Pie lovers everywhere will be excited to learn that the Mortlach Saskatoon Berry Festival is returning in all its sugary and sweet goodness for the 13th year after a two-year hiatus.
“I think we’re all really excited about it. And I think it will be an extra good turnout because people are gonna wanna get out and about, and I think the community’s just missing it,” said committee member Leticia Bossence.
Since the festival has been on ice for the past two years because of the pandemic, committee members expect to see about 4,000 to 5,000 people come through the gate, she remarked. The entry fee will be $5 per person.
“It’s (the festival) pretty important,” Bossence added. “Mortlach’s just a little village and it’s nice to have something put us on the map a bit. And it’s a huge boost to our businesses.”
As it has been for a while, the theme this year is “5,000 people with purple teeth can’t be wrong,” a slogan that rings true each year.
This year’s festival occurs on Saturday, June 25 and kicks off with a pancake breakfast from 8 to 10 a.m., followed by plenty of fun and tasty activities throughout the day, Bossence explained.
After everyone has put back some mouth-watering flapjacks, the popular parade begins at 11 a.m. Anyone in the area can join the parade, but participants are encouraged to contact the festival committee first to register.
From 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., vendors will be hawking their wares and will likely have what festival-goers want, from food to crafts to books, health supplements, linens, jewelry, and other interesting items. Other activities throughout the day include car smashes, a dunk tank and beer gardens.
There will also be many activities in which kids can participate, from bouncy castles to a petting zoo to face painting and clowns. All these events take place in Vimy Park starting in the morning.
The ever-popular Saskatoon berry pies — the namesakes of the whole festival — make their return this year. Attendees can purchase — and savour — a whole pie or a slice beginning around 9 a.m. until quantities run out.
Bossence recommended that people pre-order their pies — between June 1 and 22 — to guarantee receiving one because the committee has discovered there is a shortage of berries, likely due to the drought during the past couple of years.
“… we are ordering as many as we can,” she chuckled. “It’s basically get as many as we can.”
Wagon rides are being offered throughout the day, along with live music and entertainment. So far, the Harreson James Band has been booked to perform, although more musicians and bands are being lined up and will be announced before the big day.
The Harreson James Band has been around for 20 years and offers a unique blend of rock, blues, pop and country music.
The entertainment is scheduled for the stage from 12 to 4 p.m.
Check the Mortlach Saskatoon Berry Festival Facebook page or the Village of Mortlach’s website closer to the event date for a complete schedule of activities.
