Bluesberry Festival brings a berry good time to Unity Park
Published 10:12 am Monday, April 14, 2025
Festivalgoers battle it out in the blueberry eating contest, seeing who can devour the most berries in a timed challenge during the Bluesberry Olympics.
Mayor Scott James Matheson dons a blueberry-themed outfit on the main stage at Unity Park in celebration of the 3rd annual Bluesberry Festival.
Contestants dig into pies during the pie-eating competition, one of the messier events of the day at the Bluesberry Olympics.
Southern Junction Blues Band delivers a lively performance on the Unity Park stage Saturday afternoon.
Georgia State Senator Russ Goodman leads the Bluesberry Olympics on the main stage. The festival staple featured light-hearted competitions celebrating all things blueberry.
[L-R] Justin Geers, Kerri Lancaster, and Steve Miller at the Habitat for Humanity tent during the Bluesberry Festival. The organization highlighted volunteer opportunities and shared how their ReStore helps fund projects across Valdosta.
Anthony takes on the challenge at the Valdosta Fire Department's mini-gauntlet, giving kids a chance to experience a slice of firefighter training in a small way.
VALDOSTA — Unity Park was a sea of smiles, music, and berry-themed treats this weekend as the third annual Bluesberry Festival filled downtown Valdosta with a celebration of all things sweet, southern, and blue.
Families and festival-goers gathered for a day packed with blueberry-themed fun, from the friendly chaos of the Bluesberry Olympics to the soulful sounds of the Southern Junction blues band. Attendees strolled between vendor tents, enjoying blueberry-infused treats, unique crafts, and cold drinks under great weather.
The Bluesberry Olympics, hosted on the main stage by Georgia state Sen. Russ Goodman, was a crowd favorite. Fierce competition ensued in the park during activities like the pie-eating and blueberry-eating competitions, where participants, young and old, dove into plates of berry-infused treats.
The Valdosta Fire Department got in on the fun with an interactive obstacle course that let kids run a mini-firefighter gantlet.
“I think it’s just a good way to let kids feel what it’s like to be part of a fire department,” said Lt. Caron Wright with the Valdosta Fire Department. “It’s something they can do just to have fun and maybe see a future in it.”
The lot beside Unity Park was transformed into a bustling marketplace full of different experiences for attendees to find. From limited blueberry-themed goods to the classic festival finds, the marketplace was as busy as the park over the weekend.
With its sweet treats, good tunes, and community pride, the Bluesberry Festival once again proved why it is quickly becoming a beloved Valdosta tradition.
