Island heritage in all forms, tastes and sounds popped onto Greenbank Farm over the weekend for the 19th annual Loganberry Festival.
Although the farm’s loganberry patch is a fraction of its former grandeur, such a berry-fest would not be complete without a fruit-filled pie eating contest.
Blackberries filled the 120 contest-destined pies this year due to a lack of logies, said Shenna Bomark, a Greenbank Farm summer intern, but the berry-swap did nothing to deter the contestants.
Scandinavian music and stories by Stan Boreson, sea shanties by the Shifty Sailors, classic rock and jazz music set the tone for the festival-goers as they sipped regionally-grown wine and local beer, sampled tasty treats of all kinds and enjoyed Whidbey Island-style entertainment, including tractor rides, dog agility and equestialn trials.
Esther Bradley and Ginger Lang of Oak Harbor found a new treat at the wine tasting: Ichigo, a strawberry dessert wine from Bainbridge Island that winemaker Beth Schoenberg often pairs with semi-sweet chocolate.
“It’s delicious,” said Lang. “The chocolate really sets the tone.”
John Burks, a member of the Community Supported Agriculture program, also called CSA, showed a bountiful collection of novel veggies, including ruby-colored carrots.
“People have been pretty pleased that this is grown here on the farm,” he said. “They’re particularly charmed by the ruby carrots.”
Carrots weren’t the only winsome attraction.
Stan Boreson’s Scandinavian tunes sent laughter rippling through the crowds as he innocently sang, “Just Don’t Look Good Naked Anymore,” set to the hum of his accordion.