Cherry Blossom Festival offers local art, products

Since 1974, Pat and Gary Bonners have owned property on the lakeshore in Yellow Bay, but as Pat explained, the couple is usually in California this time of the year.

“(Gary’s) sister (Shari Myers) does this every year and usually we have something going on,” Pat said.

This year, the Bonners told Myers they would attend the Cherry Blossom Festival, seeing what the festival had to offer.

Comparing the festival to the Bigfork Art Festival and the county fairs, the couple said the Cherry Blossom Festival was a more intimate, local setting.

For the last 15 years, Yellow Bay Community Club members have hosted an arts and crafts show, helping to mark the beginning of warmer weather.

The Cherry Blossom Festival, held at the Yellow Bay Community Club house at mile marker 18 on Montana Highway 35 on Saturday, May 19 this year, sees artists in the form of bakers, musicians and artisans.

Although the ultimate goal is for the festival to coincide with the cherry blossoms blooming, which happened a week before the event, organizers said it’s typically held the Saturday following Mother’s Day.

“It’s one of those things, they blossom and they exist,” but the timing just isn’t always right, Yellow Bay Community Club member Barbara Hammons said.

The parking lot was so full at times that patrons had to drive around or make their own spot at the advisement of and Shari Myers.

“We always donate to the food bank and then sometimes a club member will have a need of some sort,” Hammons said.

While the festival is a fundraiser that benefits local charities, Hammons explained other monies are set aside to help maintain the 70-something-old clubhouse.

Twenty-five vendors that offered their creations during the festival, which was held from 10-4 p.m.

The club’s Ladies Auxiliary made lunch and offered baked goods, as well.

For information on the Yellow Bay Community Club, contact Hammons at hammons@centurytel.net.