Town of Burgaw kicks off 22nd annual Blueberry Festival

BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — The 22nd annual Blueberry Festival kicked off in Burgaw early Friday evening.

A brief downpour of rain didn’t stop people from setting up for the festival, as food and item vendors prepared their stalls Friday evening.

One of those vendors, Ronald Ethridge, drove more than 3 hours from Kernersville, near Winston-Salem.

This is the 3rd year he and his wife have had a stall at the Blueberry Festival.

“There’s a lot of people that, that show up here, a lot of patrons,” Ethridge said. “And we just like coming down here, it’s a getaway for us for the weekend.”

While vendors got ready, so too did the people taking part in the festival’s 5k run, which starts Saturday at 7 am.

Gretchen Brocke lived in Burgaw for more than 40 years before moving to Pennsylvania.

She said it’s special returning every year.

“I really enjoy coming out, make the trip every year so that we can actually come out,” Brocke said. “And it’s like, I tell everybody it’s like a mini class reunion, family reunion. Get to see people I haven’t see in ages, some that I don’t see but this once a year.”

And the love for the festival extends even to some of its youngest visitors, like 9-year-old Owen Weeks.

“Coming together with family and friends. It’s something that I’ve been doing since I was born,” Weeks said. “Oh wow, is this the one event that you most look forward to every year?” “Yes.”

Saturday’s activities include a pie-eating contest and a classic car and truck show.