For more than three decades, Bonnie Boser has spent her summers filling ovens with pies for the St. Walburg Blueberry Festival.
“I started in 1991 with just a few pies, and now we’re up to a lot of pies,” Boser said. “This year we made 600. Last year there were 500.”
On Aug. 23, the annual summer event transformed the town of 800 into a hub for over 5,000 visitors. For Boser, who also makes jams, jellies, tarts and crafts, the festival is about more than food.
“It’s great. I love it. Seeing everybody and our family get together. It’s just awesome. It’s good for our town. I like to see repeat customers. It’s just great, great. I can’t say any more good things.”
The festival began more than 30 years ago as a way to market northern Saskatchewan blueberries, said Amy Leer, president of the St. Walburg Chamber of Commerce and chair of the festival committee.
“We’re only 800 people in town. So, for us to have that many people to come through is great for our businesses and our community,” Leer said.
She added that volunteers put in months of planning and the festival now boasts over 150 vendors, a car show, live music, and a Friday night supper and dance.
(Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW staff)
Blueberry cheesecake (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW staff)
One of the day’s servers from the 4-H club, Adley Furman. (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW staff)
All the pies and pastries Bonnie Boser and her team made. (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW staff)Blueberries remain at the centrepiece. Local groups, including the 4-H club, baked 100 pies and 80 cheesecakes this year, complete with homemade blueberry topping. The pancake breakfast also serves syrup made from hand-prepared berries.
Vendors travel from as far away as Alberta to sell baked goods. Donna Nelson, who runs Nana’s Pantry in Wainwright, Alta., said she first heard about the festival five years ago and has been coming back ever since.
“They do a wonderful job here,” Nelson said.
“I know I’ve had people come from Edmonton, from far, far further away than you would think that would come to something like you say, this little town for this festival, but they’ve been coming for so many years, and they’re coming. They’re coming looking for the blueberries.”
One of the venders, Donna Nelson. (Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW staff)
(Kenneth Cheung/battlefordsNOW staff)As for Boser, the festival is a tradition that small towns need.
“Small towns need that to survive, to keep going… It’s great. I can’t say that enough,” she said.
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Kenneth.Cheung@pattisonmedia.com
