39th Annual Blueberry Festival right around the corner

Tim Brody - Editor

Sioux Lookout’s 39th Annual Blueberry Festival is right around the corner and will include a mix of virtual, drive-thru, and in-person events.

Running from July 30 to August 8, almost 60 events have already been registered for this year’s 10 day festival.

This year’s printed schedule of events is expected to be distributed the week leading up to the festival, which is when it is expected that people will be able to visit the Travel Information Centre to purchase festival t-shirts.

Blueberry Festival Coordinator Jessica Darling said both the opening ceremonies and Blueberry Festival mascot Blueberry Bert’s birthday party will once again be taking place in a drive-thru format due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. “Opening Ceremonies will be on July 30 from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. in the parking space between Mascotto’s Marine and Pelican Lake Sandwich Company. Bert’s Birthday will be the same place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday the 31.” 

Geocaching was quite popular last year and will be returning again this year.

Other returning events include the Blueberry Festival Farmers Market, Blueberry golf tournaments, the bocce tournament, as well as the Sioux Mountain Music Festival, which will be taking place virtually.

“New events we have going on are an outdoor laser tag event, a fairy garden contest that we’re running,” Darling said.

With Ontario moving to Step Three of its Roadmap to Reopen on July 16, Darling said people can find out about any new events which may be added to this year’s festival, or events which may change as a result of the move to Step Three, by visiting the Sioux Lookout Blueberry Festival Facebook page or the festival’s website at www.blueberrybert.com.