BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — Thousands of people filled the streets of downtown Burgaw over the weekend for the annual North Carolina Blueberry Festival.“Festival started many years ago. This is our 22nd annual,” said Cody Suggs, vice president of the North Carolina Blueberry Festival.After limited activities Friday, the main event began Saturday morning with a 5K run, bike ride and street fair. Nearly 200 vendors filled the square, selling everything from handmade crafts to fresh blueberries from local farms.WW...
BURGAW, NC (WWAY) — Thousands of people filled the streets of downtown Burgaw over the weekend for the annual North Carolina Blueberry Festival.
“Festival started many years ago. This is our 22nd annual,” said Cody Suggs, vice president of the North Carolina Blueberry Festival.
After limited activities Friday, the main event began Saturday morning with a 5K run, bike ride and street fair. Nearly 200 vendors filled the square, selling everything from handmade crafts to fresh blueberries from local farms.
WWAY’s Jeff Rivenbark emceed the opening ceremony. Burgaw Mayor Olivia Dawson kicked off the event by enjoying fresh blueberries on stage.
Suggs said the festival continues to spotlight an important part of the region’s identity.
“Blueberries are popular to our area. We are happy to have ‘em. We support our blueberry farmers and everything that they do for our community, so what better way to host a festival to celebrate them,” Suggs said.
For nearby businesses, the event brings a major boost.
“A lot of them are open and look forward to this weekend. It’s important to them,” Suggs said.
One of those businesses is Burgaw Antique Place, owned by Johnny Westbrook and his wife. The shop is located just off the main square and will mark its 25th anniversary this December. The building has been in Westbrook’s family since 1948, when his father ran it as a dime store.
“It’s phenomenal … the blueberry festival is phenomenal. It adds a thirteenth month to our business. It really does,” Westbrook said.
With high temperatures and heavy foot traffic, Westbrook said his store offers a comfortable stop for festivalgoers.
“I have a little sign that says ‘please sit on the furniture’ and we give ‘em water if they are thirsty, so we are very blessed because it’s made a tremendous difference to our business over the years,” he said.
Each year during the festival, the shop also offers a special treat.
“My wife makes blueberry fudge once a year and we have almost sold out already,” Westbrook said.
He said the event is about more than just business.
“It brings in tens of thousands of people … and the place is cleaner at the end of the day than the beginning,” Westbrook said.