43rd Annual Blueberry Festival underway!

Allan Pizziol (centre), one of the founders of Sioux Lookout’s annual Blueberry Festival, was joined by Blueberry Festival committee members, Blueberry Festival mascot Blueberry Bert, Kenora-Kiiwetinoong MP Eric Melillo, and Master of Ceremonies Dick MacKenzie as he cut a ceremonial ribbon to officially kick off Sioux Lookout’s 43rd Annual Blueberry Festival (first photo).
Pizziol founded the 10-day festival, which regularly features over 100 events, with the late Marnie Hoey and the late Dick Davidson.
The opening ceremonies, which took place on Aug. 1 at Farlinger Park (the town beach) also featured the presentation of the Jack McKenzie Award for outstanding volunteerism, music by The Fretheads (second photo) and Skin N’ Bones, and cupcakes handed out by members of the Blueberry Festival Committee with help from Municipal Councillor Reece Van Breda (who is also a Blueberry Festival  Committee member), MP Melillo, and Kiiwetinoong MPP Sol Mamakwa (third photo).
Blueberry Festival President Dori Hopko (fourth photo) shared, “The Opening Ceremonies were wonderful. There was great participation and it was so nice to see everybody come out and celebrate the opening of the 43rd Blueberry Festival.”