Nestled in the heart of Pender County, Burgaw has earned its title as North Carolina’s “Blueberry Town.” What began as a bold agricultural experiment nearly a century ago has blossomed into a thriving industry and a source of deep community pride. A Berry Bold Beginning In the late 1920s, Harold Graham Huntington, a World War I veteran and visionary farmer from New Jersey, saw the sandy, acidic soil...
The North Carolina Blueberry Festival will be hosting their 22nd annual festival this summer. The festival will take place on and around Burgaw’s historic courthouse square. On June 20th, we will have a kickoff concert featuring The Tams starting at 7 p.m., and on June 21st, a full day of festival activities from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. This event is free to the public and includes more than 175 artisan vendors,...
Governor Josh Stein announced today that the overall North Carolina tourism economy held strong against the headwinds of Hurricane Helene. Travelers spent more than $36.7 billion on trips to and within the state in 2024. The previous record of $35.6 billion was set in 2023. “Today’s news underscores what we all know: North Carolina is a fantastic place to visit,” said Governor Josh Stein. “As...
The Cape Fear Hospitality & Tourism Sector Partnership is a new regional initiative designed to bring together hospitality, tourism, and economic development stakeholders to address shared challenges and leverage opportunities. This collaborative partnership spans across the Cape Fear region—including Pender, New Hanover, and Brunswick counties—and serves as a proactive platform to ensure the long-term...
Each year, National Travel & Tourism Week (NTTW) reminds us of the powerful impact that travel and tourism have on our local communities, our economy, and our quality of life. From May 4-10, we join destinations across the nation in recognizing the important role tourism plays—not just in driving economic growth, but in connecting us to the people, places, and stories that make our communities special. This...
