The third annual cherry festival ended on Sunday in Polson and people lined Main Street to take part in the annual event.
The festival didn't just feature cherries as booths full of clothing, crafts, and jams also filled the streets.
We stopped by the stand of the Flathead Lake Cherry Growers who said this year was a success for them, and by 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, they were completely out of cherries.
Owner Sharon Myers owner said during the two day festival they sold almost 1,000 pounds of cherries and that she wants the community to enjoy the locally grown fruit.
She also said that anyone looking for cherries can drive up the west and east shores of flathead lake and look for signs.
- Allyson Weller reporting from KPAX in Missoula
(from July 17, 2009)
The 2009 Flathead Cherry Festival will be held Saturday and Sunday on Polson's Main Street.
More than 125 exhibitors will be selling arts, crafts and tasty food, including the signature fare - Flathead cherries.
Flathead Lake Cherry Growers Auxiliary will bake 300 cherry pies to sell at the festival.
On Sunday a country western band, Southern Comfort, will play from noon to 4 p.m. in front of the Cove Deli for a street dance. Children will be entertained with a magic show at that location. A climbing wall and bungee jump will also be set up in front of the Cove.
Entertainment also includes the bagpipe group, Great Scots, set to play at 1 p.m. Saturday. The Singing Sons of Beaches will stroll the streets singing on Saturday from 2 to 4 p.m.
"The sweet cherry harvest should get under way in earnest in about a week," said Dale Nelson, president of Flathead Lake Cherry Growers.
Usually, the Polson area ripens first and then works north. The crop is expected to be about two and a half million pounds, which is a little above average.
Growers are holding their breath, hoping for favorable weather. Rain can cause the cherries to split and extreme heat stresses the trees when they have a crop on them.
The cherries will be picked, hauled to the cherry plant on Finley Point, hydro-cooled, put into cold storage, loaded onto trucks and sent to Selah, Washington where they are packed and sent to stores.
- Dean Hermes reporting for KPAX
