A Whole Festival Related to Blueberries? You Betcha!

Over 110 Events at This Year's Blueberry Festival in Sioux Lookout

Blueberry Festival, Sioux Lookout, Ontario

The Blueberry Festival is a 10 day festival celebrating the community of Sioux Lookout. It runs from July 29-August 7, 2011. With over 110 events this year, the Blueberry Festival has become a grand summer celebration attracting thousands of visitors from around the region and around the world. Blueberries are abundant in Northwest Ontario so it only seems fitting to have a Blueberry Festival. Wild blueberries are one of my favourite fruit and my mouth is watering a little bit as I write this. Starting on the Friday of August long weekend and lasting for ten days, residents and visitors come together and form a bond of great communal spirit. Many of the events encompass the beauty of the area, allowing participants and spectators to enjoy the plentiful lakes and beaches. From the very young to the young at heart, and from the athletically inclined to the most sedate sport enthusiasts, there is something for everyone at the Blueberry Festival.

The festival starts with the Blueberry Festival Opening Ceremonies taking place at the Town Beach from 3:30-6pm. There will be face painting, free balloons, speeches, Kenora Scottish Pipes & Drums performance, entertainment by Edible Rex, presentation of the Jack McKenzie Memorial Award, and the ceremonial cutting of the ribbon and cake. This sets the scene for the next 10 days in Sioux Lookout. Many of the restaurants even get in on the action by offering blueberry themed baking, meals and even Blueberry Mojitos at Foxy's July 29th from 5:30-9pm. Visit the Forest Bar & Grill at the Forest Inn from July 29-August 7 and receive a piece of blueberry pie with the purchase of any entree after 4:30pm. Drop by the Mayfair Theatre for a blueberry snack. Blueberry cheesecake ice cream, blueberry milkshakes, and blueberry sundaes will be available all week. Visit Dick & Nellie's Restaurant for a taste of blueberry spirit. The menu features Homemade Blueberry BBQ Pork Ribs, Cool Summer Blueberry Soup with Creme Fraiche, Blueberry Panna Cotta Cream Dessert, and more! The Dick & Nellie's blueberry inspired menu is available from 4:30pm to closing until August 6.

Some of the other events include a Blueberry Window Painting Contest, a Bannock Bake-off, Blueberry Rock-Paper-Scissors Tournament, the Annual Roy Lane 10K Road Race, Family Fun Day, Wagon Rides, and much more. Get a bird's eye view of Sioux Lookout with a Slate Falls Town Tour. There are also golf, beach volleyball, bocce, tennis, road hockey, dodgeball, hockey, basketball tournaments.

Sioux Mountain Music and Cultural Festival is held on July 30-31. Saturday is a day of live music at the Town Beach featuring local artists and more! From noon to midnight, come and enjoy music, workshops, vendors, and food!

 Visit the Blueberry Festival website to see the complete Sioux Mountain Festival Line Up. There will also be a BBQ, Sioux Mountain Festival t-shirts, draws, raffles, give-a-ways and the Taste of Sioux Lookout (local chefs offering their signature dishes). On Sunday, come to the Town Beach from 12-6pm and experience all Cultural Day has to offer. Featuring workshops, music, booths, demonstrations, and other fun activities such as  snow shoe making,
tie dying, 
dance workshops, 
craft booths 
and so much more!

August 7th is the Annual Childrens Festival. Take your kids to the Town Beach from 10am-2pm for the 5th Annual Childrens Festival featuring a Dog Parade, Comic Book Workshop, Diamond Dogs Show, Cedar Bay Wagon Rides & much more.

With over 100 events, I can't list them all! See the Blueberry Festival for a complete listing of events. For more information on Sioux Lookout, please visit the Sioux Lookout Chamber of Commerce or www.ontariotowns.net/SiouxLookout/

UPDATE:  A list of all the winners at the various events at the 2011 Blueberry Festival can be found on the Blueberry Festival's website.