Fort Bragg Plans Huckleberries and Hounds Festival Oct. 19-21
Fort Bragg will celebrate the First Annual Huckleberries and Hounds Festival Oct. 19-21. Restaurants will offer huckleberry-flavored food and drinks, locals will compete for best huckleberry dessert honors, and the Mendocino Coast Dog Owners Group (MCDOG) will stage a series of dog-related events, including an animal communicator consultations, pet games, and a dog Halloween costume parade. Visit http://www.FortBragg.com/huckleberries for more details.
The new event is sponsored by the Mendocino Coast Recreation Park District, Fort Bragg Promotion Committee, and the Mendocino Coast Dog Owners Group (MCDOG). All funds raised at ‘hounds’ events will be used by MCDOG to create the Fort Bragg off-leash dog park.
About Huckleberries
From August to October each year, Mendocino Coast forests are full of High Bush Coastal Huckleberries, pea-size fruit that some health experts say is the number one anti-oxidant. Anti-oxidants are thought to fight heart disease.
Huckleberry and mushroom expert Eric Schramm of Fort Bragg says 300,000 to 400,000 pounds of huckleberries go unpicked each year and literally rot on the vine.
“A few years ago, I revived an industry that was booming in the 1800’s when lumber schooners took huckleberries, the only available fresh fruit at the time, to sell in San Francisco,” explains Schramm. He pays $3 pound to locals who provide clean huckleberries. He then finishes the cleaning process with a special machine he created. In a good year, he will bag and ship 6,000 pounds to markets around the U.S. He is one of the main suppliers to restaurants and supermarkets in the Fort Bragg area.
Event Schedule:
FRIDAY 10/19
Animal Communicator Consultations. Private readings with well-known Animal Communicator Carol Becker. Spend up to 20 minutes with Carol learning about your special pet… deceased, present or at home animals. Ask questions or bring your animal for a hands-on reading. $25. 3:00 – 5:00. Appointments recommended, drop-ins accommodated if schedule allows. Call PAWS 707 964-3322 for appointment. Location: PAWS, 432 N Main St, Fort Bragg
SATURDAY 10/20
Play Day. Pet Games and Special Dog Exhibitions
Bring you furry friend to the future home of the Fort Bragg Dog Park for a fun play day! Frisbee competition, best kisser, best tail wager, bobbing for duckies, and other pet games. Then stay to watch amazing agility demonstrations. $5 entry covers all games and competitions. Time: 11:00 – 1:00 Location: Corner of S. Lincoln & Willow (Maple east from Main St.)
Boo-tiful Pets Costume Parade. Dress your dog in its finest Halloween costume for a short parade around the grounds of the Guest House Museum. $5 entry fee. Prizes for Best Scary Halloween costume, best Owner-look alike costumes, best Huckleberry Hound look-alike, Funniest costume, best Essence of Huckleberry, and Best Costume Over-All. Signup at 2:00, parade at 2:30, judging immediately after. 343 N Main, Fort Bragg.
Huckleberry Dessert Expo. Locals will compete for honors in Best Huckleberry Dessert: pies, ice cream, huckle buckles or other creations of their choice. Ribbons will be prevented to winners. Obtain an application at http://www.fortbragg.com/huckleberries
Day – Saturday
Time: 3:30 – 5
Location: Mendocino Coast Recreation Park District, 213 E Laurel St. Fort Bragg
During all three event days, the following businesses will offer huckleberry creations:
-Café One – scones and pancakes
-Carol Hall’s Hot Pepper Jelly Co. – huckleberry jam
-Cowlick’s Ice Cream – huckleberry sundaes with homemade ice cream
-Mendo Bistro – special pasta with braised chicken, mustard, hazel nuts and huckleberries
-Silver’s at the Wharf – crème brulee, margaritas and a pork loin with huckleberry sauce
-The Rendezvous – huckleberry aperitif, wild boar with huckleberry chutney, Muscovy Duck with huckleberry-lavender sauce, and huckleberry-lemon cheesecake
-The Restaurant – dessert (to be announced)
-Trade Winds – (to be announced)
-V’Canto – surprise huckleberry dessert