TOGETHER WITH

Good morning Wilmington!

Wilmington’s got the blues—in the best way. The Cape Fear Blues Fest and the NC Blueberry Festival hits town this weekend, and if that’s not your jam maybe try some indoor climbing at the Wilmington Rock Gym.

In today’s Port City Pulse:

• North Carolina Blueberry Festival Returns to Burgaw

🎉 North Carolina Blueberry Festival Returns to Burgaw June 20-21 🎶🫐

Downtown Burgaw will come alive this weekend for the return of the beloved North Carolina Blueberry Festival, featuring two days packed with live music, family fun, food, and all things blueberry.

Friday Night Kickoff – June 20

Things start rolling Friday evening with limited activities, including blueberry and BBQ sales in the Family Dollar parking lot and the classic Blueberry Stomp at 6 PM. A handful of vendors will open at that time, setting the stage for a concert at 7 PM by beach music legends The Tams.

Festival Day – Saturday, June 21 (opens at 9 AM)

Get ready for a full day of festivities in Downtown Burgaw! The action kicks off early with the 5K & Tour De Blueberry from 7–8:30 AM, followed by the festival’s official opening at 9 AM.

🎤 Live Music Lineup:

• 10–11:30 AM – Band of Brothers

• 1–3 PM – Mighty Saints of Soul

• 4–6 PM – East Coast Party Band

• 7–10 PM – Chairman of the Board

Other Saturday highlights include:

• 🍰 Pie Eating Contest – 3 PM

• 🎨 Street Fair with arts & crafts vendors

• 🍴 Food trucks and blueberry-themed treats

• 🚗 Car & Truck Show

• 🍷 Beer & Wine Garden

• 🏡 Blueberry Farm Tours

🎈 Children’s Activities:

• Magic show

• Foam party

• Character meet and greets

• Amusement rides (tickets required)

• Come Celebrate North Carolina's Favorite Fruit!

Whether you’re there for the music, the pie, or the blueberries straight from local farms, the Blueberry Festival is a celebration of community and culture you won’t want to miss.

• 📍 Where: Downtown Burgaw, NC

• 📅 When: June 20–21, 2025

• 🎟️ Admission: Free (some activities/rides require tickets)

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Kid’s Open Gym @ Wilmington Rock Gym!

June 18 to Aug 23, 2025 | $15 PER VISIT | Ages up to 13 | 1 - 4PM

Are you looking for something fun for your kids to do this summer? Bring them to the climbing gym! On Wednesdays, we'll have open gym time for them to climb and have fun! We'll have staff available each Wednesday to help them with the ropes if they want to climb higher. This isn't a class/camp but is a great way for children to join in the fun of indoor rock climbing! This is great for first time climbers and more advanced gym monkeys alike! Parents must stay with their kids.

Learn More »

NC Auto Insurance Rates Set to Rise 5% Starting October

[WRAL] North Carolina automobile insurance rates will increase by an average of 5% beginning October 1, following a settlement between state regulators and the insurance industry. The rate hike is far less than the 23% increase requested earlier this year by the North Carolina Rate Bureau. The agreement avoids a scheduled September hearing and keeps NC’s rates among the lowest in the country, according to Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey. Meanwhile, motorcycle liability insurance will see an average 16.3% decrease statewide.

Read More »

News Roundup

Local News

• Laney High School has hired longtime assistant Steve Brooks as its new head football coach. Brooks, a 2000 Laney graduate, said he's honored to lead the program he once played for and hopes to build on its legacy. WECT

• The City of Wilmington lifted a stop-work order for a development project that removed several live oak trees. After developers submitted a revised tree protection plan, the city allowed construction to resume despite criticism from residents who say too much canopy was lost. WWAY

What You Should Know

• Donald Trump confirmed U.S. involvement in a joint attack on Iran, claiming “complete and total control” of the situation. The comments mark a sharp departure from official Pentagon statements, raising concerns about coordination and messaging at the federal level. Mediaite

• Kraft Heinz announced it will eliminate artificial dyes from all its U.S. products by 2027. The move follows public pressure and growing awareness of health risks linked to synthetic food coloring, especially in products marketed to children. New York Times, CBS News

What Might Surprise You

• The NAACP will not invite President Donald Trump to its national convention this year — the first time in the civil rights organization’s 116-year history that it has excluded a sitting president — citing what it described as his attacks on American democracy. MSN

• R. Kelly reportedly overdosed in prison, and his lawyer alleges it may have been part of a murder plot. While details remain unclear, the legal team claims the singer may have been targeted by other inmates or prison staff. New York Post

• The doctor who prescribed ketamine to Matthew Perry before his death has pleaded guilty to illegally distributing the drug. Dr. Sarah Baldyga admitted to writing multiple prescriptions without proper medical justification in the months before the actor’s fatal overdose. Deadline

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

✅ Check out the Wilmington Rock Gym

✅ Stop by the NC Blueberry Festival and bring home some blueberries!