Published: July 06, 2009 11:42 pm         

Blueberry Festival set for July 16 in downtown Terre Haute

TERRE HAUTE — With ice cream, music and games in the lineup, there will be no reason to be blue at an upcoming inaugural event in downtown Terre Haute.

Terre Foods Co-op and Downtown Terre Haute Inc. will jointly sponsor a Blueberry Festival on Thursday, July 16 at the Central Presbyterian Church, 125 N. Seventh St., from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Andrew Conner of Downtown Terre Haute Inc. said the groups have admired the success enjoyed by strawberry festivals around the area and hope to savor the flavor of a different shade.

“We pulled the trigger on this just a couple of weeks ago,” he said Monday afternoon, noting the mutual interest shared by Terre Foods.

Don Richards of Terre Foods Co-op said a blueberry festival makes sense in that it can be used to support local farmers.

“We’re interested in doing this because we want to get the word out about Terre Foods, and we want to support local growers of blueberries,” he said. “And we think it would be fun.”

Conner said the berries used in the festivities will be purchased from regional farmers starting to make the specialty crop a bigger part of their business plans.

“We’re just starting to see some pretty significant plantings in the Terre Haute area,” Conner said, adding that many of these growers participate in the group’s weekly Farmers Market near Ninth and Chestnut streets.

Ice cream will be provided through the Yegerlehner Farm in Clay City, and a number of blueberry treats ranging from parfaits to baked items will be available. A blueberry pie eating contest, games and live music will be provided. Admission is free to the public and food will be purchased with $1 tickets, Conner said.

Keeping with the sustainability model espoused by both organizations, compostable materials will be used at the event.

“This is going to be a very green festival,” Conner said of the celebration. Plates and utensils to be used are made from corn syrup and sugar-cane fiber and decompose naturally, he said.

Conner said the groups hope to make this an annual event at the church.

Brian Boyce can be reached at 812-231-4253 or brian.boyce@tribstar.com.