Cobb Mountain Blackberry Festival: A Celebration of Community, Creativity, and Summer Fun

Cobb Mountain Blackberry Festival: A Celebration of Community, Creativity, and Summer Fun

The Cobb Mountain Blackberry Festival began in 2019 to bring neighbors together and celebrate the resilience of the Cobb Mountain community following the devastating Valley Fire. Co-organizer Cathy McCarthy explains that the festival was created as an opportunity to restore a sense of fun while supporting local artists, makers, and vendors whose businesses and livelihoods were impacted by the 2015 wildfire.

Held each year in late August, the festival serves as a fitting farewell to summer. While blackberries are not native to the area, picking them has become a favorite seasonal tradition for many local families. The event takes place at Cobb Creekside Meadow located at 16451 Golf Road in Cobb.   Visitors can relax beneath towering pine trees, enjoy the shade, and spend the day on the expansive grassy grounds. Best of all, admission and parking are completely free, making it an affordable outing for visitors of all ages.

A Community Tradition

What makes the Blackberry Festival truly special is the community effort behind it.

One of the festival’s most beloved attractions is the famous COBBler, prepared by the dedicated volunteers of the Mountain Lions Club and Cobb Community Center. This blackberry-inspired treat has sold out every year and has become a favorite tradition among festival-goers.

Throughout the day, guests can enjoy live performances from local musicians and bands, browse artisan booths, and participate in activities that showcase the creativity and hospitality of the Cobb community.

Handcrafted Blackberry-Themed Treasures

More than 100 artisan vendors from across Lake County are invited to participate, with one simple requirement: each handcrafted product must include a blackberry theme.

According to co-organizer Jennifer Gayda, the festival celebrates creativity in all forms. Visitors can browse a wide variety of unique items, including scented candles, sauces, hats, T-shirts, jewelry, woodworking creations, and much more. The event offers a wonderful opportunity to support local makers while taking home a one-of-a-kind souvenir.

The Famous COBBler Competition

Another signature event is the annual COBBler Competition, where bakers compete for local bragging rights and community recognition. Although most participants are from the Cobb area, contestants from neighboring counties have joined the fun as well.

Winners receive gift cards, have their names added to the festival’s perpetual trophy, and earn the admiration of family, friends, and fellow competitors. Judging is handled by a panel of community personalities, including business owners and other familiar local faces.

Fun for the Whole Family

The Kid’s Zone, organized by the Cobb Elementary School Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), has been a cornerstone of the event since its inception. More than just a family attraction, it serves as an important fundraiser that helps support school programs and activities for local students.

Families will find face painting, bounce houses, obstacle courses, food, tunnels, and oversized building blocks that encourage imaginative play. As attendance has grown, the Kid’s Zone has expanded onto the golf course’s eighth fairway, providing even more room for children to explore.

“The Kid’s Zone is designed so kids can run and play and parents can still see them,” says Gayda.

Come Experience a Real Festival

New to the festive atmosphere this year is a costume contest, where participants are encouraged to let their imaginations run wild with family-friendly blackberry-themed creations.

Often described as an old-fashioned picnic under the pines, the Cobb Mountain Blackberry Festival captures the simple pleasures of community, food, music, and fun. As one young visitor enthusiastically declared last year, “This is a REAL festival!”

Whether you’re a longtime resident or discovering Lake County for the first time, the Cobb Mountain Blackberry Festival is the perfect way to celebrate summer and experience the welcoming spirit of this resilient mountain community.