Cherry Fest kicks off Thursday in Blenheim. The annual event features street sales, a midway, and everything cherry.
The big draw is the Canada National Cherry Pit Spit Competition on Saturday.
"Whoever wins there is the Canadian National Champion," says chair J.P. Huggins. "So if you win at this competition here, then you actually get qualified to go to the international competition in the States next year. So we have people come from Perth County, Niagara Falls, Sarnia, people come over from Michigan to spit a lot of times. It gets pretty competitive."
Huggins says they have lots of other things planned.
"The famous cherry pies, I get emails and people come from all over the place, literally drive hours to come out for these cherry pies," says Huggins. "Then we also have our pie eating contest, we have live entertainment, we have bands, dance groups, martial arts groups. This year we have a Crossfit competition out there, we have free obstacle courses."
And, the cherry-themed food is always a big draw.
"This year we've got Smokin' Aces doing some cherry-glazed ribs for us," says Huggins. "The Blenheim Youth Centre always does their cherry pulled pork. They make fresh waffle boats, fresh made waffle and then they put ice cream and cherries and all stuff on it. And then they sell fresh cherries picked right off the tree from Delhaven Orchards, just down the road in Cedar Springs."
A section of Talbot St. W in Blenheim will be closed until Saturday for Cherry Fest and Sidewalk Sales. For more on Blenheim Cherry Fest, CLICK HERE.
