By Ann Marie Byrd, Feature Writer
MumFest, New Bern’s largest and most spectacular event of the year, has grown into a month-long event: MumMonth! Combining together MumFest on October 9-10, MumFeast! on October 15-16 and the MumFest Concert on October 29, MumMonth offers a splendid array of activities, entertainment, exhibitors, performers, local attractions, food and music for adults and children.
MumFest
MumFest, set in the beautifully restored downtown New Bern area and its waterfront, has drawn over 100,000 festival-goers in past years. This year, with more space between vendors to promote safety, locals and visitors will be able to comfortably stroll in and out of local businesses and restaurants, enjoy thrilling rides and street performers, partake in beer and food vendors, and listen to a variety of talented musical acts in multiple locations at the event.
The Miller Lite Beer Garden, located on Front Street in the grassy area between Mitchell Hardware and the Chamber of Commerce building, will feature musical artists Eric Rubich, Justin Castellano, Tommy Duzan and Mason Dixon on Saturday, October 9th. On Sunday, October 10th, there will be performances by William Seymour, Mad Fiddler, and Bridge Atlantic.
Other musical performances will be held in Bear Plaza, located in central downtown between Middle Street and Craven Street, and will feature the Marine Corps Brass Band Ensemble and the Onslow Winds Jazz Ensemble on Saturday October 9th.
The festive musical atmosphere will be paired with delightful street performers and dynamic displays on October 9th and 10th, including the juggling comic Alex Clark; the Silver Drummer Girl Human Statue; the Purina Daredevil Dog Team Stunt Show; ProTowne BMX Stunt Show; and the North Carolina Vietnam Veteran’s Helicopter Pilots Association Display.
For festival-goers that that love to run, on Sunday, October 10th, MumFest is holding its annual 5K and 1 Mile Fun Run, presented by New Bern Parks and Recreation. The run will begin and end at Union Point Park, located at 210 East Front Street in downtown New Bern. To register, please visit www.newbernnc.gov and search for “fun run.”
MumFest will also include an exclusive Eastern NC land boat show at CarolinaEast Union Point Park with an array of boats and vendors, as well as RVs from the Riverside Camping Center.
As always, greater downtown New Bern and its surrounding waterways provide terrific opportunities for all kinds of water sports, such as stand up paddle board rental, sailing, power boating, fishing on the Neuse or just relaxing on the shoreline.
To keep the vibe of the event nice and stress-free, shuttles will be running regularly from Lawson Creek Park and will drop off festival-goers on the corner of Hancock and Broad Street.
MumFeast!
MumFeast! was such a success in 2020 that it’s back again 2021! This year, MumFeast! will be on Friday and Saturday, October 15th and 16th, on the weekend following MumFest. Downtown New Bern, which is known for its unique and delicious restaurants, opens its doors for a full weekend of outdoor dining in the streets. Located on Middle, Pollock and Craven streets, foodies will be able to wander and explore a wide variety of culinary delights and beverages, including New Bern’s famous sampling of seafood, steaks, chicken and exotic ethnic foods.
In addition to street dining, there will also be a food truck rodeo, lots of street vendors, and live music for everyone to enjoy. Musical performances on Friday, October 15th will include Bridge Atlantic and The Bonafides, and on October 16th by Justin Castellano, Tommy Duzan, Joe Baes Band and the Jim Kohler Band.
WRNS MumFest Concert
This year the MumFest concert is scheduled at the end of the month on Friday, October 29th . Gates open at 4:30pm in Lawson Creek Park and this year’s headliner is Nelly – the fourth highest selling rap artist in American history, having sold 21 million albums! Jake Sutton, a local performer, will be the opening act, followed by Walker County. Tickets are only available online at eTIX.com and please note that only general admission tickets are currently available.
Swiss Bear
For more information on MumMonth, including MumFest, MumFeast! and the WRNS MumFest Concert, please go to Mumfest.com. MumFest is a city-sponsored event produced by Swiss Bear, Inc. Swiss Bear is the Main Street organization for the City of New Bern and is their economic development partner for Greater Downtown New Bern.
To learn more about Swiss Bear please visit Downtownnewbern.com. Also check them out on Facebook and Instagram.
Swiss Bear is grateful to Riverside Auto Group for being Title Sponsor of both MumFest and the MumFest Concert. And a special thank you to CarolinaEast Health System for their support of MumFeast!
“It’s so exciting to see MumFest grow from a three-day weekend event to a month-long series of events for the community to enjoy,” says Lynne Harakal, Executive Director of Swiss Bear, Inc. “MumMonth is an important event for the New Bern area not only for its ability to bring people together as a community and welcome visitors, but also as a fundraiser that is crucial to support the economic development of greater downtown. This remarkable event enables our organization, in conjunction with the City of New Bern, to prop up our businesses, setting them up for success.”
MumFest Schedule
Saturday, October 9
Riverside Automotive Display & Hospitality Tent
Riverside Automotive Group – MumFest Main Entrance
Bank of the Arts
317 Middle St presented by Craven Arts Council
All Day – Chalk Art in the Street
First Citizens Bank Performance Area
First Citizens Bank Parking Lot, 300 block Middle St Presented by WITN
11am, 1:30pm & 3pm – ProTown BMX Performance
12pm, 12:30pm, 2pm, 2:30pm – ProTown BMX Clinic Session
Get Your Dance On!
310 Broad St Presented by Craven County
11am – Get the Pointe
12pm – Wanda Kay’s School of Dance
1pm – New Bern High School Drill Team
1:30 pm – Down East Dance
2pm – Wanda Kay’s School of Dance
2:30pm – Margaret Fletcher Dance Studio
3pm – Versatile ELITE Majorette Dancers
Pepsi Place Performance Area
Middle St & NC Education Lottery Pollock St Presented by Minges Bottling Group
12pm, 2pm & 4pm – Alex Clark, Comic
BEAR PLAZA
200 Block Middle St
11:30am – Silver Lining Singers
1:30pm – Onslow Winds Jazz Ensemble
4pm – 2nd Division Marine Air Wing Brass Band
CarolinaEast
Union Point Park
South Front St & Alphagraphics East Front St
All Day – MumFest Mum Arch and Mum Display
presented by City of New Bern Parks and Recreation
All Day – MumFest Boat and RV Show
All Day – Therapy Dogs presented by CarolinaEast Therapaws (furapy at its best!)
All Day – Sensory Friendly Area presented by Easter Seals
All Day – Baby Quiet Zone for parents and babies
10:30am, 12:30pm, 2:30pm & 4:30pm – Purina Dare Devil Dog Team
presented by CarolinaEast Therapaws (furapy at its best!)
City of New Bern craven st
All Day – Big Trucks and Machines
presented by City of New Bern Public Works
All Day – Electric Utility Demonstrations
presented by City of New Bern Utilities
11am, 1pm, 3pm, 5pm – K-9 Demonstration
presented by City of New Bern Police
11:30am, 1:30pm, 3:30pm, 5:30pm – Motorcycle
Demonstration presented by City of New Bern Police
Galley Store Point
Alphagraphics East Front St
All Day – Michael’s Amusements
All Day – NC Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association Helicopter Exhibit
All Day – Tented rest area with tables
Miller Lite Beer Garden
Live music at South Front St & City of New Bern Craven St, free admission, open to all but must be 21 or older to enjoy the beer presented by Miller Lite
11:30am – Eric Rubich
1:30pm – Justin Castellano
3:30 pm – Joe Baes Band
5:30pm – Mason Dixon – We Tickle Your Funny Bone
NC Education Lottery pollock st
All Day – Christ Church Pumpkin Patch
ALPHAGRAPHICS east front st
All Day – Silver Drummer Girl
Tryon Palace presented by Tryon Palace
9am-5pm – Fall Heritage Plant Sale
9am-6pm – Fall Garden Lovers Weekend
11am – Fife and Drum Corps
Roaming MumFest
presented by Minges Bottling Group
Throughout the day – Willie the Hillbilly
Sunday, October 10
Riverside Automotive Display & Hospitality Tent
Riverside Automotive Group – MumFest Main Entrance
Bank of the Arts
317 Middle St presented by Craven Arts Council
All Day – Chalk Art in the Street
First Citizens Bank Performance Area
First Citizens Bank Parking Lot, 300 block Middle St Presented by WITN
12pm & 3pm – ProTown BMX Performance
12:30pm & 1pm – ProTown BMX Clinic Session
Pepsi Place Performance Area
Middle St & NC Education Lottery Pollock St Presented by Minges Bottling Group
12pm, 1:30pm & 3pm – Alex Clark, Comic
BEAR PLAZA
200 Block Middle St
TBA
CarolinaEast
Union Point Park
South Front St & Alphagraphics East Front St
All Day – MumFest Mum Arch and Mum Display
presented by City of New Bern Parks and Recreation
All Day – MumFest Boat and RV Show
All Day – Therapy Dogs presented by CarolinaEast Therapaws (furapy at its best!)
All Day – Sensory Friendly Area presented by Easter Seals
All Day – Baby Quiet Zone for parents and babies
11:30am, 1:30pm & 3:30pm – Purina Dare Devil Dog Team
presented by CarolinaEast Therapaws (furapy at its best!)
City of New Bern craven st
All Day – Big Trucks and Machines
presented by City of New Bern Public Works
All Day – Electric Utility Demonstrations
presented by City of New Bern Utilities
1pm & 3pm – K-9 Demonstration
presented by City of New Bern Police
11:30am, 1:30pm & 3:30pm – Motorcycle
Demonstration presented by City of New Bern Police
Galley Store Point
Alphagraphics East Front St
All Day – Michael’s Amusements
All Day – NC Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association Helicopter Exhibit
All Day – Tented rest area with tables
Miller Lite Beer Garden
Live music at South Front St & City of New Bern Craven St, free admission, open to all but must be 21 or older to enjoy the beer presented by Miller Lite
11:30am – William Seymour
1:30pm – Mad Fiddler
3:30 pm – Bridge Atlantic
NC Education Lottery pollock st
12-5pm – Christ Church Pumpkin Patch
ALPHAGRAPHICS east front st
All Day – Silver Drummer Girl
Tryon Palace
11am – Fife and Drum Corps
12-6pm – Fall Garden Lovers Weekend
Roaming MumFest
presented by Minges Bottling Group
Throughout the day – Willie the Hillbilly
Satellite parking with bus shuttles will be provided from
Saturday 9:30am to 8:30pm • Sunday 9:30am to 5:30pm
Lawson Creek Park to Broad & Hancock Streets the hours of the festival.