Trout Creek remains standing as the one and only huckleberry capital of the world, it’s annual Huckleberry Festival is held to prove that fact every year.

Although that point may be hotly disputed by other communities around the Pacific Northwest and in Montana in particular, history was still made as the community of Trout Creek rose to the occasion once more for the raising of the 2026 Huckleberry Festival, 46th edition this past Saturday and Sunday.

Standing proud as bearers of the festival torch for this year, the Cabinet Ridge Riders organization was recognized and honored as the grand marshals of the event during the parade and throughout the weekend.

Believed to have started up in 1978 as a proof of the proclamation that little old Trout Creek was indeed it, the huckleberry heaven capital of the world, the festival has been held there every year since excepting the Covid-19 year of 2020 and one other year when it was not held for other financial and logistical reasons but was quickly brought back by popular demand.

Judging by the large enthusiastic crowds present for the Saturday morning parade on into the other activities, complete with numerous vendors and food offerings along the main concourse and stage area, that popular demand has not diminished and this year’s Festival could go down as one of the very best ever. And it looks like it is here to stay, on the streets and in the friendly businesses of Trout Creek for many more years to come, given adequate huckleberry harvests of course.

With smoky skies generated by wildfires in the Pacific Northwest clogging the valleys of western Montana last week, Trout Creek managed to turn the smokey haze a shade of huckleberry purple last weekend.

Hundreds, and eventually thousands of Festival enthusiasts made their way through the proceedings before all was said and done.

As has become customary over the years, the 2026 Huckleberry Festival kicked off with the annual Run for Fun (which is actually in its 48th year) and the traditional huckleberry pancake breakfast Saturday morning, leading into the parade on Main Street beginning at about 10:30 a.m.

Following the parade, Festival action moved to the concourse at the Trout Creek Park where the band called Broken Mantle played entertaining music while Festival goers visited the various vendors and sampled this year’s food offerings with friends and family.

An entertaining pie eating contest was held in the afternoon and the first day’s activities wound up with an auction.

Featuring another well-attended huckleberry pancake breakfast, Sunday’s activities also included entertainment provided by the Motley Crew Cloggers and the band Rad Fondue, a dessert contest, and jam and jelly contests using our favorite purple, locally grown fruit, and a horseshoe tournament in the afternoon.

    PARADING HORSEMEN carried the Grand Marshall banner for the Cabinet Ridge Riders, the organization which was being honored this year, in the Huckleberry Festival parade Saturday morning in Trout Creek. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)
  

    CLASSIC CARS like these were part a big part of the show during the Huckleberry Festival parade in Trout Creek Saturday. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)
  

    THIS GANG OF BIKERS took over as road-hogs for their portion of the Huckleberry Festival parade in Trout Creek Saturday. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)
  

    BEARBACK RIDING Jeannette Smith tries to control her unruly ride while promenading down Main Street in Trout Creek during the Huckleberry Festival parade Saturday. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)
  

    ROCKING THE HOUSE, the Broken Mantle band gets down with the music as an appreciative audience looks on and listens at the Huckleberry Festival in Trout Creek. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)
  

    PURPLE PASSION – Numerous Huckleberry Festival goers gather in the concourse on the grounds of the Trout Creek city park for some good food and conversation Saturday. (John Hamilton/vp-mi)