McLoud celebrated its annual Blackberry Festival last Friday and Saturday. Over the two days, there were multiple events scattered throughout with a parade, concert and multiple vendors selling various blackberry themed items. “We knew that locally people wanted to get back to traditions, and the festival is the biggest tradition we have. We were thrilled to have it and I think we were building into the expectation that this was going to have a big turn, and it exceeded our expectations,” Melanie Krause said. Groups of people are standing in line waiting to buy tickets to be able to participate in the various rides and games. Pictured above is the Hitching Post Cowboy Church riding horses with a cross following behind it. Faith Benton is pictured in the white car and won the title of Blackberry Junior Princess.