Huckleberry Festival Returns to Bingen, Washington: A Sweet Small-Town Tradition Since 1962

September 11–13, 2026 | Daubenspeck Park | Bingen, Washington

The biggest thing in Bingen since 1962 is back! The beloved Huckleberry Festival, affectionately known as “Huck Fest,” returns to Daubenspeck Park September 11–13, 2026, bringing three days of music, community, food, family fun, and plenty of huckleberry spirit to the heart of the Columbia River Gorge. This is a FREE event for all!

For more than six decades, this annual celebration has been one of Bingen’s favorite traditions, honoring the wild huckleberries found near Mt. Adams while celebrating the agricultural heritage, local businesses, and generations of families who make this community special.

A Festival Rooted in History

The Huckleberry Festival began in 1962 as a small-town gathering celebrating the region’s wild huckleberry harvest. Over the years, it has grown into one of the longest-running community festivals in the Columbia River Gorge, attracting visitors from near and far while keeping its hometown charm.

Held each year on the weekend after Labor Day, Huck Fest celebrates the flavors and traditions of the region. The festival also honors the agricultural history of the area, including legacy farms such as Dickey Farms, established in 1867, which played an important role in the region’s fruit-growing story.

Through the decades, Huck Fest has become a beloved gathering place filled with live music, craft and food vendors, classic cars, parades, children’s activities, and the famous huckleberry pie and ice cream stand. It’s a weekend where neighbors reconnect, visitors feel like locals, and everyone comes together to celebrate the season.

Three Days of Music, Memories, and Huckleberry Fun

From concerts and vendors to family activities and festival favorites, there is something for everyone at Huck Fest.

Festival Hours

Friday, September 11
5:00 PM–11:00 PM

Saturday, September 12
10:00 AM–11:00 PM

Sunday, September 13
10:00 AM–5:00 PM

2026 Entertainment Lineup

Friday, September 11

5:00 PM — 9/11 Remembrance and Moment of Silence
5:15 PM — Harmony of the Gorge
6:00 PM — Carl Schwitzer and CFS 120
8:00 PM — Cascade High

Saturday, September 12

12:00 PM — Gorge Winds
1:00 PM — Gretta Seabird
2:00 PM — Scot and Rebecca
4:00 PM — Wasco Bros
5:00 PM — Carl Schwitzer and CFS 120
6:00 PM — Oregon Reptile Views
7:00 PM — Paradise of Samoa
8:00 PM — California Soul Review

Sunday, September 13

10:00 AM — Church Service
1:00 PM — Super Escandalo
3:00 PM — Chic Preston and Kerry Williams

Family Fun and Kids Activities

Huck Fest is a celebration for all ages, and younger festival-goers will have plenty of ways to join the fun. Along with ongoing entertainment and favorites like bouncy houses throughout the weekend, there are special activities planned just for kids.

Friday, September 11

5:00–6:30 PM — Rattle Can Art Contest

Unleash your creativity in the annual spray paint showdown!

Kids: Ages 8–16 ($3 entry fee)
Adults: 17+ ($5 entry fee)
Categories: Kids and Adults
Pre-registration suggested
Check-in: 5:00 PM sharp
Painting time: 5:00–6:30 PM
Voting begins: 6:30 PM
Winners announced: 7:15 PM

You’ll have 90 minutes to create your masterpiece, so bring your imagination and your best ideas!

Saturday, September 12

11:00 AM — Huckleberry Parade

All are welcome to join the parade! Registration begins at 9:00 AM.

Walk, bike, ride, or decorate your way through town. Want to really embrace the theme? Pretend you’re a huckleberry and wear purple from head to toe!

1:00–4:00 PM — Kids Activities

Bring your competitive spirit and get ready for classic festival fun:

1:00 PM — Pie in the Face
1:30 PM — Three-Legged Race
2:00 PM — Children’s Coin Dig
2:30 PM — Watermelon Eating Contest
3:00 PM — Hula Hoop Challenge
3:30 PM — Egg Race

(All activities except the Pie in the Face will be located north of the playground.)

7:00 PM — Jordan Reptiles

A crowd favorite! While the timing is later in the evening, reptiles don’t do well in the heat of the day, so this special experience is scheduled when the animals are most comfortable.

Come Celebrate Bingen’s Favorite Berry

Whether you’ve been attending Huck Fest for years or you’re discovering it for the first time, the Huckleberry Festival is a chance to experience what makes Bingen special: community, tradition, creativity, and a whole lot of fun.

Mark your calendar for September 11–13, 2026, and join us at Daubenspeck Park for a weekend filled with music, laughter, family activities, delicious huckleberry treats, and memories waiting to be made.

Bingen is ready to welcome you. Come taste the tradition.