Cranberry Fest

Published 1:30 am Tuesday, October 11, 2022

The 29th Annual Cranberry Fest in Grayland at the historic Grayland Community Hall this weekend was full of sunny skies and a Firefly Parade, bog tours, a harvest breakfast, a big-berry weigh-in, live music, a cranberry eating contest and plenty of vendors.

Bay City Sausage, located just south of Westport, was even selling cranberry dogs. But the big event was the Cranberry Cook-Off, won by Tokeland’s Amee Weasa, who was also there selling her wares from her business Tokeland Candle Works, based at her sister’s flower outlet, Evergreen Flower Farm, located nearby the Grayland Community Hall just past some cranberry bogs.

“I was happy and in shock, just ecstatic,” Weasa said of her win.

Her sister took first place for four straight years, followed by her daughter winning last year. Weasa broke the streak, but kept the trophy in the family this year.

Weasa’s winning dish was a Turkey Cranberry Chili. She has been making it for years for her family and friends. She adds caramelized onions, turkey of course, barbecue sauce, homemade cranberry jam, fresh cranberries, salsa, ketchup, three different kinds of beans (pinto, cannellini and kidney) and tops it off with lots of spice, including cumin, garlic and chili lime.

“My sister was so proud and stoked for me,” Weasa said.

Donya Haas, a vendor selling Pussycat Cupcakes at the festival, had a bite of the chili.

“It was good,” she said. “The cranberries and the caramelized onions — it had that tang.”