Huckleberry Festival to provide family fun activities August 8-10

THOMPSON FALLS- With the Huckleberry Festival in Trout Creek right around the corner, the Thompson Falls monthly chamber meeting featured multiple presentations to prepare local businesses for the event.

The upcoming festival in Trout Creek was a main point of discussion throughout the chamber meeting.

The annual Huckleberry Festival will be held from August 8 – 10 at the Trout Creek Park.

This year’s event is sure to bring a sizeable amount of visitors to the huckleberry capital of Montana, and preparations are well underway in the small community.

Debb McNary, a longtime resident of Trout Creek will serve as the chair person for this year’s festival, taking over the duties for the event.

The annual festival is dedicated to the memory of Liz Citrino, who served as the festival chairperson from 2006 to February of 2014. She passed away Feb. 25 after a valiant battle with cancer.

McNary said preparations for the event are going smoothly and a lot of the credit for this goes to the festival’s volunteers, who have been a big help to the first year chair.

“I have relied on the volunteers a lot. I am beginning to become familiar with how it all works,” McNary said.

The theme for this year’s festival parade will be “Where were you in 1970?” The parade will begin on Saturday, August 9 at 11 a.m.

Up to this point 125 vendors have already signed up for the festival.

Last year Trout Creek Rural Fire served over 1,200 breakfasts at the event.

As with every year there seems to be a sizeable amount of excitement around the festival and Trout Creek will soon be ready for the celebration.

“The local community has just been wonderful supporting the festival,” McNary said.

This year’s event marks a span of 36 years, and 35 years that the event has been held. A festival was not held in 1999.

The festival’s longevity is a testament to the spirit of the small town’s community, and willingness to seek financial support from businesses and organizations from throughout the region, said McNary.

“For a small town, this community has a lot going on. A lot of events have come and gone, but not this one,” McNary said.

The event started in 1979 by a group of artists who sought a way to raise funds for a local family that needed help with medical expenses of a prematurely-born infant. And, ever evolving, it has continued to provide a place where many people gather with families, as one of the county’s premier events.

Friday’s events begin at 5 p.m., with some booths opening and the Trout Creek Community Park available for informal activities. The comedy of Dave Oliver (5 p.m.), the Idaho Puppet Theater (6 p.m.) and Miss Huckleberry/Huck Finn Talent Pageant (7 p.m.) begin the festival, followed by a 9 p.m. dance to the Huckleberry Jam Band.

A huckleberry pancake breakfast will be served both Saturday and Sunday from 7-11 a.m. at the Trout Creek Fire Hall.

The annual 5K Run for Fun starts on Saturday at 8:30 a.m., and 11 a.m. the popular annual parade. From noon to 3 p.m. is fun for all ages, the Huckleberry Homesteader Pentathlon and Huckleberry Hounds Dog Agility Club will demonstrate their skills. Games for kids are set for noon to 4 p.m.

Swing Street Big Band will play on the Trout Creek Park stage at 1 p.m., and at 2:45 p.m. the talents of Albeni Falls Pipe & Drum can be experienced. The festival auction kicks off at 5 p.m., the pie eating contest at 7:30 p.m., followed by dancing at 9 p.m. to the Devon Wade Band.

Sunday’s festivities include a 10 a.m. festival worship service, 11:30 a.m. Dog Agility Competition. At noon, judging for the Jam and Jelly Contest begins. Huckleberry Homesteader Pentathlon continues from noon to 3 p.m., and children’s games from noon to 4 p.m.

More entertainment is on tap for the afternoon. Beginning at noon, Rayneman Evans & the Blueslide Educational will entertain the crowds in Trout Creek. The annual horseshoe contest (open to interested contestants) tosses into the fun at 1 p.m. The Pitiful Players from Libby will present “Alice in Wonderland” at 2 p.m. Those who have submitted entries in the annual Huckleberry Dessert Contest, and many others, await announcement of the results, at approximately 3:30 p.m.

Throughout the weekend nearby, helicopter rides are being offered by Inland Helicopters.

The aerial experiences offer a bird’s eye view of Trout Creek and the festival.

The festival comes to an end at 4 p.m. Various activities will also take place on the festival’s family stage, an invention and construction by Citrino. There, several activities will take place, including huckleberry dessert contest judging.

The full schedule can be found at www.huckleberryfestival.com.