Cherry Time: Blossom Festival May 18

The 10th annual Flathead Lake Cherry Blossom Festival is May 18.

The festival celebrates the blooming of the cherry blossoms and the beginning of cherry season.

The event is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Yellow Bay Clubhouse, at mile marker 18 west of Montana 35.

Around 30 arts and crafts vendors will be on hand selling their wares, said Barbara Hammons, president of Yellow Bay Ladies Auxiliary.  The club will be selling lunch and will also host a bake sale. The event serves as one of two major fundraisers for the group.

Hammons said the club uses the fundraisers to support local food banks. They also enable the club to provide stuffed animals for foster children at Christmas.

Music will be available at the festival with several local talents providing entertainment.

Among the cherries being grown along the shores of Flathead Lake are Lambert, Lapin, Rainer and a new variety — Sweetheart. Local growers planted the Sweetheart variety several years ago and since it takes four to five years to harvest, most probably haven’t produced a crop yet, Hammons said.

For more information on the festival, call Hammons at 982-3069.