Yellow Bay hosts Cherry Blossom Festival

Bigfork Eagle

The cherry blossoms may or may not be blooming this weekend but the seventh annual Cherry Blossom Festival will still leave its mark.

"Take a drive down Highway 35. It's still going to be pretty," said Barbara Hammons, president of the Yellow Bay Ladies Auxiliary and an organizer of the event.

The Yellow Bay Community Club will host the neighborhood fair, which celebrates Flathead Lake cherries, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday May 15.

The event includes more than 20 vendors with a variety of offerings including woodworked items, furniture, toys, photography, African baskets, jams and jellies, needlework and other arts and crafts.

Face painting will also be available for youth.

"It's just your typical neighborhood thing," Hammons said. "It's just a nice afternoon. It's a family day."

The festival typically falls on Mother's Day weekend, but with so many other events going on like Bigfork's Spring Art Walk and the Northwest Ballet Company's performances, organizers decided to try pushing it back a week to this weekend.

"It's been a good thing with how unpredictable May has been," Hammons said.

New this year, Jukebox Journey will provide live music. The drums and keyboard duo performed a concert in Yellow Bay in December and were well received, Hammons said.

The festival's signature hot beef sandwich lunch will be available for purchase as well as hot dogs and homemade sweets at the bake sale.

A raffle will be held throughout the day, including items such as handmade purses and totes.

Funds raised through the festival go to support the Yellow Bay Club's charitable activities as well as building maintenance projects.

Cherry festivals near the Lake have a history stretching back to 1935. Until recent years, the event had also included a cherry queen and court.

For more information, call Hammons at 982-2064 or e-mail hammons@centurytel.net.