Wednesday, October 2, 2013

The Magic of MUMFEST!

  

MUMFEST weekend, October 12 -13, attracts festival goers from across the southeast to experience this award winning festival located in the restored historic downtown of New Bern, NC. Mumfesters can spend a little or a lot with over 300 commercial and non profit exhibitors to choose from including pottery, crafts, and art. Some might say the temptation is too much when they discover dozens of booths filled with a wide variety of savory foods guaranteed to tempt anyone’s appetite.  

MUMFEST fits all budgets with two days of free entertainment including live bands with music ranging from beach to barbershop, dance troupes, magicians, roving street performers, face painters, and clowns. In addition to all the free entertainment there’s a riverfront amusement park with lots of exciting rides, including a waterfront Ferris Wheel ($).

Talk about exciting rides, what is more exciting than NASCAR? TitleSponsor, Joe Alcoke Auto and Truck Center, is bringing NASCAR to MUMFEST with an exhibit from the Richard Childress Racing Team featuring three famous stock cars, #3, #29, #31 and two racing simulators. That’s right, legendary No. 3 will be at MUMFEST. The two racing simulators will allow Mumfesters to test their driving skill – all for free!

Free family entertainment also features the X-POGO Stunt Team performing the most talented extreme pogo exhibitions in the world! The team is coming straight from POGOPALOOZA in New York City where they just won several world championship titles. These world class athletes fly up to 9 feet in the air, doing flips and other stunts on their high-powered pogo sticks.

Everyone’s MUMFEST favorites are back this year, including Alex Clark, the super funny comedian who performs jaw dropping stunts, the Purina Incredible Dog Team with canine athletes making amazing aerial disc catches, the Silver Drummer Girl, a huge Model Train Show, NBPD’s K-9s will be back along with Weller Kennels Labrador retriever demonstrations.

The out of water 13th Annual Boat Show is a must see for boaters and wannabe boaters. There’s still plenty of good weather to enjoy a new boat and there is nothing like being out on the water letting your boat drift along with the tide listening to relaxing music.   

More music an be found on Saturday in the Christ Church Ministry at 305 Middle Street with the Fairfield Harbour chorus, ENCORE Craven Community Chorus and Down East Dulcimers / New Bern Suzuki Strings.

The NC Songwriters Co-op will entertain Mumfesters with their original music on Sunday afternoon. If you hope to become a songwriter, the NC Songwriters Co-op members are happy to share helpful tips and offer positive critiques if you bring them examples of your song writing,

All this singing makes everyone thirsty! Wine and beer connoisseurs will enjoy sampling a wide variety of craft wines and beers at the Galley Store’s “Juice on the Neuse Festival” with music and hors d’oeuvres at Persimmons Waterfront Restaurant included in the admission fee. NC grown wines may be sampled and purchased in the elegant Little River Wine Tasting Room on Craven Street ($). The Doubletree by Hilton is hosting its first Beer Garden Festival.

BIG KIDSTUFF and Lil’ Kidstuff is back this year with Poly and Ester, the famous Gabardine Sisters, Steve Myott, a master storyteller and mask maker, Steve Wille and Gary Shelton’s Magic shows and the amazing Zoltan, the levitating man!  Kidstuff is in a new location this year so check the map in the Sun Journal’s MUMFEST tabloid.

Every MUMFEST has lots of chrysanthemums and Tryon Palace serves them up in their magnificent gardens, which are open free Friday throughSunday. The palace also has its bi-annual Heritage Plant Sale on Fridayand Saturday. Gardeners will be on hand to answer your planting questions. Inside tours require a ticket but outside tours of the palace’s many gardens are free.

On your walk back from Tryon Palace stroll over to see the New Bern Firemen’s Museum to learn New Bern’s fascinating firefighting history.. Be sure to stop by the popular Farmers Market for all kinds of crafts and jellies and jams.

On Sunday morning join in the 5K Run sponsored by the Coastal Women’s Shelter. Registration begins at 7 a.m. at Union Point Park.

Make plans now to come to MUMFEST by water taxi, trolley or park downtown – however you get here – come join the fun because there really is something for everyone!

To learn all about MUMFEST go to www.mumfest.com



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