From left to right, JR Dickey, Sandie Dickey, Laurie Walker, Josie Dickey, Linda Walker, Rileigh Dickey and Stanley Dickey pose as they were recognized as the Huckleberry Festival’s Grand Marshalls. Dickey Farms, which has been passed down through seven generations, and has provided Bingen with fresh produce at its 806 W. Steuben St. store since 2004.
Members of Columbia High School’s Marching Band energized hundreds of onlookers as Bingen’s annual Huckleberry Fest Parade began on Saturday, Sept. 10.
A row of old pimped-out cars and trucks from fire departments in Bingen, White Salmon, Lyle and Klickitat County close out the Huckleberry Fest Parade, sirens blaring.
From left to right, JR Dickey, Sandie Dickey, Laurie Walker, Josie Dickey, Linda Walker, Rileigh Dickey and Stanley Dickey pose as they were recognized as the Huckleberry Festival’s Grand Marshalls. Dickey Farms, which has been passed down through seven generations, and has provided Bingen with fresh produce at its 806 W. Steuben St. store since 2004.
Nathan Wilson photo
White Salmon City Councilor Patty Fink campaigns for Harris’ opponent, Mayor Marla Keethler, in the parade’s Klickitat County Democrats brigade.
Nathan Wilson photo
A rider from the West Klickitat Posse and Saddle Club stops and circles her horse about halfway through the parade.
Nathan Wilson photo
Several girl scouts from White Salmon’s troop smile and wave to those gathered in downtown Bingen.
Nathan Wilson photo
Two boys scour State Route 14 for leftover candy.
Nathan Wilson photo
A row of old pimped-out cars and trucks from fire departments in Bingen, White Salmon, Lyle and Klickitat County close out the Huckleberry Fest Parade, sirens blaring.
BINGEN — The second day of Bingen’s annual Huckleberry Festival kicked off with a breakfast at White Salmon’s Fire House on Saturday, commemorating 100 years of service, then hundreds gathered along State Route 14 as the Dickey Farms family and truck began a near hour-long parade.
With handfuls or bags of candy in tow, families made the short jaunt to Daubenspeck Park where the line for fresh huckleberry pie and ice cream already stretched far back. Smooth, upbeat tunes from the Gorge Winds Jazz Collective filled the space as folks chowed down on bratwursts, kids flailed in bouncy houses and others enjoyed AniChe wines at the Beer Garden, a celebration of food, community and Bingen’s history that lasted from Sept. 6-8.
“Friday night was the bomb,” said Denise Stewart, chair of the committee responsible for planning the Huckleberry Festival. “God, I couldn’t believe how busy we were. I’m almost out of berries.” Chicken $#!T Gamblers, a group that blends bluegrass with gospel, drew crowds on Friday and Whiskey River took over on Saturday night, continuing the festival’s tradition of featuring tribute bands — this time it was Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Members of Columbia High School’s Marching Band energized hundreds of onlookers as Bingen’s annual Huckleberry Fest Parade began on Saturday, Sept. 10.
Nathan Wilson photo
But organizers shook things up as well. Earlier on Saturday, a couple dozen kids and adults took part in “Pie Face,” voraciously searching through whip cream pies for a single huckleberry, no hands allowed. The winner got their own huckleberry pie to indulge in, and across her 40 years of planning, Stewart said it's events like these that keep the festival growing, attracting people from Portland to Walla Walla.
And it’s the huckleberries, of course. If you didn’t want to spend $20 on a pound of fresh berries, you could buy huckleberry jam, syrup, saltwater taffy, champagne and more. Harvested near Mount Adams, huckleberries represent Bingen’s legacy of cultivating fruit, and no operation has arguably been more central to that history than Dickey Farms.
The Gorge Winds Jazz Ensemble was the first of many music groups to perform at the Huckleberry Fest last Saturday.
Nathan Wilson photo
"They’re the oldest family-owned business that has been in business for — oh my god — 70 years?” said Stewart. Homesteaded in 1867 and renamed in 1921, Dickey Farms has been passed down through seven generations and employs 60 people at peak harvest.
When it comes to planning the Huckleberry Fest, it’s no walk in the park and preparations begin months in advance, but Stewart doesn’t do it alone. “It’s not just me, I’ve got a whole committee,” said Stewart, who never stopped moving all Saturday afternoon. “It’s a team effort.”
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