By Robin Alberti
It’s all things blueberry on Sunday at Okemo, as it celebrate its first-ever Blueberry Festival.
Sunday, July 26 at 10 a.m. — LUDLOW — July is National Blueberry Month and Okemo Mountain Resort is celebrating the nutritious and tasty little blue orb with its first-ever Blueberry Festival on Sunday, July 26.
Though native to America, it wasn’t until 1916 that the first crop of cultivated blueberries made their way from farm to table, according to the U.S. Highbush Blueberry Council. American Indians recognized the health benefits and versatility of wild blueberries, using them for medicinal purposes and as a flavoring in food. By the 1990s, health researchers began to identify blueberries as being high in antioxidants, vital in countering free radicals, the harmful byproducts of cellular metabolism that can contribute to cancer and other age-related diseases.
Okemo’s family-friendly celebration of this superfood will begin at 10 a.m. in the Jackson Gore courtyard. Visitors can start their day with a blueberry pancake brunch for $10 per person. Lots of blueberry treats will be available as well. Kids will want to make their own tie-dye t-shirt while singing along to the kid friendly tunes of Mister Chris. A blueberry pie eating contest will be an event highlight. In the afternoon, a bus will depart for blueberry picking. Seats are limited, so pickers must call 802-228-1948 to reserve a seat. Admission to the Mister Chris performance is free and Okemo’s Adventure Zone will be operating throughout the day for lots of family fun.
For more info, visit okemo.com or call 802-228-1600.
