Swan Lake Hosts its 44th Annual Huckleberry Festival

Huckleberry Pie, Arts, Music, and Family Fun Abound

For forty-four years, the second Saturday in August has meant huckleberry pie, huckleberry treats, arts, crafts, and music on the shores of beautiful Swan Lake.  The free, annual Swan Lake Huckleberry Festival will take place on Saturday, August 9, at the Swan Lake Day Park near mile marker 72 on Montana Highway 83.

Morning activities include a pancake breakfast starting at 8 a.m. followed by a Huckleberry Baking Contest and a Huckleberry Baked Goods Sale. The famous Huckleberry Pies sell out fast so fans will need to get there early.

Huckleberry baked goods
Huckleberry baked goods

For those wanting to enter the baking contest, entries must be huckleberry-based with a minimum of three servings provided and will be accepted Saturday morning starting at 10:30 a.m.

Food trucks and all things huckleberry will be available to keep the hungry crowds fed and watered. Huckleberry ice cream is a huge favorite, especially on a hot August Saturday.

Planned afternoon activities include a silent auction and raffles of donated items including gift certificates and products from area restaurants and merchants. Proceeds from the auction and raffles will be used to fund the maintenance of the Swan Lake Community Center. The Silverado Band will play much of the day, creating a lively atmosphere.

Another popular festival feature is the Arts and Crafts Fair. There will be more than 50 vendors offering a wide array of handicrafts, gifts, Montana-made products, food, and country-made delicacies.

Surrounded by mountains, national forest and close to the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, Swan Lake offers a wealth of recreational opportunities from hiking and horseback riding to fishing, boating and wildlife watching. So festival goers have a wealth of other activities to enjoy once the festival winds down in mid afternoon.

Locals and travelers alike can find something fun and delicious at this iconic Montana festival. A little off the beaten track and worth the trip, getting to this event will draw holiday-makers to one of the prettiest spots in the state.