Festival sparks fun and awareness at Halyburton Park

WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — The Fire in the Pines Festival at Halyburton Park brought families together for a day of fun, education, and fire awareness.

The free, family-friendly event showcased the importance of fire in maintaining healthy ecosystems.

Various organizations set up booths throughout the park, providing informational materials on wildlife and plants native to the Southeast.

Participants had the opportunity to engage with experts, learning about the critical role of fire in the environment.

The festival’s finale is a controlled burn demonstration, where attendees could ask questions as a volunteer explains the significance of these burns for our ecosystems.

Michelle Ly, Conservation Coordinator with The Nature Conservancy, highlighted the importance of fire, stating, “I hope people take away how unique this ecosystem is. It’s so cool that it needs fire. Plants like the Venus flytrap would be totally lost without fire; it would become overcrowded and overshadowed. So fire is a safe and beautiful thing, and it actually clears out the forest for a lot of native flora and fauna.”

This year’s festival also served as a celebration of Halyburton Park’s 25th anniversary, alongside Smokey Bear’s 80th birthday.

The festivities included a special birthday sing-along, and a visit from Smokey Bear himself.