History of the Huckleberry Festival – Bingen, Washington

Since 1962, the Huckleberry Festival—fondly known as “Huck Fest”—has been a cherished annual tradition in Bingen, Washington. What started as a small-town celebration of the region’s wild huckleberry harvest has grown into one of the longest-running community festivals in the Columbia River Gorge.

Held each year the weekend after Labor Day, the festival honors the abundance of wild huckleberries found on nearby Mt. Adams and the agricultural heritage of the area. It also pays tribute to local farms, including legacy families like Dickey Farms, established in 1867, which has played a significant role in the region’s fruit-growing history.

Over the decades, Huck Fest has blossomed into a vibrant three-day event filled with live music, craft and food vendors, parades, classic car shows, children’s activities, and the famous huckleberry pie and ice cream stand. From pancake breakfasts with local firefighters to free concerts and dance floors in Daubenspeck Park, the festival brings together locals and visitors alike to celebrate the season, the town, and the berry that inspired it all.

Now more than 60 years strong, the Huckleberry Festival continues to grow while staying true to its roots—celebrating small-town spirit, community pride, and the sweet, tangy flavor of a Pacific Northwest icon.