Blenheim's signature summer event is back for another year.
Cherryfest and Sidewalk Days kick off on Thursday, July 18 and run until Saturday, July 20 on Talbot Street.
"Three fun days of events," said Michael Russelo, Chair of the Blenheim BIA. "We have planned a bunch of music, and a bunch of entertainers, so it's a little bit bigger and a little bit better than it's ever been this year."
There will be midway rides, sidewalk sales, cherry central selling pies and other cherry goodies, and more live music and entertainment options.
"Friday, it's all about entertainment and music, so free out there. Saturday, we're kind of shooting for that Hallmark kind of feeling out there," said Russelo. "So Saturday morning's all about pie baking, pie eating, pit spitting, and then we have a bunch of musical entertainment as well."
Performers include Andrew & Cole, BREN, Chad Oulds, Heartless Saints, The Chasers, Cherry-Oke, Quattro Blue, Kevin Brown, and Grupo Diamente, plus a number of kids shows, and dancers.
There will be a pie eating contest, and new this year, a pie-baking contest. Plus, the cherry pit spit competition, where one person will be crowned the Canadian National Pit Spit Champion. Tryouts are on Friday, and the finals are Saturday afternoon.
New this year is a free shuttle bus to get to the Cherryfest.
"Parking has always been an issue in Blenheim once you close the street. So from the Sobeys parking lot, over by the McDonald's, we're running a free shuttle service, and that's going to be a handicap-accessible shuttle service as well. Every 30 minutes that leaves Sobeys, and we're hoping that folks take advantage of that," added Russelo.
Visit the Facebook page for more details at https://www.facebook.com/blenheimcherryfest.