THE MAIN ROAD, a shuttle will be offered from the main road, up the private road, to the garden entrance, and back again.

Can I bring my dog or pet?

We love animals as much as we do plants, but for the comfort and safety of all concerned, we ask that you leave your pet at home.

PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED INTO THE PRIVATE GARDENS.
 

SERVICE DOGS that are trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities are allowed in gardens.

TETHERING PETS, unattended outside the gardens, IS PROHIBITED.

Please NEVER leave your pet unattended in a parked car for ANY period of time (even if the windows are cracked open)!

Is there food or anything else I might enjoy?

There will be food trucks in the parking lot on the VCA Campus!

Enter the raffle to win fabulous garden prizes!

Stop by our art gallery featuring a special FREE exhibition titled The Secret Garden!

Be sure to check out pop-up shops along the tour, selling native plants and with the garden and gardener in mind!

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PLEASE NOTE: most dining options on the island are sit-down, and you won't find fast food chains. At Vashon’s independent fast-food restaurants, the term "fast" is based on "Island Time."

Where is the Garden Tour HOME BASE for Tickets, Maps, Restrooms, Info, & more?

GARDEN TOUR HOME BASE is at the VCA Box Office, in the lobby of VCA's Katherine L. White Hall (the big building that looks like a weathered, wood barn). Enter through the West side of the building from the parking lot. 

Need directions? Our address and a Google Map can be found at the bottom of every page on the website. Or you can copy and paste this address into any GPS:

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19600 Vashon Hwy SW

Vashon, WA 98070

What's the parking situation?

At each garden, there will be signs & volunteers to help you find where to park your vehicle (usually on the road outside the property). You will then need to walk from your vehicle to the garden entrance.

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Bicycles cannot be parked inside the gardens and should be locked up on the road, outside each property.

How accessible is the tour?

It is not uncommon for gardens to have uneven or steep grades, stairs, and narrow paths of soft ground or deep gravel.

Each garden's accessibility is determined solely by its private owner. While the gardens are not likely to be ADA-compliant, we are happy to do whatever we can to help!

If you have questions about accessibility, please give us a call at (206) 259-3007 or email info@vashoncenterforthearts.org

How might the weather affect my Garden Tour experience? 

We recommend checking the forecast so you can dress and be ready for the day and task at hand. Sturdy shoes and a hearty breakfast are always a good idea!

If it's sunny, remember a hat or tube of trusted sunscreen. If it's rainy, shoes that won't mind a little muck and a raincoat make a great touring ensemble (flora and foliage are always more vivid in the rain). 

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It hasn't happened yet, but in the surprising event that the tour is canceled due to severe weather, ticketholders will be notified directly via email.