Berry Happy Together
Every town has a signature event. Burgaw's just happens to revolve around blueberries. The 23rd Annual NC Blueberry Festival returns June 19-20 with food, music, contests, and a celebration of the crop that shaped the region.
Because around here, blueberries aren’t merely a pie filling or a smoothie add-in. They’re part of the region’s agricultural identity, a crop that helped put Pender County and its surrounding communities on the map.
That business story is what gives the festival its staying power. The event draws visitors into downtown Burgaw, fills local streets with foot traffic, and puts growers, vendors, restaurants, civic groups, and musicians in front of the kind of crowd that makes a Saturday feel economically useful and socially delightful. It’s local agriculture with a side of kettle corn, which is honestly a pretty good business model.
This year’s lineup keeps the weekend busy. You can take part in the Tour de Blueberry bicycle ride, the 5K Run and 1 Mile Walk, the Car & Truck Show, the Blueberry Recipe Contest, and Blueberry Farm Tours. The celebration begins the night before with a free kickoff concert on June 19 featuring Landslide: A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac, because apparently blueberries pair well with “Go Your Own Way.”
Throughout the weekend, visitors can browse arts and crafts vendors, stop by the Beer & Wine Garden, catch live entertainment, and sample fresh berries from local growers including American Blueberries, Ivanhoe Blueberry Farms, Altar Cross Farms, and more. It’s a sweet reminder that “buy local” sounds even better when it comes in a bucket!
The festival also makes good use of Burgaw’s own front porch. Downtown Courthouse Square, Burgaw Middle School, the Burgaw Historic Train Depot, and surrounding streets all become part of the celebration, turning the event into a community-wide showcase rather than a one-block affair.
With free admission, local food, live music, farm tours, contests, and plenty of blueberry-themed fun, the NC Blueberry Festival remains one of eastern North Carolina’s ripest summer traditions!
Discover more festivals and local happenings at https://www.guidetonc.com/festivals!
