All boats rise and fall to the same tide.

That’s what the organizers of the first ever “Island Festival” want you to know — that we’re all in the same metaphorical boat in life and people who live on islands understand the importance of living life as most efficiently as possible.

And, as far as they are concerned, the earth is like a singular island in a greater cosmos to which all of us are connected.

That’s the impetus behind the first ever annual Island Festival, coming Friday, July 20 through Sunday, July 22.

Festival co-founders Jacob Mosler and Drew Elliot have a long-term vision for the more-than-music festival which will take place at the 100-acre South Whidbey Community Park in Langley.

This grassroots festival effort is being thoughtfully planned so that it can grow slowly, carefully and organically into an annual summer event on Whidbey Island, leaving behind as minimal a carbon footprint as possible.

The reason is simple.

“I grew up on Whidbey Island,” said Mosler. “Island people get that we’re all reliant on each other and it forces us to be more accepting of people.”

Festivals are the same way, he said. A three-day experience creates a community of sorts where people have fun, bond and take care of each other.

Mosler and Elliot want to present Island Festival as a working model that inspires people to do more than just tap their toes. It’s a destination event and an opportunity to offer environmental solutions while having a grand time.

Not only does this festival seek to entertain people with music, art, films, DJs, games, food, camping and the opportunity to explore all the island has to offer, it also seeks to demonstrate the efficacy of “living green” and making choices that will help the survival of this island, this region and this planet.

Organizers couldn’t have picked a better venue.

The park has scenic views of the Olympic mountain range, a natural amphitheater, vast open fields for sports and play, wooded running and walking trails, a skate park, tennis courts, paved parking lots and a huge kids playground.

Expanding on the theme of planetary connectedness, the music will revolve around the Sun and Moon stages and the Galactic Eclipse DJ tent, which is actually a new 5,200-square-foot saddlespan dome with a larger-than-life grass dance floor.

Music for the event spans everything from world music, bluegrass and jamrock to jazz and electronica. Headliners include Anoushka Shankar & Karsh Kale, Michelle Shocked and the Karl Denson Trio, among others.

The dome converts to a screening room at midnight where festival campers can kick back late at night for film screenings and compelling speakers.

The venues create the circle of main activity with the Solar Flare beer-and-wine garden and the Cosmic food court in between.

Other aptly named areas in this solar system of fun include a “healing portal” for demonstrations on the healing arts, Kid’s World, Planet Play and Dwarf Planet Play areas for children, the Orbital skate park and the Sustainable Star, an informational outlet where participants can take home easy-to-do everyday solutions for reducing one’s carbon footprint.

On the outer rim of this planetary paradise are the camping areas with worldly names like camp North America, camp Europe and the good-naturedly named Middle East Peace camp for RV parking.

“It’s a kind of model for the real world,” said Mosler.

“It’s all about compromise. We can all benefit if we learn how to share and be optimistic. Hey, you may find your good buddy is sleeping in the Mid-East.”

Mosler said he wants the event to be a win, win, win situation.

That is, he would like Island Festival to be a success for the park, the community and the patrons.

“We’re a grassroots organization and we’re trying our best to make this a success for everyone involved,” Mosler said. “It’s truly a passion piece.”