A dachshund races in the Wiener Dog Races at the Mossyrock Blueberry Festival on Saturday in Mossyrock.
Gracie Zacher, 9, Randle, and her brother, James, cheer on their older sister, Heather Zachers, 13, Randle, after she wins the 11-13-year-old division Blueberry Pie Eating Contest on Saturday at the Mossyrock Blueberry Festival.
Contestants eat away at their Blueberry Pies during the Blueberry Pie Eating Contest at the Mossyrock Blueberry Festival on Saturday.
Tulip, right, owned by Taylor Barnes of Centralia and Christian Schmidtke of Aberdeen, outruns Izzy, owned by Lawrence Scearce, Glenoma, in the championship heat of the Wiener Dog Races at the Mossyrock Blueberry Festival on Saturday.
A competitor looks over at Heather Zacher, 13, Randle, as she devours her blueberry pie during the 11-13-year-old division of the Blueberry Pie Eating Contest at the Mossyrock Blueberry Festival on Saturday.
Rhonda Faught
Jordan Retchless, 13, Mossyrock, plugs her nose after being dunked in the tank by Stryder Couch, 13, Salkum, during the Mossyrock Blueberry Festival on Saturday.
Competitors prepare to dig in during the 8-11-year-old division of the Blueberry Pie Eating Contest at the Mossyrock Blueberry Festival on Saturday.
Morgan Houghtelling, 9, Mossyrock, gets a little squeamish after seeing the fish she caught in at the Friends of the Cowlitz fishing tank at the Mossyrock Blueberry Festival on Saturday.
Storm Keene, 4, Mossyrock, gives a watchful eye as a Mossyrock High School cheerleader paints her face at the Mossyrock Blueberry Festival on Saturday.
A dachshund is coaxed across the finish line with a treat from its owner during the Wiener Dog Races at the Mossyrock Blueberry Festival on Saturday.
Kyle Warner, left, 11, Onalaska, takes the final bites of his pie during the Blueberry Pie Eating Contest at the Mossyrock Blueberry Festival on Saturday. Warner won the 8-11-year-old division.
Lewis County residents looking to soak up local culture and produce can enjoy the Blueberry Festival in Mossyrock the first weekend in August. In its seventh year, the festival has now expanded from a one-day affair to an entire weekend stretching Friday, August 2 through Sunday, August 4.
Named for one of East Lewis County’s predominate crops, the festival will be rich with blueberries and a whole lot more. Events include a 5k trail race, a car show, live music, great food, a dog show, talent competition, a grand parade, vendor booths, and, of course, a blueberry pie eating contest.
This year’s festival coordinator, Glenn Aldrich, farms and sells blueberries at Aldrich Berry Farms in Mossyrock. Aldrich hopes the festival will bring people from all over the region to experience an area known for it’s abundant agriculture. Along with participating in festival events, visitors can purchase blueberries at Aldrich Berry Farm Nursery, Grose Family Blueberry Farm, and Pan-American Berry Growers. Grose Family Blueberry Farm also has a u-Pick option available on Saturday and Sunday.
According to Aldrich, Mossyrock is a perfect place for blueberry farming because the soil contains a high level of fluffy organic matter, which helps with the necessary aeration to help oxygenate the roots of plants. The Blueberry Festival occurs at the peak of the berry season, which runs from around the Fourth of July until Labor Day.
“We want people to come to town and enjoy the area,” Aldrich says. “The community has come together to make sure people have a great time.”
For more information, visit mossyrockfestivals.org
2013 Mossyrock Blueberry Festival Schedule of Events
Events occur at Klickitat Prairie Park
unless otherwise indicated.
Friday, August 2
Noon to 10 p.m.
Vendor booths and car/boat parts swap meet
3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Forest and Wyatt Elbe Band
5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Taco and talent night – Community Center for tacos and Klickitat Prairie Park stage for talent competition
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Chris Guenther Band – Lake Mayfield Resort and Marina
8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
DJ
Saturday, August 3
7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Blueberry pancake breakfast - Assembly Church of God
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Car show - Mossyrock High School (registration at 8 a.m.)
10 a.m.
5k Race crossing the Mossyrock Dam (registration at 9 a.m. near Hydrovista Lane)
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Kids’ art contest – Mossyrock Community Center
10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Quilt show and raffle – Mossyrock Community Center
10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Vendor booths and car/boat parts swap meet
Noon
Parade - State Street
1:30 p.m.
Blueberry pie eating contest
2:00 p.m.
Dog show
3:00 p.m.
Weiner dog races
5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Elbow County Rough Riders Band
8 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Headswell Band
10 p.m. to midnight
DJ
Sunday, August 4
7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Pancake breakfast — Fire Station
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Jerry Skinner Country Gospel
10 a.m. to noon
Vendors and car/boat parts
swap meet
Karen Frazier is an author and freelance writer. She lives with her family in Chehalis.
