The month of April in our hometown presents a splendid display of springtime activities. With the longer daylight, warmer weather and an extensive city calendar, here are a few events coming up that are sure to get you out and about.

Paint the Town (or Anything Else You Want)

Now this is a cool event! Open Easels is a show for artists 18 years old and up who are not currently represented in public spaces. The show takes place on Friday and Saturday, April 11 and 12, at the Harrison Center (Christ Church). Each artist can display two pieces of original, two-dimensional art. Entries will be priced for sale by the artist, and registration ends March 28. For details, click here.

Bring your little bunnies to the Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 12, at Lawson Creek Park.

Be on the Hunt

With Easter coming up, you can be sure to find a good egg hunt (or two)! The annual Easter Egg Hunt is set for Saturday, April 12, 10 a.m., at Lawson Creek Park. Kids aged one to 12 will have different hunt starts. For the older kiddos, come out to the Twilight Egg Hunt on Thursday, April 17, 7:45 p.m., at Glenburnie Park. Be sure to bring a basket or other container to collect the goodies, along with a flashlight for the Twilight hunt. Both events are free to participate, compliments of the New Bern Parks and Recreation Department.

Take the Stage

One of the most enjoyable shows of the year is back! The New Bern Follies for 2025 takes place on Saturday, April 26, at 7:30 p.m. at the New Bern Civic Theatre. With a nostalgic nod to the years of Vaudeville, all kinds of acts will take the stage, whether it be singing, dancing, comedy and more. I have been to this show in years past, and I must say it is a night full of surprises and pure entertainment. Tickets begin at just $24; click here to purchase.

There is a load of fun in store for you and your family over the 30 days in April. It’s full “spring” ahead in New Bern!

By Caramia Valentin, The Sun Journal

February 3, 2025

Representatives from the Craven County Tourism Development Authority, Tryon Palace and Weyerhaeuser presented a $5,000 check from the Trail to Tryon proceeds to the American Legion Post 539 in New Bern.

The 2024 Trail to Tryon Race on Nov. 9 attracted around 460 participants who traveled through New Bern in a half marathon, 10K or 5K, said Seth Plank, a portfolio analyst for Weyerhaeuser.

Since its inception in 2022, Weyerhaeuser has been the presenting sponsor for the race, along with many other sponsors.

Melissa Riggle, executive director for the TDA, said partners like Weyerhaeuser contributed to the success of Trail to Tryon.

“We’ve had great partners with Weyerhaeuser and Tryon Palace and all of our other sponsors, Chad Sittig Insurance Agency, Trader Construction,” Riggle said. “It has just really come to be this great annual event, so in our third year, we are super proud to present proceeds to our beneficiaries, who have been doing great work in this region for our local veterans.

“We want to do everything we can to support them, and we’re so proud that this can do that year after year.”

American Legion Commander Liz Hartman and American Legion representative Dave Nelson were at Tryon Palace recently to receive the check on behalf of the organization.

Hartman said funds from Trail to Tryon help the American Legion provide financial assistance to veterans in the form of rent payments, car payments and grocery gift cards. Additionally, the funds help send area children to Americanism programs to learn about the United States Constitution and American history.

“I think a lot of times when you see these checks, you think it’s just money, but I want everyone to realize that the $5,000, that’s essentially from Weyerhaeuser, it’s literally changing lives in the community,” Hartman said, during the presentation. “For the American Legion, this isn’t just money, this is people’s lives that Weyerhaeuser has changed.”

Plank was involved in Trail to Tryon as a participant in the first two years but volunteered to help on race day and speak at the start of the race. 

“The event was great, and I was happy to help,” Plank said. “On behalf of Weyerhaeuser, it’s been a great honor to be the presenting sponsor and help out the last few years.”

This year, Trail to Tryon is scheduled for Dec. 6 in New Bern. Riggle said the new festive date offers a run experience coupled with the holiday festivities New Bern has to offer.

Participants can choose between a half marathon, 10K or 5K. The half marathon costs $65 to enter, the 10K costs $45 and the 5K costs $30.

The new year seems to be the perfect time to think about what we love about New Bern. Here are three of my favorite things that offer the best of our spectacular hometown.

Favorite Thing #1 – Downtown

Middle Street in New Bern’s Downtown is Picture-Perfect.

Streetscapes and storefronts that resemble a Hallmark town? In our downtown, you will feel like someone from the big city coming back to his/her hometown without the hassle of being cast in the latest movie. Quaint cafes, art galleries, locally owned shops and sweet (store) sensations await you here. Be sure to check out Baker’s Kitchen, Bear City Fudge, Next Chapter Books and Art, Cypress Hall, Mitchell Hardware and so many more wonderful spaces and places to explore.

Favorite Thing #2 – Town Bears

North Carolina is known for its bears (the real kind), yet New Bern is most known for its friendly bears (the plaster kind). Over 90 bears are out of hibernation around the area, each themed to compliment the bear’s sponsor. From “Greenzly” at Union Point Park to “Flag Bearer” at City Hall to one of the newest bears, “Welcome Home Bear” at Comet West New Bern Apartments, these creatures are fun to hunt down. For a complete list and map of locations, you can pick up one in person at the Cub House Visitor Center or click here.

Favorite Thing #3 – Town Events

You may first think of New Bern as a friendly, lovely and charming town, all of which are true. However, our town’s true colors beautifully show during the plethora of events we enjoy throughout the year. An array of offerings, including Plein Air Art Festival, Footloose on the Neuse Summer Concert Series, MumFest and Beary Merry Christmas are just some of our signature annual events. Add in the monthly ArtWalk, July Fourth Celebration and Halloween festivities, and your calendar is packed before you know it. Check out Visit New Bern’s website for an up-to-date list of activities.

In New Bern, your list of favorite things may likely include at least one of the above-mentioned. However, there is so much to choose from, the “few” should be changed to “many” things!

Ho, ho, ho! The holiday season is upon us, and New Bern is the place for a Beary Merry Christmas! If you enjoy celebrating the magic of the season, you will find it in our hometown, with music, movies, snow, shopping and gallons of hot cocoa! While there are lots of activities and events for you and your family to enjoy, here are a few of my all-time favorites.

Light Up the Park

Once your Thanksgiving meal has settled, it’s time to come on down to the annual Community Christmas Tree Lighting on Friday, November 29! The block party begins at 4 p.m. on Middle Street, with a DJ, games, axe throwing, aerial circus performances, crafts, face painting and more. The tree lighting takes place at Union Point Park at 5:45 p.m., with Santa arriving soon after. The party continues with entertainment until 8:30 p.m. This is a wonderful way to kick off the holidays.

The Live Window Displays are a must-see this (and every) holiday season!

Light Up the Scene

On Friday, December 13, the windows come alive! New Bern’s Live Window Display takes place 6 – 8 p.m. Will it be a repeat for 2023’s first-place winner Twice as Nice? Bring out the entire family for an evening of window shopping while enjoying the sights of the season. Grab dinner either before or after your stroll at New Bern’s extensive restaurant offerings, including Morgan’s Tavern, Captain Ratty’s or Cypress Hall.

Light Up the Town

The splendor of the season continues throughout December. On Thursday evenings, stores will be open late, so you have extra time to find that special gift, all with festive entertainment. Visits with Santa provide the perfect opportunity to capture memories of your child’s wish list. Santa’s House is a magical place to see where the “Red One” lives this time of year. Definitely do not miss the chance for a carriage ride to enjoy the twinkling, colorful lights!

The holiday season is truly enchanting in New Bern. Be sure to enjoy all these delights (and more) that we have to light up your life! For more information, check out Visit New Bern.

New Bern has an amazing community of Veterans from all branches of service. We appreciate all that they have done for our country and our town. This Veterans Day, we have two special events to show our appreciation.

The Inaugural Trail to Tryon in 2022 attracted walkers and runners from around the state and beyond.

Race to the Finish

Saturday, November 11 is the Second Annual Trail to Tryon, a foot race through New Bern’s historic downtown and riverfront. Participants have the choice of running or walking a 5K, 10K or half-marathon. In addition to the in-person events, you can join the fun virtually for any of the races. Weyerhaeuser is proud to again serve as the presenting sponsor, with a portion of the event proceeds benefitting American Legion Post 539. Festivities begin at 7 a.m. at Tryon Palace, with a post-celebration from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the N.C. History Center, full of fun, prizes and excitement. For more details, click here.

March to the Finish

Now in its fourth year, the Annual March for the 22 takes place on Veterans Day with the option of a 22-mile, 22-kilometer or two-kilometer walk route. The finish line for all distances is at Union Point Park. The event is intentional in that it is a walk, so participants are doing it together to build friendships and support systems. Tickets to participate are only $22. The number 22 is very significant to the Veteran community, as an average of 22 commit suicide each day. American Legion Post 539 utilizes proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships to provide financial support and other services to Veterans throughout Craven County. For more details, click here.

While these two events support our area Veterans, there is more we can all do throughout the year. Let’s show our appreciation of what they have done for us, so we have the freedom to do all the things we do.

September is a welcome breather from the hot weather, as the nights begin to cool. However, the fun continues to heat up! Here are three things to do to amp up your enjoyment.

A Taste of Fun

Two-legged and four-legged friends are invited to MumFeast.

What began as a way to enjoy New Bern’s signature event, MumFest, during the pandemic, has become a date on the calendar to not miss. MumFeast is back for the fourth year, and it is set to be bigger and better than ever! From 6 to 11 p.m. on Friday, September 29, Downtown New Bern is taken over with “Feasting in the Streets.” Be sure to make reservations early, as this is a jam-packed dining experience. MumFeast also kicks off a month of mum fun, with Mumfest and the Mumfest Concert in October.

A Play of Fun

Gather your girlfriends for a fun night out at the New Bern Civic Theatre. The Revolutionists is a story of four strong women who lose their heads in this irreverent, girl-powered comedy set during the French Revolution’s Reign of Terror. A playwright, an assassin, a Haitian rebel and Marie Antoinette hang out, commit murder and try to beat back the extremist insanity in 1793 Paris. This hilarious comedy is about a variety of emotions, plethora of “isms” and the bond of sisterhood. It is raucous fun and sure to be a memorable time for your tribe! Performances run the weekends of September 22 and 29. For tickets, click here.

A Trail of Fun

The second annual Trail to Tryon is set for Saturday, November 11, so it is time to lace up those sneakers and start training! Weyerhaeuser is once again the presenting sponsor of this 5k, 10k and half-marathon event. The races run through the streets of Downtown New Bern and along the scenic riverfront. Afterward, the post-race celebration will be filled with food trucks, vendors, music and medal presentations. Whether you participate in the race or cheer someone on, you and the entire family will enjoy a Veterans Day to remember! To sign up, click here.

The country, North Carolina and New Bern returned to in-person activities this year, and we were all for it! Here are four wonderful places in time we celebrated this year.

Comet West New Bern includes 224 apartment homes.

The Place for Activity

West New Bern was the site for amazing progress throughout the year, including Comet West New Bern. The apartment home neighborhood welcomed lots of new residents. The resort-style pool was the scene for hours of fun and relaxation. We saw more than one friendly competition on the pickleball courts between neighbors!

Space and Place

During 2022, we welcomed many families to D.R. Horton’s first single-family neighborhood in West New Bern. The builder also introduced its Villa Series, homes with new floorplans and rear-load garages. The neighborhood looks fantastic, and you can see for yourself daily at the Penwell model home.

Treat yourself to a spa experience at New Bern Aesthetic Center.

A Self-Care Place

The 13,000-square-foot New Bern Aesthetic Center opened in the fall as a true “lift” to our community! Dr. John Zannis and his team outdid themselves, with an amazing offering of services. In early November, the Center hosted the First Annual New Bern Health and Wellness Fair. If you have yet to visit, do yourself a favor and make an appointment. Be sure to take time in the Zen Garden!

Win, Place and Show

Weyerhaeuser, the developer of West New Bern, was the presenting sponsor of the inaugural Trail to Tryon race along the Tryon Palace perimeter, throughout Downtown New Bern and around the riverfront. The event, which included a 5K, 10K and half-marathon, was a “runaway” success, with over 250 participants. The race was produced by the New Bern-Craven County Visitor and Convention Bureau, with some proceeds benefiting the local American Legion Post 539.

If you have been waiting to visit West New Bern, perhaps it will be on your list of resolutions in 2023. We cannot think of a better one that is easy to keep!

September brings a ton of fun to New Bern! If you are looking for a family outing, a spicy dish or a cold brew (or perhaps all three), look no further. Here are three upcoming special outings to enjoy.

Get the Chills

Cotton candy is a must at the Craven County Fall Fest!

Is there anything better than a bag of cotton candy, followed by a corn dog? Just be sure to enjoy after the rides! These “delicacies” and more may be enjoyed at the Fall Fest at the Craven County Jaycees Fairgrounds, September 14 to 18. The fair is sure to offer a fantastic time, with rides, food, games and more. Lots of entertainment adds to the fun, so be sure to check out the schedule here.

Another Bowl of Chili

It’s been quite a long time for the Havelock Chili Festival, but it is back! The 40^th annual event takes place on Saturday, September 24, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., at Walter B. Jones Park. Come out for a chillaxing day of great food, music, vendors and more. The day’s activities naturally include a cook-off, with participants competing to win for the best red chili. To complement the deliciousness, you will enjoy live entertainment, a variety of vendors and more. More details are here.

I’ll Have a Chilled One

The New Bern Breakfast Rotary Club hosts the 11th Annual B/S/H/ Oktoberfest, on Saturday, September 24, 5 p.m., at Union Point Park. This is a fantastic party, complete with The Little German Band and Dancers as the main performance. Treat yourself to scrumptious German-style food and beer. I’ve been told there is a stein-holding contest, yet I have no idea what that entails. Purchase tickets here.

If these three events are any indication of what lies ahead for the fall, we will be chilling out quite a bit!

After a year of saying no to so many evenings out, we are finally getting back to being able to say yes! Here are three upcoming special nights out in July, all in New Bern:

Yes #1 – ArtWalk

You have read here before how much I enjoy the monthly ArtWalk in Downtown New Bern. On Friday, July 9, you can stroll along the streets, stopping into the town’s many shops, galleries and restaurants. Even more special this month is “Stacked,” an exhibition featuring area artists’ creations on a deck of playing cards. Each card will have a unique work of art! ArtWalk runs 5 to 8 p.m. Click here for more details about Stacked.

I hope they sing my favorite songs. Actually, they are all my favorites!

Yes #2 – Footloose on the Neuse

If you love being outdoors, listening to great music and catching up with friends, this music series is the perfect yes. This year’s line-up is fantastic, and you cannot go wrong with any concert. However, on July 16, we get to hear the sounds of my all-time favorite band. The “Ultimate Eagles Tribute – On the Border” is sure to please, and it will surely be packed, so get to Union Point Park early! Festivities begin at 6:30 p.m. Check out the series schedule here.

Yes #3 – Steel Magnolias

We are talking about July, so when you want to head inside for cooler air, why not say yes to taking in a memorable play? You have likely seen the movie; now it is time to experience the story in live theater. Rivertowne Players is presenting Steel Magnolias over two weekends, July 16-18 and 23-25. While the movie came out decades ago, the story of everlasting friendships is timeless. We secured tickets for Friday, July 23, and I am already thinking of my favorite lines from the movie! For tickets, click here.

It may be one of New Bern’s hottest months in more ways than one. Get out, have some fun and enjoy our town’s variety of things to say yes to!