Non profit booths are part of Mumfest's long heritage

Greg Smith is kept busy filling in the color as mums
 are purchased at Mitchell Hardware on Craven Street
as residents prepare to celebrate the Annual
Mum Festival this weekend.

Amid the 300-plus vendors filling six blocks of downtown New Bern today and Sunday are upward of 50 local nonprofits and other charitable organizations that use the event to get public exposure and offer information about their causes.

The charitable groups represent the heritage backbone of the event, which began as a minor show more than three decades ago.

It has continued under the guidance of Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corp. into one of the premier festivals in the Southeast.

Groups such as Vietnam Veterans of America, ChAapter 886 get the opportunity at Mumfest to share information that many people may not know.

“Our chapter’s focus is to provide information and support not just to Vietnam veterans but all veterans regarding medical care, VA disability claims, or family survival benefits veterans earned in service of our country,” said Dobert Owsley, the chapter president.

The nonprofits are intermingled with the hundreds of vendors along a festival area that includes Broad Street, from Hancock to East Front Street; one block sections of Middle and Craven streets off of Broad; and East Front extending to South Front Street.

There is parking at public lots downtown and a free shuttle service is provided from New Bern Mall on the half-hour. It is available Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The mall pick-up is at the rear parking lot of J.C. Penny.

There is designated handicapped parking in the O. Marks parking lot on Hancock Street.

Most of the events, except for musical and dancing groups, are scheduled both days.

Free musical events begin at 11 a.m. with a today-only performance at the Christ Church Ministry Center on Middle Street. It features the New Bern Suzuki Strings, Down East Dulcimers and the Craven Community College Chorus ENCORE performing.

Another today-only venue is on Broad Street, beside the Sudan Shrine Center — site of dancing and drill performances by the area’s leading dance studios and schools, along with the New Bern High Drill Team and the Tryon Palace Fife & Drum Corps.

The main stage on East Front Street has different music each day.

Today at 11:30 a.m. and continuing until 6:30 p.m., the performers include DNA — A Band of Brothers; Gaylon Pope and Sweet Water and Billy Holton and the Soul Shakers.

There is an amusement park on East Front Street, with Michael’s Enterprises, a mobile midway company, with rides, games and food.

There is also a special Lil’ KIDSTUFF KORNER, under the tent at the corner of Broad and Craven streets.

It has magicians, story-tellers, mask-makers and other performers each day beginning at 10 a.m. such as the Gary Shelton, Poly & Ester, Steve Myott, Steve Willie and the Garbardine Sisters.

At 11 a.m. today and Sunday, there is the Scalawag School for Aspiring Pirates at Union Point Park for youngsters ages 6 to 12. 

There is also chainsaw carving in the park by Boon Hill Gallery.

A local historical location open for the festival is the New Bern Firemen’s Museum on Hancock Street.

Tryon Palace’s gardens are open both days. The Palace’s annual Heritage Plant Sale continues this morning.

For detailed information, on the web: mumfest.com