Huckleberry Festival 2009: Tasty and Entertaining

Danielle Switalski

Called “Purple Gold” by many in Trout Creek, the huckleberry, is used in an array of cuisine at the 30th anniversary of the Huckleberry Festival, taking place August 14, 15 and 16. Major highlights for the Huckleberry Festival include a parade, a 5K fun run and all food huckleberry, ranging from huckleberry ice cream cones to “huckleberry pizza.”

“We always try to make the festival a blend of the old and the new because we have people who have attended for years and years and know what they expect to see,” said Festival Chair Liz Citrino, “But on the other hand we want to keep things new and interesting so we added some new events this year.”

The Huckleberry Homesteader Pentathlon, a competition testing varous outdoor skills is a new event at the upcoming festival. There is a $5 entry fee and prizes awarded at the the end of the competition Sunday.

Citrino said the parade, held Saturday at 11 a.m. is one of the most anticipated events of the festival. The parade includes the Albano Bag Pipe Group, four-wheelers, horses and hand-made floats.

“The festival just keeps getting bigger and bigger every year and the parade is no exception. The best part is that the Bag Pipers will be performing in the afternoon after the parade,” said Parade Coordinator Deb Achatz.

Other featured events include the festival’s second annual Karaoke Sing-Along, the huckleberry pancake breakfast, hosted by the Trout Creek Fire Department, and the Miss Huckleberry Pageant.

To enter into the parade or for more infromation on the festival, please visit www.huckleberryfestival.com.