BURGAW — The annual Carolina Blueberry Festival, slated for June in Burgaw in Pender County, has been canceled.
According to officials, “[i]n light of the Covid-19 Pandemic warnings from the Federal Government and State of North Carolina, we feel it is prudent and necessary to cancel this year’s event scheduled for June 19 – 20, 2020. We do so with the safety and wellbeing of our community, visitors, vendors and sponsors being foremost in our mind.”
The festival has been held annually for the last 16 years, drawing thousands of visitors, according to officials. The festival showcases “the southeast region and celebrate blueberries grown in Bladen, Duplin, New Hanover, Pender and Sampson counties,” according to a release.
“Please know this was not an easy decision. Our festival partners are like family. We realize that cancelling our treasured annual event will impact our blueberry farmers, nonprofit partners, local churches and schools, all of whom look forward to participating all year,” according to the release. “Just two years ago Burgaw and Pender County came together to rebuild after Hurricane Florence. We have no doubt our community is strong enough to overcome the Covid-19 pandemic as we all work together to contain this situation.”
Festival officials said planning for the 2021 festival has already started, and asks fans to ‘mark their calendars’ for June 18 and 19 feb
