The 23rd Sudbury Blueberry Festival kicks off Sunday

 Sudbury's abundant native fruit, the blueberry, is celebrated annually during the Sudbury Blueberry Festival next week.

“I hear the blueberries are now ripe enough for blueberry pies to be made. It is time to celebrate all things blueberry,” said John Lindsay, festival chair.

This Sunday, the week-long series of community events kicks off at the Bell Park Gazebo, from 7 p.m to 8:30 p.m. In case of rain, the Older Adult Parkside Centre on Durham Street will be the venue.

On Monday there is a Blueberry Hill Climb (weather permitting) at 10 a.m., the start of a week-long Blueberry Art Show at Artists on Elgin, 168 Elgin St. and Blueberry Cheesecake Week at Village International, 139 Durham St.

On Tuesday, the festival mascots, Sudbrina and the Blueberry Bear, after a long engagement, will get a marriage certificate at Mayor John Rodriguez's office.

The festival has had long ties to the mayor's office.

“The festival was the idea, 23 years ago, of then mayor Peter Wong,” said Lindsay. “Mayor Wong saw blueberries as a means of promoting the city in terms of economic development.”

Since then, though the festival has operated on a shoestring budget, it is still able to offer a week long program, from the celebrity pie eating contest Thursday, to various socials, garden parties and teas, noted Lindsay. He attributes the continued success of the festival to the community partnerships developed over the years and from a handful of dedicated volunteers.

“We would like to link closer with the city. Next year we may approach the Greater Sudbury Development Corporation for support. I think a budget of under $7,000 a year would really be all we need. Because we don't charge admission to our events we do need some civic support in order to continue.”

The festival, now in its 23rd year, is well recognized, said Lindsay.

“It is celebrated all over the city from Skead to Capreol, Minnow Lake and the Flour Mill to the downtown.”

Check www.blueberryfestival.ca for more details or call Molly Green at 674-1717.

Here are some of the Blueberry Festival events schedule for next week:

Sunday
- Kick-off with Kith 'N' Kin blueberry songs: 7-8:30 p.m., Bell Park Gazebo or Older Adult Centre( rain venue)

Monday
- Blueberry Hill Climb: 10 a.m. Bancroft Drive at Carmichael Arena, back parking lot

Tuesday
- Blueberry Bear and Sudbrina visit Dynamic Earth and Science North in afternoon

Wednesday
- Heritage Blueberry Exhibit: 10 a.m.- 4 p.m., Flour Mill Museum, off Notre Dame Avenue
- Blueberry Bash: 1:30 - 3 p.m., One Eleven Seniors Centre, 111 Larch St.

Thursday
- Downtown Celebrity Pie Eating Contest, noon, Rainbow Centre

Friday
- Parkside Older Adult Centre Blueberry Barbecue: 11 a.m - 1 p.m., Memorial Park
Saturday
- Blueberry Blast: 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m., all day blueberry pancake breakfast, Market Square
- Blueberry Garden Party: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., Northern Ontario Railroad Museum, Capreol

Sunday
- Pancake Breakfast and Bake Sale: 8 a.m. - noon, follow signs in Skead

- Closing Ceremonies and Sapphire Ring Draw: 7 p.m., Bell Park Gazebo, (rain venue Older Adult Centre)