Summer in Burgaw means heat, humidity, and blueberries. The first two are non-negotiable. The third is worth it. U-pick farms open in late May and run through July - after that the season is done and won't come back for eleven months. Get out before 9am on any given day and you'll be fine. After 10, you're on your own.
Blueberry season
Pender County is legitimately blueberry country. Several farms operate U-pick operations within 15 minutes of downtown Burgaw. The season runs roughly late May through mid-July depending on the variety and the year's rainfall.
Bring your own containers. Wear closed-toe shoes - the ground is uneven. Go on a weekday morning if you can. The farms are busy on Saturday mornings and the rows closest to the entrance get picked over fast. Walk deeper in and you'll find clusters that haven't been touched.
The blueberries here are larger and sweeter than anything you'll find in a grocery store. That's not regional pride - it's just true. The sandy loam soil and the long summer days produce a different fruit.
Surviving the heat
Anything outdoors should happen before 10am or after 6pm. This is not a suggestion. July and August in coastal North Carolina are genuinely hot - highs in the low 90s with humidity that makes it feel worse. The river trail at 8am is extraordinary. The same trail at 2pm is unpleasant.
The Burgaw Town Park has shade and is a reasonable place to spend a late afternoon. The library is air-conditioned and has good afternoon light.
What the farm stands have
Summer stands are loaded: tomatoes in every variety, corn, squash, cucumbers, butter beans, okra. If you see a stand selling field peas or butter beans by the bushel - shelled or unshelled - buy them. They freeze well and there is no off-season substitute.