By Amanda Raymond

amanda.raymond@salisburypost.com

SALISBURY — Hill’s Minnow Farm is hosting its second annual Blackberry Festival on Saturday.

Lisa Hill, the event coordinator, said the cloudy weather has slowed the growth of the blackberries, but they should be ripe by the festival date. Hill advised blackberry lovers to wait until the festival to visit.

The festivities start at 9 a.m. and will go on until 4 p.m. There will be more than 100 vendors, most of whom Hill said have tailored their products to the blackberry theme. Not only will there be blackberry flavored ice cream, jams, bread, cheesecake, pies and wine, but there will also be hair bows decorated with blackberries, blackberry yard art and blackberry soap, lotions and lip balms.

Visitors will be able to pick the locally grown blackberries for $3 a quart. Pre-picked blackberries will also be available for $5 a quart.

A Children’s Corner will feature arts, crafts and games.

Three musical acts will supply the live music throughout the day. Praise Grass Band will play at 11 a.m., The Trailblazers will play at 1:30 p.m., and Liam Pendergrass will perform at 3 p.m.

Hill said there is a limited supply of blackberries, and organizers anticipate running out early.

The festival is free to attend and parking is $1 per car. All proceeds will go to the Liberty Volunteer Fire Department.

Hill’s Minnow Farm is located at 7940 Bringle Ferry Road.

Contact reporter Amanda Raymond at 704-797-4222.