Another Great year for Cherry Fest in Jacksonport

On August 6 the Jacksonport Historical Society, Inc. once again celebrated the cherry harvest at Lakeside Park in Jacksonport with the 17^th annual Cherry Fest.  The day started out cloudy but soon the large crowds of happy folks came to listen to music and shop the many artists displaying their hand crafted items.  To start the day fresh baked kolaches and coffee were available.  The hardy volunteers had been busy since 4 am that morning baking the delicious treats.  Keith and Jaci Birnschein and their crew from Door County Custom Meats arrived, fired up their grill and started serving cherry hamburgers, cherry brats, and pork sandwiches all prepared especially for us.  Always delicious!  In the meantime the Jacksonport Historical Society was busy opening the root cellar in the Erskine Rest Area which was restored a few years ago.  Sandy De Master, and two of her friends demonstrated the fine art of spinning wool sheared from her very own sheep.  Certainly a learning experience for those of us not familiar with this amazing process.  As the morning progressed we heard the soft melodic sound of the guitar of Matt Wahl playing folk music as well as some of his original pieces.  Matt has been playing at Cherry Fest for many years.  Now that everyone had lunch they needed desert and that they found at the Jacksonport Historical Society food booth where the most delicious cherry pies, furnished by Grandma Tommy’s Market, were available to purchase.  Along with the pie, they had coffee, cherry ice cream, cherry sundaes, and a cherry drink to wash it all down.  The Jacksonport Women’s Club provided delicious funnel cakes.  A variety of jams and jellies were also sold at a nearby booth.  On the beautiful sand beach that Lakeside Park is known for, was a penny hunt.  Fun for kids and adults alike as the kids searched the sand to see who could collect the most pennies.  Then a change in music as the Modern Day Drifters began their 3 hour set.  So for another year Cherry Fest was a successful fund raising event for the Jacksonport Historical Society, Inc.  The money that is raised at this event goes to help develop the museum property located on the south end of Jacksonport.  So in 2012 Cherry Fest will be Saturday, August 4 at Lakeside Park.  A fun time will be had by all and will make it possible for the Jacksonport Historical Society to be “keepers of the past” for all future generations.