Susan Moffat-Thomas, executive director of Swiss Bear, said banners have been a part of the festival since the mid-1990s when the event was just on Middle Street. Today, it encompasses the downtown district and waterfront each year.
Initially the banners were a business sponsorship of the festival, she said.
“We began a partnership with Rotary two or three years afterward when we saw it was good way to offer a partnership with a nonprofit so they could use the funds for projects,” Moffat-Thomas said.
“It is a great partnership, and we do another with the Lions Club, where they sell the carbonated beverages and raise funds for those that have sight impairment. Anywhere we can work out something that will help, we try to do that.”
The banners are an extension of the annual Mumfest poster design, which has been the work of artist Lisa Bisbee for the past three years.
Area businesses can show their support by sponsoring a Mumfest banner, which will have the company’s name displayed on both sides. The cost is $160. The banners are made of vinyl and measure 22-by-37-inches. They are hung from the banner arms of downtown streetlights for about six weeks, beginning in mid-September. The banners then become the property of the sponsor to display in their business.
The Rotary Club of New Bern uses money from the sale of Mumfest banners and other fundraisers throughout the year to support community service projects such as awarding college scholarships and making sizable grants to many community service organizations such as the Salvation Army, Religious Community Services, MERCI Clinic, Twin Rivers YMCA, Creekside Park and Habitat for Humanity.
The banner opportunity is open through July 30.
For information, call Tammy Sherron at 633-8880 or Swiss Bear at 638-5781.
Banner sponsor applications can be downloaded at mumfest.com by clicking on the banner-merchandising button near the top of the home page.
Swiss Bear produces Mumfest, a city-sponsored event with the support of area businesses and organizations.
The festival is the largest outdoor event each year in New Bern. Proceeds help fund festival expenses and downtown revitalization projects.
Last year, the event drew more than 100,000 visitors over two days.
Charlie Hall can be reached at 252-635-5667 or charlie.hall@newbernsj.com
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