Klukwan’s second annual Blueberry Festival kicks off at 8:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 29, with new games and workshops designed to celebrate the berries.
The festival runs through Saturday, with events held at the ANS Hall and Klukwan Assembly of God Church.
Blueberry-themed contests include photos, arts and crafts, jam, jelly, syrup, vinegar, vinaigrette and baked goods. Contest entries must be turned in at the Klukwan ANS Hall or clinic by 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 28.
Organizer Joanne Elsie Spud said she decided to throw in the vinegar and vinaigrette categories this year. “I’ve seen more people making that and using that around here in the last couple years,” Spud said.
Friday’s festivities begin at 8:30 a.m. with a blueberry pancake feed. Gluten-free pancakes will be available. At 11 a.m., festival attendees can dine on fry bread with jams and jellies from the contest entries.
From 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., attendees can view contest entries, and from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., games will be set up. A new addition involves throwing a small, blue gel ball into a bucket to win a prize.
A silent auction will also run throughout the day.
At 2 p.m., Lani Hotch will lead a workshop on the cottage food industry and how to make blueberry-orange nut bread.
Hotch, whose workshop is funded by a SEARHC traditional foods grant, said she will present on the government regulation of cottage foods.
“Cottage food is a special class of foods that you can sell at farmers markets and bazaars and it doesn’t have to come under food safety inspection, because it isn’t easily spoiled,” Hotch said.
Hotch has taught three cottage food industry workshops, featuring berry vinegars/vinaigrettes, zucchini relish and blueberry-orange marmalade. “Hopefully, people will be inspired to make their own recipes and sell things during our tours or during the farmers market.”
A blueberry pancake feed also opens the festival at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, followed by a blueberry-picking storytelling session with Jim Stevens and Hotch at 10:30 a.m. “A couple years ago, (Stevens) was stranded up on the mountain when he went up for picking, and he was up there overnight,” Spud said.
A burger feed with blueberry-themed side dishes starts at 11 a.m. Games, contest entries, and a silent auction with new items will also be set up Saturday.
Walking tours will be available throughout the day for $15, Spud said. Daniel Klanott will lead the tour to the longhouse and traditional knowledge camp, and will tell the story of the wall screen and totem pole there, she said.
For more information, contact Spud at [email protected].