PHOTOS: Blueberry festival weekend drives influx of visitors to South Haven businesses
SOUTH HAVEN, Mich. — The National Blueberry Festival began Thursday in South Haven, bringing visitors to local farms and businesses for a tradition that has continued for more than six decades.
At DeGrandchamp Farms, blueberries stretched across the fields as visitors picked fruit, shopped and sampled blueberry-themed treats.
“I just tried the blueberry salsa. I’d never heard of such a thing,” Natalie Roedemeir, who was visiting from St. Louis, Missouri, said. “It was really good.”
Rick Oberle, who's visiting from Columbia, Missouri, told News Channel 3 he and others were eating blueberry ice cream and taking fruit home.
“We’re having blueberry ice cream. And it’s delicious,” Oberle said. “We loaded up our car with blueberries we’re going to bring back home to Missouri.”
For DeGrandchamp Farms Owner Katelyn Craig, the festival is one of the most important weekends of the year.
“There’s a huge influx of people in the South Haven this weekend,” Craig said. “They love coming out to the farm picking blueberries.”
Roedemeir told News Channel 3 that she came into town and found there was plenty to do during the festival.
“We’re very excited to be going over to watch the blueberry pie eating contest, the beer tent,” Roedemeir said. “There’s a couple different things that we’re looking forward to.”
The festival is also providing a boost for local businesses during the summer tourism season.
Maribel Delgado, who works at Coastal Blue, expects the festival weekend to be one of the busiest of the summer.
“It's one of the proudest weekends, to be honest,” Delgado said. “Like another Fourth of July.”
Delgado told News Channel 3 she is looking to take advantage of the business boom and encouraged visitors to enjoy the summer activities.
The National Blueberry Festival began in 1968 and has been a tradition ever since. There are several events visitors can check out until Sunday.