Huckleberry delicacies abound at the morning baking contest and baked-goods sale.
For 37 years, the second Saturday in August has meant huckleberry pie, huckleberry treats, arts, crafts and music on the shores of beautiful Swan Lake. The 37th annual Swan Lake Huckleberry Festival gets underway at 8 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at the Swan Lake Day Park near mile marker 72 on Montana Highway 83 and runs until 4 p.m.
Morning activities include a pancake breakfast starting at 8 a.m., a huckleberry baking contest at 11 a.m. and a baked goods sale. The baking contest includes an adult division and a children’s baking contest for kids 10 and under. Adult and kids’ contest entries must be huckleberry-based with a minimum of three servings provided. Entries will be accepted Saturday morning starting at 10:30 a.m.
The festival features an arts and crafts fair with more than 50 vendors offering a wide array of handicrafts, gifts, Montana-made products, food and country-made delicacies. A beer and wine garden is open in the afternoon, and the Ashley Creek Ramblers featuring Roy Wilhelm play from 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Additional offerings include children’s activities and games in the afternoon, a silent auction, grand-prize drawing, and raffles of donated items including gift certificates and products from area restaurants and merchants.
The festival is sponsored by the Swan Lake Chamber of Commerce and Community Club; proceeds will be used to fund maintenance of the Swan Lake Community Center, the focal point of many of activities. Located next to the Fire Hall, it also houses the library (open every Wednesday from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.). The center is available for rent for receptions, meetings and special events.
For more information on the festival and the lovely little community at the north end of the Swan Valley, visit www.swanlakemontana.org.