The annual Chokecherry Festival started after Williston sixth graders completed a letter assignment to North Dakota lawmakers proposing that the chokecherry be designated the official North Dakota state fruit. That letter inspired legislation, and since 2007 the festival has celebrated the chokecherry becoming North Dakota’s official state fruit. The event has grown each year since its conception.

This year’s event started Friday afternoon with Nemont sponsoring a 1,000 hamburger feed and American State Bank sponsoring free ice cream for dessert with chokecherry syrup.

Saturday morning started early at 8 a.m. with a free pancake feed prepared by the Williston Korner Lions and gave attendees another chance to smother something — this time pancakes in chokecherry syrup. Sausage and fruit juices also were served. The syrup came from Dakota Berry in Jamestown.

The event had many local food and beverage trucks on hand for those who were thirsty or hungry. One truck was serving chokecherry lemonade.

Chloe Marie of Minot was one of many singers on the entertainment bill this weekend at the 16th Annual North Dakota Chokecherry Festival held in Williston.

Entertainment for the event varied widely and included many musical entertainers, a small train that gave free rides, Williston’s Drum and Bugle Corps, the BMV Entertainment BMX bike stunt show, an outdoor movie late Friday evening and the Disc-Connected K9’s World Famous Frisbee Dogs Show performed entirely by rescued dogs.

The pirate MN Jack Sparrow was on hand for an impromptu sword fight and to pose with festival-goers for a photo. Sparrow was seen handing out golden plastic treasure tokens. Joshua the Ventriloquist was there with his humorous, talking stuffed parrot to entertain and also make balloon toys. The Cliff Hangers 4×4 Club of Williston had its 4x4s on display and gave away two radio-controlled trucks as door prizes.

Trevour Meyer Cartoons was doing caricatures of people, and there was a kids’ sand-pit coin hunt. Dollar coins were buried in the sand volleyball court and kids scrambled to find them by digging and sifting the sand, thereby creating lots of dust as well as a few smiles.

The event also included many vendors of many genres selling their wares. Jewelry, clothing, stickers, jams, jellies and a host of other items were snatched up. Other events were a cornhole tourney, a chokecherry pit-spitting contest, library story time and, of course, the usual Davidson Park playground equipment to keep kids and adults entertained.

Miss Teen Chokecherry Aubrianna Staloch was on hand for photos and autographs.

Ice cream was served with delicious chokecherry syrup topping Friday evening, sponsored by American State Bank at Williston’s 16th Annual North Dakota Chokecherry Festival in Williston.