Fall in New Bern is a spectacular time of year to fall in love with our hometown. There is a bounty of activities and special events, including these two favorites.

The Mum Maze is A-Maize-ing

Get ready for our hometown to bloom with color! On Saturday and Sunday, October 11 and 12, the MumFest arch and mum maze are back with another year of food, mums, live entertainment, arts, crafts and more (did I mention mums already?). The festival boasted over 75,000 attendees last year, and the attendance is expected to be even higher this year. Over 45 food vendors will be on hand, so be sure to come with an appetite. The kids’ zone includes a fossil dig, petting zoo and special activities for your little ones. If you want to get in some exercise in addition to walking around the fest, sign up for the Mumosa 5K and One-Mile Fun Run, presented by New Bern Parks and Recreation. The course begins and ends at Union Point Park. Better yet, you can enjoy a free “Mumosa” afterward! Sign up here.

Do You Be-leaf in Ghosts?

Now in its 35^th year, Ghostwalk offers the entire family some good, ghostly fun. Each year’s experience is different from the past, as new ghosts seem to pop up in New Bern’s past and historic sites. The event is set for October 23 – 25, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Guides will lead you through stops at Cedar Grove cemetery to hear exciting stories based on real characters and events. Afterward, you go at your own pace, with historical spirits sharing their tales on porches and in select buildings in downtown New Bern. If you get ghoulishly hungry, local churches are selling budget-friendly meals for Ghostwalk visitors. For more information, click here.

Fall is an amazing time to enjoy the sights and sounds of New Bern. You “autumn” get here as soon as you can! Check out visitnewbern.com for a complete list of activities.

It’s fall. That means cooler weather, football games, and most importantly, MumFest! This year’s “mum-orable” time begins with MumFeast.

Feast for Your Eyes

Mum’s the word on one of our favorite events of the year…NOT! We love spreading the word about the delicious MumFeast. The time to wear stretchy pants is back, with the feast fest set for Friday, September 27. The “feasting in the streets” takes place in Downtown New Bern from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. along Middle Street. This year’s MumFeast includes street cafes, food trucks, a beer garden, games and live music with Sam Lewis. It’s a feast for the eyes and stomach! For more details, click here.

This Fest is Best

For the weekend of October 12 and 13, excitement blooms all around town! While MumFest’s main attraction may be our love for colorful mums, the weekend is full of activities for the entire family. Union Point Park is the main “planting stage” for events, including live entertainment, demonstrations and BMX stunt performances. Of course, you are missing out if you don’t take a selfie in front of the mum arch! Down along Pollock and Craven Streets, you can enjoy a brew in the Yuengling Beer Garden while listening to live music. Or, perhaps chalk art, motorcycle demonstrations or dance performances are more your style. No matter how you wish to spend your day (or days) at MumFest, there will be plenty of opportunities for entertainment. Of course, your hunger pangs will be relieved, as food and beverages are available throughout the event. If you want to get in some exercise to work off those calories, there is a 5k and fun run on Sunday, October 12, at 7:30 a.m. For a complete schedule of activities, click here.

New Bern is always hopping with lots of amazing things to do, sights to see and food to indulge. MumFeast and MumFest present a bouquet of it all!

Guess what time it is? For those of you who have yet to visit our lovely hometown in October, it is officially Mum Season! Of course, we cannot forget that other season, the spooky one. Here are three “mumorable” events this month in New Bern.

Get Festive

Mark those calendars for the weekend of October 14 and 15, when the town is abloom with color! The entire downtown is transformed into a massive floral display while you enjoy food, entertainment, arts, crafts and so much more. In 2022, the weekend drew over 80,000 visitors, and it is sure to do even more this year. Be sure to stop by the mum arch at Union Point Park for a photo op, along with a trip around the mum maze.

Get Loud

I can barely contain my excitement about the headline performer at this year’s MumFest Concert! Sugar Ray, the fantastic pop rock band from the 90s, will hit the stage on Saturday, October 21. Be there to sing along to favorites such as Someday, Fly and Every Morning. The concert takes place at Lawson Creek Park, with gates opening at 4:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $30; click here to purchase.

Get Spooky

Ghostwalk, now in its 33^rd year, combines spirits from New Bern’s past and historic sites for a fun event for the entire family. This year’s event is set for October 19 – 21, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Guides will lead you through stops at Cedar Grove cemetery to hear exciting stories based on real characters and events. Afterward, you go at your own pace, with historical spirits sharing their tales on porches and in select buildings in downtown New Bern. To reserve tickets, click here.

In addition to these amazing, fun-filled events, be sure to check out all that New Bern has to offer in October here. Now get going!

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

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.

Fall has arrived, and that can mean only one thing. Well actually several things, as New Bern is chock full of activities lined up for October. Three of my absolutely favorite events celebrate the beautiful blooms seen throughout our hometown, mums! MumFest, MumFest Concert and MumFeast are set, so now it is just a matter of how to fit in all the fun.

The Best Fest

Mark those calendars for the weekend of October 8 and 9, when the city is in full bloom! The entire downtown is transformed into a massive floral display while you enjoy food, entertainment, arts, crafts and so much more. Last year’s MumFest drew in over 70,000 visitors, and this year it is sure to be even bigger. Stop by the mum arch at Union Point Park for a photo op, along with a trip around the mum maze.

The Music Maker

One of my favorite performers, Jimmie Allen, is the headliner for the MumFest Concert on Friday, October 14. Allen received the CMA New Artist of the Year Award, and he will be ready to show us why he won with his amazing voice and energy! The concert takes place at Lawson Creek Park, with gates opening at 4:30 p.m. General admission tickets are $25; click here to purchase.

And the Feast of It

Now that we have become spoiled with the delicious MumFeast for the past two years, thank goodness it is back again! Taking place the weekend of October 21 and 22, the “Feasting in the Streets” in Downtown New Bern will offer a meal to satisfy any and all your cravings. This year, we have the added bonus of Ghostwalk happening the same days to round out a weekend of food, fright and sights!

Mums are the word for the month, however no one is keeping mum about these fantastic events!

Over the past two months, I have listed eight examples of why I adore New Bern. For this month, I list the final four of my Top-12 List.

#9 – City Hall

New Bern’s charm is perfectly personified by the city’s meeting place. I may be biased, but I think New Bern’s City Hall is a superb example of how other cities’ buildings should be created and constructed. From the amazing architecture (purportedly Romanesque Revival) to the four-faced clock tower, City Hall is the number-one landmark in downtown.

#10 – The Riverfront

New Bern is ideally situated at the convergence of two rivers, Trent and Neuse. Along both waterways, you will discover intriguing alcoves, beautiful homes and one of my favorite restaurants, Persimmons. These two rivers offer endless hours of enjoyment on and by the water. New Bern’s scenic riverfront allows you to walk to and from hotels, restaurants, marinas, parks and the Convention Center.

#11 – Bed-and-Breakfasts

Bed-and-Breakfasts are definitely an attraction in themselves in New Bern, with one downtown street even boasting several B&B homes in a row. I have stayed at a few of them already, and I already have plans to stay at other ones on future visits. Each one presents a distinct charm, yet all of them seem to have one thing in common:  making you feel right at home.

#12 – The Events

Whether you live in New Bern or just visiting, you are never in short supply of special events. Lots of fun activities await, including the Footloose on the Neuse concert series and The Great Trent River Raft Race. In October, the widely popular MumFest and MumFeast are in full bloom, with live entertainment, crafts, food and, of course, mums! Other special happenings include the Ghost Walk for Halloween and holiday-specific events, such as Beary Merry Christmas.

These four reasons conclude my Top-12 List of what I truly love about New Bern. Perhaps this list will pique your interest to discover what you love about this adorable town!

As October approaches, I know that cooler weather is just around the corner. It also means it is my favorite time of year to celebrate the blooms that New Bern has made famous (at least in these parts). MumFest is set for a return, after last year’s event was reimagined as MumFeast due to the pandemic. This year, we get to enjoy both events, along with a concert!

MumFest

For the weekend of October 9 and 10, the blooms take over! MumFest is New Bern’s opportunity to show off our fascination with these beautiful flowers in downtown and throughout the city. Perhaps, the “fest” part of it is the best part, with food, entertainment, arts and crafts. The renowned festival attracts thousands each year from near and far away. With the 2020 event cancelled, this year is sure to be an explosion of colorful fun. Drop by the mum arch at Union Point Park for a photo op, and take a run around the mum maze.

MumFeast

Last year’s inaugural MumFeast event is back, taking place the weekend of October 16 and 17. Downtown New Bern will transform into an amazing feasting in the streets. A variety of restaurants are participating, so you can dine on whatever you crave. You can have lunch or dinner, then browse the shops and street wares. Come enjoy the flavors of MumFeast!

MumFest Concert

For 2021, we have the great fortune to have a true headliner for the MumFest Concert. International superstar Nelly will perform on Friday, October 29, 6 p.m. at Lawson Creek Park. This concert is sure to be exciting entertainment under the stars that will attract a crowd, so get there early! Tickets can be purchased here.

Whether you enjoy MumFest, MumFeast or the MumFest Concert, you will undoubted enjoy a “mumorable” time!