It’s all about celebrating cranberries in Grayland this weekend

The 23rd annual Grayland Cranberry Harvest Festival, set for Saturday and Sunday, centers around the historic Grayland Community Hall, which was built by Finnish cranberry farmers in 1930.

The building is located at 2071 Cranberry Road in Grayland. Turn east off State Route 105 onto Grange Road and go a country block to the hall on the corner of Grange Road and Cranberry Road.

Admission is free and there’s a lot to do and see.

The festival will include cranberry bog tours, a cranberry marketplace both inside and outside the hall, the ‘Bite of the Beach,’ a ‘Firefly Parade’ on Saturday evening, a cranberry-eating contest, a Jog the Bog &Beach 10k &5k runs and 3k walk on Sunday morning, a Cranberry Coast Getaway prize basket raffle and live entertainment both days.

Festival hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

Start your day with a hearty Cranberry Harvest Festival breakfast at a very reasonable price Saturday at South Beach Christian Center. Proceeds help neighbors in need on the South Beach. Breakfast will be served from 8 a.m. to noon at the church, located at 1360 SR 105 in north Grayland. This event is sponsored by South Beach Christian Outreach — with all proceeds going to help neighbors in need.

Bog tours will be offered on Saturday only. Grays Harbor Transit buses leave the Community Hall at 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. The informative trips include an onboard guide who will share the history of cranberry farming in the area and bog farm owners on site sharing the details of cranberry farming from bog development to harvesting and marketing.

Tickets cost $7.50 and are available inside the Grayland Community Hall starting at 9:15 a.m. Get your tickets early. These trips get booked quickly.

Dozens of vendors featuring items from fresh-baked goods to home décor that celebrate bright bog berries will offer items both inside the hall and outside on the adjacent grounds both days. The marketplace will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

Don’t forget to check out the entries in the local cranberry growers’ Big Berry Contest, a friendly competition that includes a traveling trophy and a whole year’s worth of bragging rights. The Big Berry Contest winner will be announced at 12:30 p.m. on Sunday.

The cranberry-eating contest will be held in the hall at 1 p.m. Sunday. How many raw berries can you eat in this timed event? Pucker up and go for it!

Prior to Saturday evening’s the Firefly Parade, the Grayland Volunteer Fire Department will host a free community party starting at 5 p.m. at the Grayland Fire Hall, located at 1785 SR105. The event will include music, free hot dogs and pop and a Halloween costume contest for the kids.

Saturday night’s ‘Firefly Parade’ of lighted cranberry-themed floats and decorated vehicles that will travel through Grayland starting at about 8 p.m.

On Sunday morning, step out smartly and join the Bog and Beach Jog 10K and 5K run, along with a 3k walk that starts in front of the hall. Registration packets can be picked up in the hall ticket office between 2 and 4 p.m. Saturday and continues at 7 a.m. Sunday, with the Bog Jogs starting at 9 a.m. Awards will be presented at the hall at 11 a.m.

From left: You can buy freshly picked cranberries by the pound at the Cranberry Harvest Festival Marketplace. • The Grayland Community Hall and grounds will be filled with arts, crafts, edibles and terrific holiday gifts. • Don’t miss the cranberry farms tour on Saturday. BARB AUE | SOUTH BEACH BULLETIN FILE BARB AUE | SOUTH BEACH BULLETIN FILE