The Marshall County Blueberry Festival returns this weekend for its 50th year, bringing with it several athletic activities.
Organizers continue to make sure the festival includes a wide range of sporting events. “A couple of us got together and decided Blueberry Festival has the bike race, they have the Stomp, so a true triathlon’s weekend, you’ve got to swim also. So we’re having the open-water swim,” says Wendy Holloway.
She adds the new event, called the Blueberry Splash, will take place Sunday morning at 10:00 on Myers Lake. “It’s going to start on the west end of Myers Lake and a straight shot clear to the east end,” she says. “You’ll go around a buoy, a marker of some sort, and then you’ll go back to the finish line, which is at Curt and Deb Palmer’s residence. Basically, it’s a mile-long swim. We’re giving you an hour to do it. We’ll have lifeguards. The State Police Dive Team has graciously volunteered their time.” Proceeds from the event will go toward a fundraising effort to build a new pool in the community.
For those who would prefer dry-land activities, there will also be tennis, volleyball, and fast pitch softball tournaments this weekend. The Ancilla College three-on-three basketball tournament is back for its second year.
Ancilla College men’s basketball head coach Aaron Butcher says it’s an opportunity for his players to get out into the community, while helping promote Ancilla’s basketball program. “[It] started last year, had good success with it,” he says. “We’re hoping to continue. I heard from a lot of people last year that played in it, just ‘Thank you for bringing it back.'”
He says teams will be divided into four different age groups for boys and girls. Money raised through Saturday’s tournament will benefit Ancilla College’s basketball program.
The Marshall County Blueberry Festival runs this Friday through Labor Day at Centennial Park in Plymouth. More information and registration forms may be found at BlueberryFestival.org.
