21st Annual North Carolina Blueberry Festival kicks off in Burgaw

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The 21st Annual North Carolina Blueberry Festival kicked off in Burgaw over the weekend. 

The festival is projected to welcome between 40-50,000 visitors this year. 

With 175 vendors and truckloads of blueberries, downtown Burgaw was packed for the town’s biggest event all year long. The festival held a stage for live music, a beer garden, dozens of food trucks, and more.  

Festival Board President Doug Krynicki noted that while the festival is a great way for residents and visitors to spend the day, it also helps raise money to support the community. 

“The festival itself is probably one of the few festivals that gives a lot of money back to the community, and we’re really proud of that,” he said. 

Krynicki added that proceeds go towards several charities and high schools in Pender County and funds the NC Blueberry Festival Scholarship Program for students in Bladen, Pender, New Hanover, Sampson and Duplin counties.