Let the games begin

TROUT CREEK – The park at Trout Creek was overflowing with visitors as the town celebrated the wild huckleberry over the weekend.

The 35th annual Huckleberry Festival was held in Trout Creek from Friday, Aug. 8 to Sunday, Aug. 10 and featured a very high turnout including one of the largest parades in the festival’s history.

“It was fabulous, one of the best parades ever,” Organizer Deb Achatz said.

In total around 40 floats took part in the festival’s celebratory procession.

The Grand Marshall of this year’s parade was bestowed in memoriam to Liz Citrino, who served as the festival chairperson from 2006 to February of 2014. Citrino passed away on Feb. 25, earlier this year.

During the parade a black rider-less horse, in honor of Citrino was led through the parade.

In addition to being Grand Marshall in memoriam, the year’s festival was dedicated to the memory of Citrino.

Over 100 vendors set up booths throughout the midway in the town’s park, while even more individuals could be found selling gallons of the berries, which give the festival its name.

Debb McNary, a long-time resident of Trout Creek, served as the chairperson for the weekend event for the first time.

Though it was her first time handling the duties of chair, everything progressed smoothly at the festival.

“This exceeds my expectations. The midway is completely full,” McNary said.

Large crowds filled other portions of the park grounds as well pointing to a successful year for the annual festival.

Additionally McNary said she had received nothing but positive feedback from those in attendance.

“People have come up to me with nothing but good things to say,” McNary said.

McNary said preparing for the weekend festival takes almost the entire year with initial preparations beginning as early as January.

Since it was her first year as festival chair McNary readily acknowledged the important roles played by festival volunteers and members of the Trout Creek community in insuring a successful event.

“There is an excellent group of volunteers who helped me out. The community really pulled together,” McNary said. The Huckleberry Festival featured a variety of events over the three days of the celebration.

Friday night featured a Miss Huckleberry Pageant and a performance by the Huckleberry Jam Band to close out the first night of events.

Day two began bright and early with a pancake breakfast running from 7 to 11 a.m. at the fire hall, there was also a breakfast on Sunday morning.

The Huckleberry Run for Fun 5K race started at 8:30 a.m. and was put on by the Clark Fork Running Club.

Following the pancake breakfast the annual parade rolled through the heart of Trout Creek at 11 a.m.

Immediately after the parade brave individuals took part in the Pentathlon competition on the park grounds.

Events in the five tier competition included hammering nails, pumping water, sawing lumber, casting a fishing rod into a specific area and target shooting.

During the afternoon of the event those in attendance treated themselves to sweet huckleberry shakes, huckleberry flavored ice cream and even huckleberry water.

A variety of other foods were also available on the park’s midway, with local organizations including churches, 4-H clubs and the local elks chapter grilling up barbecue, fajitas and other snacks.

Saturday’s events wound down with an auction starting at 4:30 p.m., all the proceeds from the auction went to benefit the Huckleberry Festival.

The final event on the second day of the festival was the pie-eating contest held on the main stage in the park.

Hungry contestants buried their faces in huckleberry pies racing to consume the sweet desserts before other contestants.

The final day of the festival featured a number of food inspired contests. As desserts, jams, and jellies, most including huckleberries were all judged on Sunday afternoon as the town’s celebration drew to a close.

McNary was pleased with the turnout for the festival and attributed the weekend’s success to past huckleberry festivals.

“The festival has sold itself,” McNary said.