Members of Columbia High School's marching band energized hundreds of onlookers at the 2024 Huckleberry Festival Parade.
Nathan Wilson photoBINGEN — Time to dig out your most purple attire — the Bingen Huckleberry Festival is rolling around again Sept. 5-7 at Daubenspeck Park, bringing three days of live music, contests, food, family activities and a parade.
The festival opens Friday with the Rattle Can Art Contest from 5-6:30 p.m., followed by performances from Harmony of the Gorge, Miles From Nowhere and Messy Boyz.
Chairperson Denise Stewart calls it “over the top entertainment.”
Stewart, who first became involved in the festival in the mid-1980s, recalled when her friend encouraged her to join. “At that time, it was held at the port of Bingen, and it was called the Huckleberry Festival and Timber Carnival. Long rolling ax-throwing, tree climbing and tug of war.”
By the late 1980s, the festival moved to Daubenspeck Park. “It was a different era, a fresh start. I felt it was going to be more of a family-oriented festival,” she said. “And so we have many activities for every age group now. And of course, we have fresh-baked huckleberry pie, our famous brat, along with our beer garden.”
Stewart said more than 40 vendors will be in the park this year.
Saturday begins with a pancake breakfast served by the Bingen Fire Department from 7-10 a.m. The Huckleberry Parade, a longtime festival tradition, starts at 11 a.m. on Steuben Street, with lineup at 9:30 a.m. Participants are encouraged to dress in purple, and community groups, schools and businesses are invited to join.
Afternoon events include a children’s coin hunt, sack races, watermelon-eating contests and other games. Live music will run from noon to 6 p.m., featuring Gorge Winds, The Whole Fam Damily and Tess Barr. Jordan Vicars’ reptile show is set for 7 p.m., followed by Johnny Limbo & the Lugnuts from 8-11 p.m.
Sunday’s schedule begins with a community church service at 10 a.m. The festival wraps up with a 2:30 p.m. performance by Latin fusion band Super Escándalo.
Food vendors, booths, bouncy houses and other family attractions will be available throughout the weekend. More information is available at huckleberry-fest.com. Parade registration is open online or through Parade Coordinator Amanda McDonald at 509-281-6000. Registration is free and open to all.
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