It’s a twist on flour power in celebration of peace, love and hominy.
Foodstock returns to Dayton this weekend. The annual family-friendly festival of food and music takes place Saturday at Blue Mountain Station, 700 Artisan Way, with live performances, food trucks, lawn games, children’s activities and artisan vendors.
Free to attend and play, the festival spotlights food and beverages made in the region, including at Blue Mountain Station’s own 21-acre food park production cluster and co-op market.
Originally held on the August anniversary of Woodstock, the event drew its inspiration from the famed music and art fair but ultimately found its groove in July during Dayton’s Alumni Weekend. It’s taken place the third Saturday in July for the last decade.
Bring a lawn chair or blanket for a day of fun as kids splash down the inflatable water slide, tie-dye shirts, make friendship bracelets and get their faces painted. Mini golf and lawn games will be offered, as well as a beer garden that will include cider from tenant Mast Year Cider and wine slushies from Red Band Cellars.
Saturday’s festival runs 10am – 3pm Calico Bones takes the stage from 10 am – 1pm with the folk/Americana songs of sisters Madison and McKenzie Lindsey. Following from 1 – 3pm is Lucas Simpson Group, fronted by the eponymous multi-instrumentalist and vocalist.
On hand serving food will be R&B Barbecue, Shewa Ethiopian Cuisine, Mi Pueblito, Baskin Robbins and members of the Kiwanis Club, serving hot dogs. Specials will be offered at the Co-op Market, located at Blue Mountain Station’s Artisan Food Center. The co-op highlights the local and regional foods made by businesses that process their goods on-site. Among them are Mountain Man Sourdough and Rey’s Roast.
Blue Mountain Station is owned by the Port of Columbia. Located off U.S. Highway 12 at the western edge of Dayton, about a 30-minute drive northeast of Walla Walla, the operation was first envisioned as a spot where sustainable, natural and organic food products could be processed and packaged.
It has served as a launch pad for small-scale entrepreneurs and offers 1,152 square feet of commercial kitchen space for hourly rental. Its next phase of development is an artisan grain cluster initiative, expected to add value to locally produced grain and barley through food production that could include baked goods and pasta, as well as a proposed craft malting operation.
In the meantime, Blue Mountain Station’s current processors welcome guests for a taste of the region. So, channel your inner flower child and head out to Foodstock for a day of good vibes, music and food.
Photos by Kevin Waite