Coordinator reflects on busy Blueberry Festival

Tim Brody - Editor

Sioux Lookout’s 42nd Annual Blueberry Festival featured more than 100 events and according to Blueberry Festival Coordinator Kayleigh Bates, “it seemed to be the busiest festival since 2019, which is pretty exciting.”
“We felt that the Festival went really well this year! It was wonderful to see people out and about around town, enjoying the various events with their family and friends,” she shared. 
“Some unfavourable weather conditions resulted in a few events being cancelled or postponed, which was truly unfortunate,” Bates noted. “All of the event organizers and volunteers did a fantastic job and we are so thankful for all of the hard work and effort that they put into running their events.”
“There has been a lot of positive feedback from both event organizers and the public. New events, such as the Renaissance Fair, were really welcomed by the community - we can’t wait to see how that event will continue to grow. The Sioux Mountain Music Festival paired with the Lions Club’s Fireworks was a big highlight for a lot of people. It was super cool to see everyone down at Farlinger Park (the Town Beach) that night. As with most events, there are always lessons to be learned. You really have to keep an open mind and take various perspectives into consideration. We have received some good suggestions that will be considered and used to improve the festival in future years,” Bates commented.
Bates said if anyone is looking to re-live the festival a bit, they can visit @blueberrybert on Instagram where daily videos were shared during the festival. “It was a nice way to share where Bert has been that day, and some of the events that took place. Keep an eye on our social media for more content as we continue to wrap up this year’s festival,” she advised.
Bates concluded, “Again, we think it is important to recognize all of the organizers and volunteers who help make all of the events happen. There is a lot of work that goes into it, and it’s often done by volunteers! There are a lot of volunteer opportunities in our community for various age groups, experience levels, and backgrounds. Whether it is during the festival or throughout the year, we encourage you to get involved where and when you can. The Sioux Lookout Blueberry Festival wishes to thank our sponsors and those who partner with us to make this longstanding festival possible. We are thankful that this year’s festival was made possible (in part) by the Government of Canada. We sincerely hope everyone had a great time during the 42nd Blueberry Festival, and hope to see you again August 1-10, 2025 for the 43rd!”