Celebrating Independence Day...a 234 year tradition

On July 4, 1778, New Bern was the first city in the south and the third city in the nation (after Boston and Philadelphia) to stage an Independence Day Celebration while war was still raging with the Mother country.

The July 10, 1778 issue of the North Carolina Gazette reported that, “celebration was observed with great joy and reverence; triple salutes were fired from the batteries in town and the gentlemen of the town met where many toast, suitable to the importance of the day were drunk and the evening happily concluded.”

Thanks to the City of New Bern, the tradition of celebrating the 4th of July continues.

On July 4, the day begins at Union Point Park with the First annual Hope for the Warriors “Run for the Warriors 5K Race & 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk”. Pre-registration fee $2o, $25 on the 4^th. Register at http://www.active.com/.  Proceeds benefit the Hope for the Warriors program.

At 3 p.m. festivities at Lawson Creek Park begin with activities that include bounce houses, a giant slide and an obstacle course for kids. Food vendors will be selling beverages, food and snacks. At 7 p.m. following the reading of the Declaration of Independence there will be patriotic music and the City of New Bern’s Ladder Truck will raise our nation’s flag for the playing of the Star Spangled Banner.

After a day of celebration, the holiday evening will “happily conclude” with a major aerial display of fireworks fired from Lawson Creek Park on the Trent River.

By clicking on the following link, Schedule of Events, July 4, 1981 you can read the schedule of events taken directly from the June 1981 Swiss Bear Board meeting minutes. In the enthusiasm of the early days of the revitalization effort, an impressive range and wealth of entertainment included watermelon seed and tobacco spitting contests, grease pole and cross-cut saw contests and the USMC Air Wing Band. The 4^thof July Celebration was one of many events Swiss Bear organized to bring people back downtown.

Susan Moffat Thomas
Executive Director