Annual Loganberry Festival goes ‘berry’ well

Live music, healthy participation, and plenty of fun events and activities appear to have once again proved to be the right recipe for a successful Loganberry Festival.

Live music, healthy participation, and plenty of fun events and activities appear to have once again proved to be the right recipe for a successful Loganberry Festival.

The annual two-day event is held every year at Greenbank Farm on Central Whidbey and, despite the mixed weather, organizers say the festival this past weekend was a memorable one.

“Saturday was just fabulous,” said Mary Jo Stansbury, a member of the Greenbank Farm Management Group’s board. “It was the best energy you can imagine.”

While there have been past festivals that saw greater attendance, she said Saturday was still bustling with people who were enjoying the many activities and vendors under a blue sky bright with sunshine.

Sunday brought overcast skies and a chilly breeze but it didn’t seem to dampen the mood too much. People were milling about, sampling the food and participating in the range of event festivities.

All the annual favorites, such as the ever popular pie-eating contests for children and adults, were offered at this year’s festival but the event had a few new treats for the mind as well.

Professional storytellers enthralled crowds with tales of Rebecca Ebey, a historic figure in Central Whidbey, and educational presentations or displays, such as Fiber in the Barn, offered a glimpse into old world knowledge and technologies

“The kids are loving this stuff,” said Kristi O’Donnell on Sunday, this year’s MC and entertainment chairwoman.

A busy animal act schedule proved popular as well, featuring everything from animal agility contests and service dog demonstrations to equestrian displays and hippotherapy, an umbrella term that describes therapy by horse movements.

While Greenbank resident Jerry Lloyd’s equestrian demonstrations were a crowd favorite, Stansbury said the “chicken agility” display was unforgettable.

“That was one of the funniest things I’ve seen in a long time,” she laughed.

O’Donnell said she was happy with the festival’s outcome and thanked its many sponsors.