Burgaw, N.C- The story of Burgaw, North Carolina is not unlike what took place in dozens of rural communities across the country. They were all put on the map because once upon a time train passengers needed a place to stop. Depots were built. Town squares were erected. Entrepreneurs set up shop. Life was good.
Then the automobile came along, followed by highways and just like that people were no longer going through towns like Burgaw, they were simply driving past them.
In several recent posts we told you of the efforts to bring Burgaw’s historic downtown back to life. There are people with deep pockets who want to help this Pender County community. They’ve bought most of the old buildings, invested in restaurants and a brewery, and -to be sure- for the first time in a long time, there’s a buzz about Burgaw.
But it’s a work in progress. Some folks in the Cape Fear Region- for the time being at least- may still consider Burgaw a drive by location.
That is with one notable exception. Every year, for the last two decades, right in the middle of June, the people return to Burgaw because the town has been taken over by blueberries.
Did You Know
It’s estimated that every year somewhere between 25 to 30 million pounds of blueberries are harvested in North Carolina. The vast majority are picked in four counties located in the southeastern part of the state: Pender, Duplin, Bladen and Sampson. All together those areas are responsible for 11% of all the blueberries consumed in America.
And so it makes sense that North Carolina would want to honor the fruit. It deserves to be celebrated with its own weekend, its own festival. And perhaps it makes even more sense to hold the shindigs in the heart of Burgaw.
The North Carolina Blueberry Festival
The 20th annual North Carolina Blueberry Festival will be held from June 16-17 on and around Burgaw’s Historic Courthouse Square. The official kick-off starts on Friday, June 16, from 3 to 10 p.m. before the main events on Saturday.
Saturday’s attractions include over 100 artisan vendors, fresh, local blueberries for sale, children’s activities, beer and wine, an array of food trucks, and live music from well-known local beach bands like Band of Oz and The Embers. The festival also offers opportunities to participate in a wide range of events from a recipe contest and BBQ cook-off to a 5K race and car and truck show. Click here for a complete rundown of events
This year will also include a VIP Lounge where patrons can receive complimentary hors d’oeuvres along with limited beer and wine for a $50 ticket.
Proceeds from the festival are used to provide educational scholarships to students residing in the blueberry-producing counties. Additional funds raised through the festival support academic and sports-related school programs.
Last year the festival estimated that more than 40,000 people visited Burgaw during the two day event. This year organizers are hoping that number will top 50,000.
“It is a wonderful weekend for our town in general and specifically for our downtown merchants.” said Blueberry Festival President Doug Krynicki. “There is a huge economic impact. It’s expected to be at least a million, between the vendors that come out and the downtown businesses.”
Of course Krynicki and others believe that this year the economic boom will have a carryover effect. With a new revamped downtown ready to greet the visitors, the hope is that this June, once again, people will come for the blueberries but will return in the near future for Burgaw itself.