Huckleberry Festival: Full bellies, fun times

It would not be unreasonable to think the person who wins his segment of a pie eating contest ought to say things like “I love pie”, or “I cannot get enough pie”, or even “I’m hungry”.

But that did not matter to eight-year-old Christian, a contestant in the Pie Eating Contest at this past weekend’s Huckleberry Festival in Trout Creek.

When asked before the contest if he likes pie he emphatically replied “NO”! And when he was asked if he was hungry before the event began his answer was an equally vociferous “NO”.

Bad mood or just some devious way of psyching the competition into complacency?

How could a guy, his fellow contestants had to be thinking, win a pie eating round when he’s not hungry and really doesn’t like pie?

Joey Chestwood, he of legendary Fourth of July hot dog eating contest wins would never follow such a strategy.

“I do not like pie” Christian bellowed at the startled pie contest “emcee”.

As the crowd of more than 100 folks looked on in stunned amazement and approval, the young fella used a “rooster pecking the ground” attack to win his contest against other eight and nine-year-olds.

And it is quite likely a win where the person who actually did not eat the most, won. This was crowd favorite, hand over the contestant’s head voting as he received the loudest applause from the audience.

Not that nearby Tanner did not give him a run for his “pie”. But in the end, this one may have been over before it started.

The only slightly bad thing is that the pie eating contest may have chomped its way into highlight of the day status during Saturday’s opening of the annual two-day Trout Creek extravaganza.

A large throng of Festival goers kept the pathways between a wide variety of food and craft booths vibrating with activity and fun.

“We live in Missoula and have always heard this was a good time,” said Hayleigh O’Leary, who came to the Festival with her best friend Lindsey. “There is no way I would have expected this many people and this many things to do.”

And while the event dispensed an expected large amount of all things Huckleberry, every food booth and craft display by a host of artisans from throughout the area was doing “berry” well.

Under crystal clear blue skies and slightly lower temperatures, at least early in the day, this year’s Huckleberry Festival got underway with a Saturday morning pancake breakfast, followed by a Huckleberry Fun Run to kick off the two day celebration of Montana’s unofficial state berry. Featured Saturday was the traditional parade and the wide variety of entries it features.

There was also a karate demonstration and helicopter rides along the nearby Clark Fork River.

Another pleasant surprise was the lively, spirited music provided by Kalispell-based “Up the Creek” a jazz combo group that kept a contest stream of festivals goers entertained for nearly three hours under the main grandstand’s parachute roof.

Then came the pie eating contest. Nuff said.

A Miss Huckleberry/Huck Finn Talent Contest followed the pie show. Rounding out the first day of entertainment was a family dance with DJ Ray as the emcee.

Judging of huckleberry jams and jellies, as well as a huckleberry Dessert Contest were the main attractions on Sunday.

All in all, the two-day festival was yet another example of local festivals and shows that took a beating during the height of the co-vid scare.

“It was really good to get out of the house, get out of Missoula and come be with a large group of people getting together and having fun,” said O’Leary as she worked a napkin to contain the sun’s melting of her large huckleberry ice cream cone.