Hockinson Blueberry Festival returns July 16

Organizers invite area residents to take a short, country drive to purchase farm-fresh blueberries and meet the local farmers who grow them

HOCKINSON – The Hockinson Blueberry Festival is returning to celebrate the community’s blueberry farms and small businesses. Hosted by the Hockinson Main Street Team, in collaboration with Hockinson School District, the festival is scheduled to take place on Saturday, July 16 at the corner of 159th and 182nd Avenue in Brush Prairie, WA (downtown Hockinson).

Organizers invite area residents to take a short, beautiful country drive to purchase farm-fresh blueberries and meet the local farmers who grow them. Blueberry sales will begin at 9 a.m.

This year’s festival will run from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and will include live music, a blueberry pie baking contest and even a local celebrity pie eating contest. Beyond fresh berries and local farm delights, the festival will feature a variety of blueberry-inspired food and beverage items, including favorites like blueberry lemonade, coffee cake, and milkshakes.

Hockinson Market co-owner Justin VanNatta says keeping up with the demand for fresh blueberry milkshakes can get a little crazy, but worth it. “It’s fun to offer something that is only available once a year,” VanNatta said. “The shakes are pretty labor intensive, but it is rewarding to create a summer memory for people.”

Participating vendors include:

• Majestic Farms Blueberries (fresh blueberries)

• Prairie Berry Farm (fresh blueberries)

• Grandma Dixie’s (fresh blueberries)

• Amelia’s Exquisite Mexican Dining (food cart)

• Barn Dog Flower Farm (flower arrangements, farm merchandise)

• Good Year Farms (native plants)

• Half Moon Farm (honey beeswax candles)

• Hearth Coffee (blueberry lemonade)

• Hockinson Market (blueberry milkshakes and coffee cake)

• Heirloom Family Micro Farm (produce)

• Kreations By Kiely (soaps and bath bombs)