N.C. Strawberry Festival Chadbourn, May 1–4, 2008 Brunswick EMC, co-sponsor First held in 1926, this three-day event features a parade, the naming of the Strawberry Queen, cooking contest (including strawberry shortcake), a strawberry quality contest and entertainment. Before the parade, the festival honors all involved in the local strawberry industry with a social called “Strawberry Encounters” for all to share stories. (910) 640-7084 www.ncstrawberryfestival.com
White Lake Water Festival May 16–18, 2008 Four County Electric, co-sponsor Celebrating the beginning of summer at this lake resort community, the festival in Bladen County includes a Miss White Lake beauty pageant, oldies and beach music, a parade, a shag contest, garden tractor and antique tractor pulls, a classic car show, a tube race and a sandcastle contest. (910) 862-4800 www.whitelakenc.com
Big Lick Bluegrass Festival Oakboro, June 13–14, 2008 Union Power Cooperative, title sponsor Union Power and Touchstone Energy are proud title sponsors of the Big Lick Bluegrass Festival. The festival attracts more than 1,500 people and widely-known bands. (704) 485-4906 www.biglick-festival-park.com
Hillsborough Hog Day June 20–21, 2008 Piedmont EMC, co-sponsor Hillsborough Hog Day offers family fun, good food, live music, crafters, merchandise vendors, games and rides, and the area’s largest classic auto show. The festival starts on Friday night, when 36 pig cooking teams roll into town. On Saturday vendors sell everything from video games to hand-painted stained glass. More than 35,000 people annually enjoy judging the pork for themselves. (919) 732-8156 www.hogdays.com
N.C. Blueberry Festival Burgaw, June 21, 2008 Four County Electric, co-sponsor The Blueberry Festival celebrates the historical, economic and cultural significance of blueberries in the southeastern region of our state. The first cultivated blueberry production in North Carolina began in the Pender County area in the 1930s. The festival includes prints by nationally-recognized Pender County artist Ivey Hayes, entertainment, a blueberry recipe and bakeoff contest, farming exposition, a car show, 5K run/walk and cycling event. (888) 576-4756 www.ncblueberryfestival.com 16 SEPTEMBER 2007 Carolina Country
Fireworks cap off the 4th of July Celebration in Oakboro.
Freedom Fest
4th of July Celebration
Rockingham, June Pee Dee EMC, co-sponsor Held at the Rockingham Dragway, the event raises money for men and women in military service. Festivities include carnival rides, wrestling, motorcycle stunt show, drag racing of all levels and a car show. The military also brings cannons, Humvees, an F-15 exhibit and other equipment. (910) 582-3400 www.rockinghamdragway.com
Oakboro Union Power Cooperative, co-sponsor Week-long events include beauty pageants, beach music on the Union Power stage, rides, tractor pulls, dancing, a July 4 parade and fireworks, all benefitting the Oakboro Volunteer Fire Department. (704) 485-3351 www.oakboro4th.com
Folkmoot USA
Southport Brunswick EMC, co-sponsor The 4th of July has been celebrated in grand style for more than 200 years in Southport. Each year, around 50,000 people attend the three-day event, which includes a naturalization ceremony, arts and craft booths, food vendors, 5K Freedom Run/Walk, a parade, entertainment, games, Beach Day events, Shag contests, and of course, fireworks. (800) 457-6964 www.nc4thofjuly.com
Waynesville, July Haywood EMC, co-sponsor Folkmoot USA, North Carolina’s Official International Festival, is a two-week celebration of world folk music and dance. Folkmoot features performances, parades and workshops by more than 350 performers who demonstrate colorful, authentic and original reproduction costumes, lively dance and music. Over its 23 years, some 200 folk groups from more than 100 countries have performed. (877) FOLK-USA www.folkmootusa.org
An Appalachian Summer Festival
N.C. Watermelon Festival
North Carolina Fourth of July Festival
Boone, July Blue Ridge Electric, co-sponsor An Appalachian Summer Festival is attended by more than 25,000 people, and has emerged as one of the nation’s most innovative multidisciplinary arts festivals. The three-week event showcases American arts and crafts, visual arts, dance, music and fine arts. Top entertainers from traditional, jazz, symphonic and popular music perform. The Great Outdoor Fireworks is sponsored by Blue Ridge Electric. (800) 841-2787 (ARTS) www.appsummer.org
Fair Bluff, July 27–28, 2008 Brunswick EMC, co-sponsor The event features a parade, the Watermelon Queens, arts and crafts, food vendors, rubber duck races on the Lumbee River, children’s area, pony rides, a petting zoo, watermelon eating and seed-spitting contests. (910) 212-0013 www.ncwatermelonfestival.com
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