Festival Raises $1,500 for Blueberry Project

image by David DeLaurier

The first annual Forest Heights Blueberry Festival went off without a hitch on Saturday, June 26, 2021, raising just over $1,500 for the Community Blueberries project.

T-shirt sales, day-of donations and the plant raffle (thanks Helene Halstead!) generated a total of $1,854.38. Festival costs included the following:

• Port-a-potty = $125

• Event insurance = $176

• City event permit = $25

• flyers, ice, cups, etc. = $20

That leaves $1,508.38 to purchase signs for the blueberry patches throughout the neighborhood and additional blueberry bushes for installation this coming winter!

Here’s a collection of photos taken throughout the festival by Forest Heights resident David DeLaurier.

Cute enough for the Pet Parade!

So much delicious food in the Cook-off contest.

Forest Heights ‘celebrity’ judges for the Cook-off contest: Krimson Black, Brian Head, and Kalin Hill.

Cook-off emcee Steve Sacco.

Helene Halstead’s Cook-off entry won “Most Unusual.”

Claire Campbell serving up an old family recipe for the judges.

Jamie Reynolds made blueberry pizza that was out-of-this-world tasty!

Blueberry stuffed salmon dish was available at Da Munchiezz food truck, too.

Susan Brooks won “Most Delicious” for her blueberry-stuffed jalepeno cornbread.

Homemade blueberry goat milk ice cream in a lemon won “Best Presentation” for Jessie Hyatt.

Jessie Hyatt showing off her Jacob Wenzka-designed blueberry award.

S.J. Ursrey, Claire Campbell and Eddie Glikin played movie-themed tunes during The Blueberry Jam.

Jay Gulley in The Jam.

Jane Kobres received the “Berry Master” award for the best overall dish in the Cook-off contest, a blueberry-ginger-lemon tart infused with whiskey and triple sec.

Wet Sox dripped coolness all over the stage.

Maxim took a break from the food truck to speak truth to neighbors.

Future Lives stripped down to a trio to perform songs from their new album.

Thank you so much to everyone who donated their time and talents to help this event happen. A special thanks to Dan Horowitz (The Big Berry) for running sound during The Blueberry Jam. Thanks to Claire Campbell for booking it, and all the performers for making it amazing. Also big thanks to Jacob Wenzka for designing the t-shirt and the blueberry awards. Thank you to Steve Sacco for emcee’ing the Blueberry Cook-off, and our ‘celebrity’ judges Kalin Hill, Krimson Black and Brian Head. Plus, a big congratulations to the winners: Jane Kobres (Berry Master), Susan Brooks (Most Delicious), Jessie Hyatt (Best Presentation) and Helene Halstead (Most Unusual). Thanks to the neighbors of Holly Ct. for welcoming our presence, especially Ron Hendon, who led the Pet Parade and Matt and Patric for supplying electricity. Thank you to the Pet Parade safety team: Philip Bishop, Byron Spraggins, Della Jarrett and Jonathan Staton. Much gratitude to all of the community members who loaned tents, tables, chairs and other equipment—especially Laura Gibson and Hooper for the trailer, and David Holcomb, Laurel Bleich, Eddie Gliken and Lisa Anger for helping with set-up and teardown.