The mystery of a hybrid is which characteristics the hybrid will take from its parents — the beauty or the beast.

In the case of the loganberry, nature did well and tempered the angry sting of the blackberry bush, meshed the blackberry’s smoothness with the raspberry’s blush and added a sweet tartness which adds a bouquet of intriguing flavor for the many foods and wines made from the loganberry fruit.

On Saturday, July 23, and Sunday, July 24, at Whidbey Island’s Greenbank Farm, residents and visitors will gather together to toast this small berry and taste and see, not only the fruits of this locally renown berry, but also the fruits of many local arts, crafts and food vendors during the island’s annual Loganberry Festival.

Laura Blankenship, executive director for the Greenbank Farm, said island residents have celebrated the loganberry for years, as the farm used to boast the title of the largest loganberry farm in the United States.

Blankenship said she is not sure when the first Loganberry Festival took place, because it was not always an annual event. She did say, however, that since the community came to own the farm in 1997, the farm has hosted an annual Loganberry Festival for the community.

“Because we’re a nonprofit organization managing and developing the farm … we have felt that the Loganberry Festival is our community thanks — our giving back to the community for its support,” Blankenship said.

For this reason, she said the farm tries to book only vendors and entertainment with a local connection to fill the 60 nonprofit and specialty vendor spots and the nine food vendor spots.

“We really kind of work at this in terms of making it a community oriented event,” she said.

Blankenship said the farm’s mission is focused on local development, local entrepreneurs and community preservation.

Sticking to this mission is one of the things that makes this year’s Loganberry Festival different. Since last year, the farm has redone, remodeled and freshened its appearance and added four new local businesses to its attractions.

During this year’s Loganberry Festival, guests can stroll through I Remember When Antiques, a 20-member art co-op Artworks Gallery, the equestrian shop Two Tacky Ladies and the Rob Schouten Studio.

Visitors also can sample wine at the Greenbank Farm Wine Shop wine tasting tent, buy a slice of homemade pie from the Whidbey Pies Cafe or purchase a snack of artisan cheese and deli snacks from the Greenbank Cheese store.

Ashleigh Fredrickson, who co-owns Two Tacky Ladies with her mother Evelyn Fredrickson, said the festival days will be beneficial to the store.

“Any event that happens here at Greenbank is good for the business,” she said.

Greenbank resident Chris McGrath, who serves costumers in the Greenbank Farm Wine Shop said the festival weekend is a big weekend for the farm. He said the loganberry dinner and desert wines sell quickly throughout the weekend.

“It’s a good time on the weekend,” he said.

Blankenship said, depending on the weather, she expects anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 visitors to come by during the weekend.

“We had so much fun last year,” she said. “The last couple of years it has really felt like it has come of age …”

Blankenship said she encourages community members, guests and visitors to come out to the Greenbank Farm during the festival and enjoy a local slice of life.

“Just come on out and have a good time,” she said.