Polson gears up for Cherry Festival
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POLSON — “We’re gonna be cherry crazy,” Jackie Cripe. Polson Business Community Chair, said about the Polson Cherry Festival.
Co-sponsored by the Flathead Lake Cherry Growers Association and the PBC, the festival will be held on Saturday, July 17, and Sunday, July 18, and will offer all things cherry.
As well as cherry food, cherry clothing and assorted vendors, Cripe said Al Gliniecki, Guinness Book of World Records champion cherry stem-tyer, will be demonstrating the world’s fastest tongue. A former firefighter and policeman, Gliniecki is retired and will be trying to set or break a cherry stem tying record. Gliniecki also will be coaching Cherry Festival goers both days of the festival.
Cherry stem-tyers can compete on Saturday at 4 p.m. For children, there will be a cherry pit-spitting contest on July 17 at 2 p.m.
The Polson Cherry Festival kicks off on July 17 with free arts and crafts for children in front of Jackie M’s Footwear at 10 a.m.
Entertainment on Saturday includes the Great Scots bagpipers strolling up and down Main Street at 1 p.m. The Singing Sons of Beaches will play from 1 to 3 p.m.
On Sunday, Southern Comfort will play from 12 to 4 p.m. in front of The Cove for a street dance.
Sunday is the day for cherry pie eaters to see if they can beat the competition at contests at 3 p.m. for children and 3:30 p.m. for adults in front of Jackie M’s Footwear.
Stitchers and chefs can get into the act also, with contests for cherry quilts and pillowcases and the most unique food made with cherries. Cherry quilts will be displayed around Polson.
Cooks should bring their special recipe and four samples for the judges to Jackie M’s Footwear at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Three Dog Down sponsored the pillowcase competition and passed out 12 inches of cherry fabric, which seamstresses needed to incorporate into their pillowcases. Both adults and children categories were due on Wednesday, July 14. They will be displayed and judged at Three Dog Down.
The winners of both the pillowcase and quilt competitions will be announced in front of Jackie M’s Footwear at 1 p.m. on Sunday.
Many community members count on homemade cherry pies; they will be available on Saturday from the Yellow Bay Ladies Auxiliary and on Sunday from the Montecahto Club pie bakers. Also Barbara Hammons from Yellow Bay will have Flathead cherry T-shirts available.
