WILMINGTON — On July 28, out-of-staters and members of the Brattleboro community alike will gather at the Boyd Family Farm in Wilmington to celebrate the fourth annual Deerfield Valley Blueberry Festival.
The festival was founded by Janet Boyd to celebrate Vermont farmers and agriculture.
“We have a very community-minded population that appreciates their agricultural roots,” she said. “We all recognize what the local farms contribute to the local economy, entertainment, and food supply.”
For a wide variety of local organizations, the festival is an opportunity to promote themselves or raise money for a cause.
“Not everyone has blueberries growing in their fields,” said Boyd. “People get very creative with how they participate in blueberry season. This is one of the only occasions that can bring together Girl Scouts selling cookies with bars selling blueberry cocktails. Farms do pickings, and churches do bake sales.”
Boyd said about 1,500 people showed up to the blueberry parade last year, but she expects that number to double this year.
“Actually, everything about the festival doubles every year,” she added. “We've built on the wonky themes, and every time someone says 'blueberry,' we've hit a home run. The festival has grown, and grown, and grown.”
The Vermont Chamber of Commerce has picked the Blueberry Festival as one of its top 10 Vermont events, and the festival has also attracted attention from Yankee magazine and several local radio stations.
New to the festival this year are a blue eye contest, hosted by Shearer Hill farm in Jacksonville, and a blue car show.
Nearly 70 different events will be hosted by different organizations, and the family that attends the most events and has its “blueberry passport” marked by the event coordinator will receive a prize from the Mount Snow Valley Chamber of Commerce.
There are also three contests as part of the event, which runs through Aug. 7.
Prizes will be awarded for floats in the Blueberry Festival Parade on July 30 in the following categories: Best Themed to All Things Blue and Agricultural: First place, $225, Second place, $100; and Best Themed to Our Heritage, Our Communities: First place, $100, Second place, $50. Entries must be received by July 22.
If you would rather bake than march, get your oven ready for the Blueberry Cake Bake-Off Contest on Aug. 6 at the Blueberry Block Party and Village Stroll in Wilmington.
Enter your interpretation of a Blueberry Cake to become the 2011 Top Blueberry Pastry Chef. All entries must be delivered to the Chamber office on 21 West Main St. by 3:30 p.m. on Aug 6. All entries must be cut into small sample size pieces. Entries will be limited to 15 cakes, and bakers must be registered with the Chamber by July 22.
In consideration of food allergies, ingredients must be posted with each entry. There is no fee to participate; however, a $25 refundable deposit is due upon signup. All deposits will be fully refunded to entrants upon delivery of bake-off items at the selected venue.
There will also be a Blue Entry-Door Decorating Contest from July 29-Aug. 7. Decorate your entry or door for the Blueberry Festival; prizes will be awarded. Participants must register with the Chamber office by July 28 to be eligible to win.
Details on these three contests, and a full schedule of events, may be found at www.vermontblueberry.com. For more information, contact Patrice at the Mount Snow Valley Chamber of Commerce office at 802-464-8092 or patrice@visitvermont.com.