The Fairhope Museum of History invites one and all to celebrate the humble elderberry at the 7th annual Elderberry Festival, Saturday, August, 8. Festivities run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the museum, with demonstrations, tastings, a pie-eating contest, music, and more throughout the day.

The public is invited to submit their best homemade elderberry goodies for the Elderberry Cook-off Contest, with ribbons awarded in different categories for the best elderberry pie, cake, bread, jam, jelly, juice, jello, and butter, as well as other elder-flower creations.

“The elderberry is essentially a lowland weed, but it is prevalent in Baldwin County and it’s been used for generations to cook with, for wine, and for folk medicine remedies,” said Museum Director Donnie Barrett. “Decades ago, the elderberry was celebrated in Fairhope, and we’re happy to bring it back to its rightful place of prominence.”

There will be music all day from Kracker Dan Band, art vendors on the lawn, tasty treats from Rita’s, serving—what else?—elderberry frozen custard. The event is free and open to the public. To enter an item in the cook-off contest, bring it to the museum, by 5 p.m. the day before, Friday, August 7.