Huckleberry delights are sure to dominate this year's Swan Lake Huckleberry Festival.
The 40th annual Swan Lake Huckleberry Festival is looking for bakers of all ages to enter the festival’s Huckleberry Baking Contest.
The Flathead Valley’s original Huckleberry Festival is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 14, at the Swan Lake Day Park near mile marker 72 on Montana Highway 83.
According to baking contest chair, Sylvia Eliason, the contest features an adult category along with a separate category for children age 12 and under, and the rules for both children and adults are the same.
Baking contest entries must be huckleberry-based with a minimum of three servings provided. There is no registration fee and advance registration is not required. Entries will be accepted Saturday morning from 10:30 until 10:55 a.m. and judges will begin their work at 11 a.m.
Prizes will be awarded for the top three entries in each category. For more information about the contest, e-mail Sylvia at [email protected].
In addition to the huckleberry-baking contest, festival highlights include an Arts and Crafts Fair from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. with more than 50 vendors offering a wide array of handicrafts, gifts, Montana-made products, food and country-made delicacies. The band Silverado will play throughout the day.
Also on tap is a pancake breakfast served from 8-11 a.m., a sale of huckleberry-infused baked goods, kids’ activities and games, a beer and wine garden in the afternoon, a silent auction and raffles.
The festival is sponsored by the Swan Lake Chamber of Commerce and Community Club. Festival proceeds will be used to fund maintenance of the Swan Lake Community Center. Located next to the Fire Hall, the newly remodeled and landscaped community center is the focal point of many of local activities and is available to rent for receptions, meetings and special events.