WALLACE — The 40th Annual Wallace Huckleberry Festival kicks off this weekend, and organizers are hoping for a record-setting turnout to mark the milestone celebration.

Christine Berry, who took over festival leadership last year, has been working to build on decades of success.

“The organizers before me did an amazing job of setting a solid foundation to this family-friendly festival,” Berry said. “I'm honored to be keeping the festival going.”

Berry’s first priority was to make the most of the three-day schedule, adding more hours and reviving beloved events while introducing new ones.

“We've added an additional seven hours of festival time, that includes Friday evening and goes later on Saturday,” she said. “We're bringing back the Huckleberry Bake-Off, a fun and tasty competition that has been missed. And, we're featuring a new youth art exhibit in the Northern Pacific Depot to showcase the talents of our local youth.”

Festival staples such as the 5K Fun Run and the Huckleberry Hound contest return, along with live music and a wide variety of vendors.

The Huckleberry Festival is consistently one of Wallace’s busiest weekends of the summer. Berry attributes its enduring popularity to the care and creativity poured into it over the years.

“I don't make it happen alone, I work with an amazing committee of women,” she said. “We all come together and bring our own spin and put in our special touches. What I love most about Huck Fest is the family-friendly vibes. I love seeing families spend time together enjoying the festival and visiting our local businesses. I feel so lucky to live in Wallace, and I love that visitors to the Huck Fest get to experience this magical place, too.”

More than 100 vendors will line the streets of downtown Wallace, with shuttle service available from the Wallace Chamber’s Visitor Center.

The schedule for the 40th Annual Wallace Huckleberry Festival is as follows:  

Friday, Aug. 15
Events run from 5 to 8 p.m. 

- Vendors open, Historic Downtown Wallace 

- Cosmic Wagon performs live on the Mainstage 

- Youth Art Exhibit, 5–6 p.m., Northern Pacific Railroad Depot 

- Family Fun Zone, Northern Pacific Railroad Depot Lawn 

Saturday, Aug. 16
Events run from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. 

- Huckleberry Breakfast, 7–11 a.m., Brooks Hotel 

- Vendors open, Historic Downtown Wallace 

- One Gun and the Longshots perform live, 9 a.m.–noon, Mainstage 

- Family Fun Zone, Northern Pacific Railroad Depot Lawn 

- Huckleberry Bake-Off, 10 a.m.–noon, Food Court at Samuel’s Park 

- Youth Art Exhibit, 10 a.m.–6 p.m., Northern Pacific Railroad Depot 

- The Tim Snodgrass Show, 12:30–3:30 p.m., Mainstage 

- Laketown Sound performs live, 4–8 p.m., Mainstage 

Sunday, Aug. 17
Events run from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

- Huckleberry Breakfast, 7–11 a.m., Brooks Hotel 

- 5K Fun Run lineup, 9 a.m., Wallace Elks 

- Vendors open, Historic Downtown Wallace 

- Andru Gomez performs live, 9–11 a.m., Mainstage 

- Family Fun Zone, Northern Pacific Railroad Depot Lawn 

- Youth Art Exhibit, 11 a.m.–3 p.m., Northern Pacific Railroad Depot 

- Winner announcements for Huckleberry Hound, Bake-Off, Youth Art Exhibit and -mainstage contests, 11 a.m. 

- 5K Fun Run awards, 11:15 a.m., Mainstage 

- Ben Barton performs live, noon–3 p.m., Mainstage 

For more information, visit www.wallacehuckfest.com or check them out on Facebook and Instagram @wallacehuckleberryfestival.