>>> SUMMERTIME MEANS IT'S BLACKBERRY SEASON, AND THE ONLY
THING BETTER THAN PICKING AND EATING WILD BLACKBERRIES IS
HEADING OVER TO LENOIR FOR THE ANNUAL NORTH CAROLINA
BLACKBERRY FESTIVAL.
YOU'LL FIND A FUN-FILLED DAY OF ACTIVITIES FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY
TO ENJOY ALONG WITH, OF COURSE, BLACKBERRIES.
>> WE BEGAN THIS FESTIVAL AS A VERY SMALL LITTLE COMMUNITY
FESTIVAL WITH ABOUT A THOUSAND PEOPLE AND ABOUT 25 VENDORS, AND
OVER THE COURSE OF ITS EXPANSION, WE'RE NOW AT ABOUT
165 VENDORS, AND LAST YEAR WE HAD ABOUT 13,000 PEOPLE, AND WE
EXPECT IT TO GET BIGGER AND BETTER EVERY YEAR.
>> THE BLACKBERRY FESTIVAL IS A FAMILY-ORIENTED FESTIVAL.
WE HAVE A CHILDREN'S AREA WITH A BOUNCE HOUSE.
WE HAVE A TRAIN THAT TAKES PEOPLE AROUND.
[TRAIN WHISTLE]
[BELL RINGING]
>> THERE'S A VARIETY OF VENDORS ON HAND.
>> WE HAVE ARTS AND CRAFTS.
WE TRY TO HAVE HANDCRAFTED AS WELL AS A LITTLE BIT
OF COMMERCIAL.
>> AND PLENTY OF LOCAL PRODUCTS TO BE SAMPLED AND,
OF COURSE, BLACKBERRIES.
>> MR. LINEBERGER FROM KILLDEER FARMS PROVIDE BERRIES EVERY YEAR
FOR OUR FESTIVAL-GOERS.
HE BRINGS AN ENTIRE TRUCK OF BLACKBERRIES THAT HE KEEPS
REFRIGERATED TO SELL AT OUR FESTIVAL.
HE IS OUR CORNERSTONE VENDOR.
HE HAS JUST BEEN INSTRUMENTAL AND SO HELPFUL IN HELPING THE
BLACKBERRY FESTIVAL GROW.
WE HAVE SEVERAL DIFFERENT ACTIVITIES THAT GO ON
DURING THE FESTIVAL.
ONE OF THE ACTIVITIES IS A BLACKBERRY PRINCESS CONTEST.
AND WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT AGE DIVISIONS, UM, BETWEEN THE AGES
OF 4 AND 11, AND IT'S NO PAGEANTRY.
DRESSES ARE ALLOWED.
NO MAKE-UP IS ALLOWED.
GIRLS COME IN, AND THEY'RE INTERVIEWED.
THEY HAVE SEVERAL SIMPLE QUESTIONS.
>> AND SHARE A TALENT LIKE A SONG.
[SINGING]
>> OR A VERSE.
>> I'M A LITTLE BLACKBERRY.
WHERE SHOULD I GO?
>> THE JUDGES MAKE THEIR DECISIONS, AND THE BLACKBERRY
PRINCESSES ARE CROWNED.
ANOTHER CROWD FAVORITE ACTIVITY IS --
>> WE HAVE AN EATING COMPETITION WITH BOTH A YOUTH AND
ADULT CATEGORY.
>> READY, SET, EAT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
GO, GO, GO.
COME ON.
YOU GUYS CAN DO IT FASTER THAN THAT.
>> THE CONTESTANT WHO FINISHES OFF THE BERRIES IN THEIR
CONTAINER THE FASTEST WINS.
>> OH, MY GOODNESS!
>> ADULT WINNER CURT HILLER SHARED HIS WINNING STRATEGY.
>> IT'S ALL IN THE WRIST AND SCOOP, YOU KNOW, AND JUST TAKE
AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AND CHEW AND SWALLOW AT THE SAME TIME.
THEY WERE DELICIOUS.
THEY WERE JUICY.
AND THAT MADE IT A LOT EASIER.
>> AND THE FUN FOR ALL AGES DOESN'T COME ANY EASIER THAN AT
THE BLACKBERRY FESTIVAL.
THERE'S MUSIC AND DANCING AND THE MOST ANTICIPATED EVENT OF
THE FESTIVAL, THE ASSEMBLING OF --
>> THE WORLD'S LARGEST PATCHWORK OF BLACKBERRY COBBLERS.
>> VOLUNTEERS PICK UP COBBLER KITS FROM THE LOCAL CHAMBER.
>> AND WE PROVIDE THE BLACKBERRIES, THE FLOUR, THE
SUGAR, THE BUTTER, THE RECIPE, AND THE PAN.
THEY ADD THE MILK AND BAKE THE COBBLER AND BRING IT TO US ON
THE MORNING OF THE FESTIVAL.
THIS YEAR WE HAVE 224 COBBLERS.
>> AND THEN --
[TRUMPET PLAYING "WHEN THE SAINTS COME MARCHING IN"]
>> -- THE COBBLERS ARE MARCHED INTO TOWN IN --
>> THE COLOSSAL COBBLER PARADE BRIGADE, WHICH IS MADE UP OF A
LOT OF KIDS, WAGONS, STROLLERS, WHOEVER WE CAN GET TO CARRY
COBBLERS, THEY'RE BROUGHT INTO THE CENTER OF TOWN, PLACED IN A
PATCHWORK DESIGN FASHION.
>> AND THEN WE HAVE FREE SERVINGS OF BLACKBERRY COBBLER
'TIL IT'S GONE.
>> WHICH DOESN'T TAKE TOO LONG, SO GET THERE EARLY AND YOU'LL
HAVE A BERRY GOOD TIME.
THIS IS DEREK LONG FOR "NORTH CAROLINA WEEKEND."