Swan Lake Huckleberry Festival — A true Montana tradition
Cool, tasty huckleberry ice cream cones were among the many treats at Sean Lake Huckleberry Festival on Saturday. (Marla Hall/Lake County Leader)
This couple kept perfectly in time with the music and in step with each other as the Silverado band entertained festival-goers. (Marla Hall/Lake County Leader)
Vendor tents lined the walkway as it wound through the woods and over a bridge; a walking bridge that is. (Marla Hall/Lake County Leader)
Driving south on the Swan Valley highway early Saturday afternoon, all was quiet; the sun shone brightly and it was hot, hot, hot. After rounding a curve, the small town of Swan Lake suddenly loomed.
The town, too, was quiet with fragrant mountain scents providing their own olfactory treat. Then as another curve opened into a straight away what appeared to be more than a hundred cars lined both sides of the two-laned highway for what may have been up to a mile.
People were both arriving to and leaving from this year’s Swan Lake Huckleberry festival. In true Montana fashion, people were polite in letting people cross the road or make their way to their cars. For attendees parked a long distance from the festival, a shuttle was provided from and to their cars.
Across from the road which led into the festival area, one had to look twice to affirm that the two bears near the road were not live. The Forest Service drew attention to their booth with the stuffed bears and provided information on fire safety and general wilderness best practices.
At the entrance to the festival, the Silverado band played well known songs from the 50s and 60s and a booth selling huckleberry ice cream cones tempted those passing by.
More than 50 vendors lined a paved walkway that wound through trees and shrubs. The shade from the trees and the breeze coming off the water of Swan Lake provided welcome comfort to both the vendors and those browsing the various Montana made and Montana themed arts and crafts.
Although the huckleberry theme was present in many of the items for sale, actual huckleberry products were scarce. Apparently, they had sold out early — probably during or soon after the conclusion of the huckleberry pancake breakfast and the huckleberry baking contest held in the morning.
There was huckleberry lemonade and the afore mentioned huckleberry ice cream, but beyond that, few items containing huckleberries were left.
That did not, however, detract from the enjoyment of the festival. A few folks even arrived to the festival by boats and kids, as well as some kids at heart, cooled off in the pristine waters of the lake as the shoreline butted up to the festival site.
This 41st year for the festival was absolutely a success and remains a true Montana grown event. If you missed it, the 42nd version will be held the second Saturday of August 2023.
