A rough estimate of 20,000 to 30,000 people attended the McLoud Blackberry Festival on July 8-9, according to McLoud Chamber of Commerce Office Manager Melanie Krause.
The longest-running foodrelated festival in Oklahoma, the event featured a carnival, pageant, live music, a parade, kids games, a baking contest, the Cobbler Gobbler contest, McLoud High School reunion, helicopter rides and lots of food vendors, each required to have at least one blackberry item on their menus.
McLoud Youth Football and Cheer ran the traditional horseshoe tournament, as well as a cornhole tournament.
There were 11 vendors in the food court, 39 craft vendor spots, four wineries in the wine garden tent, Great Plains Amusements with their own food court and carnival rides, and Calico Joe’s from Harrah, with two beer and blackberry margarita stands.
“This year was bigger than we have ever been!” said Krause. “We were even able to have the state fair cinnamon roll vendor, Silver Star Concessions, in the food court this year, and we were thrilled to have them with their blackberry drizzle-topped cinnamon rolls. They said they did extremely well and want to come back next year!”
“Between the food court and the vendors, we know of 37 different blackberry items that were for sale: everything from blackberry cobbler, blackberry wine and blackberry infused BBQ sauce to blackberry scented goats milk soap!”
In addition, the McLoud Fire Department was selling T-shirts, and the Chamber was selling fresh blackberries, blackberry jam, and festival T-shirts.
According to the McLoud Blackberry Pageant Facebook page, the 2022 pageant contestants labeled nearly 2,000 jars of jam in May, and have been selling them since then. The Chamber still had plenty to sell at the festival, and raised about $22,000 before expenses.
Krause said nearly 1,000 quarts of fresh blackberries were for sale, which are ordered by a local supplier, since the fruit has not been McLoud’s cash crop since 1963.
“We still carry the fresh blackberries at the festival because they are in season at that time, and we are celebrating the proud history our city had with the fruit, including President Truman naming McLoud, OK, as the Blackberry Capital of the World back in 1949,” said Krause.
“We still celebrate everything blackberry because it is still a huge part of the history for not only our town but the families who still live here, who grew up growing them as part of the McLoud Blackberry Growers Association.”
Keeping with the blackberry theme, there was a baking contest, won by Esther Chatham with her blackberry cobbler. Her recipe was posted on the Chamber’s Facebook page yesterday (July 13).
Plus, the long-time tradition of the Cobbler Gobbler contest returned after a twoyear absence due to the pandemic. The winners of the contest were not available at this time.
As for the Blackberry Pageant, it is celebrating its 80th year.
“The earliest known Blackberry Queen was Margie Wilson-Morgan in 1942,” said Krause. “Originally, Blackberry Queens had to be daughters or granddaughters of blackberry farmers in the McLoud Blackberry Growers Association.”
“We are strong with our traditions and have made it a point to continue with the pageant. It is a very important part of our festival!”
“While the qualifications have changed, the time-honored tradition’s purpose has not,” added Krause. “Our Blackberry Queen and her royalty are ambassadors for the City of McLoud and the McLoud Chamber of Commerce. They take part in special events in the city, such as ribbon cutting ceremonies, legislative breakfasts, banquets, and more, as well as events outside of McLoud such as parades, charity 5k’s and more.”
This year’s winners were Queen Zoe Walker, Princess Addison Adams, and Junior Princess Brooke Adams. Kalleigh Parson competed for Queen, and Elise Archuleta competed for Princess. The Junior Princess contestants were Sadie Gollihar, Miyah Gonzalez, Aubrie Hobill, Aria Roberts and Angelica Pepiakitah. All contestants and last year’s winners participated in the parade.
Beginning at 10 am on Saturday, the parade had at least 100 entries, including the Redskin Regiment Band, McLoud Fire Department, royalty from other pageants, Donkey Mann, area businesses, politicians, India Shriners, tractors, and horses.
Also, don’t be fooled; Joe Exotic did not break out of jail to come to the parade, as suggested jokingly by the Chamber’s Facebook page. McLoud native Bradley Weldon, aka Vegas Joe X, was impersonating the celebrity.
The Blackberry Festival Parade winner, for the second year, was Kickapoo Headstart, with their colorful crayon float. Second place went to First Baptist Church of McLoud, and 2021 Blackberry Queen Justice Mosier took third place.
For the live music, Blackwater Smoke played on Friday evening, and on Saturday, The McKedys and Amanda Coffee performed. Plus, The Wise Guys played the finale, followed by a fireworks display to top off the evening.
