New Bern to host Mumfest next weekend

The 34th annual Mumfest will be Oct. 11 and 12
along the streets of New Bern’s downtown district and along the waterfront.

Vendors and visitors for New Bern’s largest outdoor event — Mumfest — will begin arriving next week for the Oct. 11 and 12 festival on the city’s waterfront downtown.

Sponsored by the city, it is a production of Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corp. and annually attracts upwards of 100,000 festival-goers from across the Southeast.

Swiss Bear Executive Director Susan Moffat-Thomas said the history and restoration of the city is a drawing card.

Also, visitors can spend a little or a lot with more than 300 commercial and nonprofit exhibitors. The array includes pottery, crafts and art.

There is always plenty of food in booths along the downtown district streets, as well as two days of free entertainment. That includes live bands, dance troupes, magicians, roving street performers, face painters and mermen and mermaids.

Another tradition is a pay riverfront amusement park on the Neuse River, with lots of rides, including a Ferris wheel.

Title sponsor Joe Alcoke Auto and Truck Center will bring NASCAR to the festival with an exhibit from the Richard Childress Racing Team. It includes famous stock cars and two racing simulators to allow visitors to test their driving skill — for free.

Also featured will be the X-POGO Stunt Team, performing extreme pogo exhibition. These world class athletes fly up to nine feet in the air, doing flips and other stunts on their high-powered pogo sticks.

The popular Signora Bella will balance on her orb of doom while juggling Turkish swords — all the while telling tales of her journeys.

Along with Bella will be Rick Hubbard with Juggle Stuff — teaching the audience how to juggle.

A number of favorites will return, including Alex Clark, the comedian who performs jaw-dropping stunts; the Purina Incredible Dog Team making aerial disc catches; the Silver Drummer Girl; a huge model train show, and the New Bern Police’s K-9s, along with the Weller Kennels Labrador retriever demonstrations.

The out of water 15th annual Boat Show will be a place to find a new boat or water-related gear.

More music can be found on Oct. 11 in the Christ Church Ministry Center, 305 Middle St., with the Fairfield Harbour chorus, ENCORE Craven Community Chorus and Down East Dulcimers/New Bern Suzuki Strings.

Wine and beer connoisseurs will enjoy sampling a wide variety of craft wines and beers at the Galley Store’s second annual “Juice on the Neuse Festival.”

“Big Kids Stuff and Lil’ Kids Stuff” will be back this year with Poly and Ester; the famous Gabardine Sisters; master storyteller Steve Myott; mask-maker Steve Wille; and Gary Shelton’s Magic shows.

Every festival has lots of chrysanthemums and Tryon Palace will serve them up in its gardens, which will be open free Oct. 10 to 12. The Palace also will have its bi-annual Heritage Plant Sale on Oct. 11 and 12.

On Oct. 12, join in the 5k run, sponsored by the Coastal Women’s Shelter. Registration will begin at 7 a.m. at Union Point Park.

Also, Tokyo Rosenthal and Gumbo Lily will be performing with other talented members of the N.C. Songwriters. They will perform on the main stage by the Galley Store at East Front and Pollock streets.

Something new this year will be Shepard’s Point Tours of Morehead City, providing boat rides between Lawson Creek Park and Union Point Park. A small fee makes this new attraction possible, sponsored by Woodforest National Bank.

Those who park at the New Bern Mall can travel downtown by free trolley, which is sponsored by Little Caesar’s Pizza and Swiss Bear.

For more, visit mumfest.com on the web.

MUMFEST has Scalawags and Pirates, Puppets, Magicians, Trains and Rides for Kids of All Ages!

With two days of free entertainment including live bands, dance troupes, magicians, roving street performers and face painters it’s no wonder over 100,000 festival goers attend MUMFEST every year. 

Everyone’s favorites will be back this year!  The amazing Alex Clark in Project Dynamite will make you laugh while he performs jaw dropping stunts. Also back is the Purina Incredible Dog Team with the talented canines that make amazing aerial disc catches. The Silver Drummer Girl, a Model Train Show and NBPD’s K-9s will also be back along with Weller Retriever demonstrations.

The Carolina Puppet Theatre with Ms. Poly and Ms. Ester, the wacky Gabardine sisters are bringing Puddles the Duck, Bartlet, the super-duper star and other unusual puppet friends. Steve Myott, a master storyteller, will also be entertaining everyone with wonderful tales and striking masks.

New this year! Pirates in training take heed! The Scalawag Skool for Aspiring Pirates can be found at Union Point Park. Lads and lassies ages 6-12 will be schooled in pirate vocabulary and cutlass skills on how not to lose your head. All Scalawags are furnished with a plastic cutlass, paper pirate hat, eye patch and earring. Upon graduation they are presented with a copy of the Krew Rules before being sent off to plunder the towne. 

The Twin Rivers Artist Assoc. will feature “Building Creative Minds” on Sunday at  the Bank of the Arts for children ages 5 and up. They will make clay ornaments, paintings, sculptures and charm bracelets. This free project is led by Arts Council Volunteers. Donations are accepted for art supplies in the Craven County Schools.

Many Mumfesters will choose to kick off the day with a waterfront ferry boat ride from Lawson Creek; others will arrive downtown by trolley. Arriving at MUMFEST on foot also works well. Come to MUMFEST by water, trolley or park downtown – however you get here – come join in the fun because there really is something for everyone!

Title Sponsor: Joe Alcoke Auto & Truck Center
MUMFEST is produced by Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corp. – 252-638-5781
swissbear@swissbear.org

Artist creates 2014 Mumfest logo with bubbly shapes, vivid color

Lisa Bisbee-Lentz, a talented local artist and designer, has created a vibrant new look for Mumfest ’14.

Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corp., the producer of New Bern’s largest outdoor festival each October, invited her back this year to create the new poster design.

“Lisa’s design last year was so popular we couldn’t wait to see where her creativity would lead her in 2014,” said Susan Moffat-Thomas, executive director of Swiss Bear. “To say we are thrilled with the new design would be an understatement. This is hard for me to believe, but 2014 marks our 34th Mumfest. We strive to make every Mumfest special and showcase exciting new entertainment sure to please everyone.”

Bisbee-Lentz, whose arts involvement includes the Greater Good Gallery and ArtCRAWL, said she is always amazed with the festival’s assortment of entertainment downtown.

“I believe design is a visual language, a story or an invitation,” she said. “In this year’s design of Swiss Bear’s Mumfest poster, I wanted to speak of family fun and joyful activity. To tell the story of Mumfest in a visual design, I overlapped bubbly shapes with vivid colors of the mum flower in bloom. The multi-colored geometric circles offer an invitation for all to enjoy the tremendous amount of festivities presented.”

To see more of her art and design, on the web: greatergoodgallery.com or on exhibit at Greater Good Gallery at 228 Craven St. in New Bern.

Mumfest weekend in New Bern attracts upwards of 100,000 festival-goers from across the Southeast.

“Visitors can spend a little or spend a lot with over 300 commercial and nonprofit exhibitors to choose from, including pottery, crafts, art and a tasty variety of savory food,” said Moffat-Thomas. “It fits everyone’s budget with two days of free entertainment, including a wide variety of music from new and exciting bands, dance troupes, magicians, roving street performers, face painters and clowns.”

On the web: mumfest.com  For information, call 638-5781.

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 13^th 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. 

Something for everyone at Mumfest 2013

Sun Journal: September 19, 2013

New Bern’s largest outdoor festival — Mumfest — is less than a month away, with crowds of 90,000 expected to flood the city streets and waterfront Oct. 12 and 13.

More than 300 commercial and nonprofit exhibitors will be on hand with pottery, crafts and art, along with dozens of food booths.

The festival fits everyone’s budget, since it is 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 ticketed rides.

Here is a glimpse at some of the other top attractions:

The Richard Childress Racing Team knows all about exciting rides, and title sponsor Joe Alcoke Auto and TruckCenter brings NASCAR to Mumfest with three famous stock cars — including the No. 3 of the late Dale Earnhardt.

Two simulators will allow fans to feel the racing experience.

Free family entertainment also features the X-POGO Stunt Team performing the most extreme pogo exhibitions in the world. The team has won several world championship titles in competition held in New York City.

Many favorites return, including comedian/stunt man Alex Clark; the Purina Incredible Dog Team; the Silver Drummer Girl; a huge model train show; New Bern Police’s K-9s and the Weller Kennels Labrador retriever demonstrations.

The 12th annual Mumfest Boat Show features coastal and offshore vessels on display in Union Point Park.

The N.C. Songwriters Co-op performs Oct. 13, sharing songwriting tips and critiquing visitors’ songwriting ability. The Co-op will also entertain original songs.

The traditional Lil’Kidstuff stage has programming both days, with magic shows, storytellers and other entertainment.

The Christ Church Ministry Center has several programs on Oct. 12 — the Fairfield Harbour Chorus, ENCORE, the Craven Community College chorus and also the Down East Dulcimers and New Bern Suzuki Strings.

Wine and beer connoisseurs will enjoy a variety of wine and beer samples at the Galley Store’s “Juice on the Neuse Wine Fest.” N.C. grown wines can be sampled and purchased at the Little River Wine Tasting Room on Craven Street.

Every Mumfest needs lots of chrysanthemums and Tryon Palace serves them up in their magnificent gardens, which are open free Oct. 11 to 13. The palace also has its bi-annual Heritage Plant Sale on Oct. 11 and 12. 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.

The New Bern Firemen’s Museum is a popular venue to learn about New Bern’s fascinating firefighting history.

New Bern Parks and Recreation is offering a 5K run Oct. 13, with registration at 7 a.m. The 5K is at 7:30 a.m. Those events start and finish at Union Point Park. It features a flat course that winds its way through downtown New Bern. The cost is $25 for pre-registration and $30 for day of registration. Registration forms can be filled out on Active.com.

Contact Trevor Freitas at 639-2907 or freitast@newbern-nc.org

There is also a 1-mile Fun Walk scheduled after the 5K begins.

Visitors can come to the festival by water taxi, trolley or park downtown.

On the web: mumfest.com

NBFD Kid's Fire Safety House at MUMFEST

NBFD Kids Fire Safety House

We are happy to announce the NBFD's Kids Fire Safety House will be at MUMFEST again, thanks to the Robinson and Stith Insurance Agency.

Sparky the Fire Dog

The agency is providing the funds to have Kids Fire Safety House at MUMFEST 2013. Their employees provide the volunteer help, distribute free fire prevention coloring books, crayons and stickers and Sparky the Fire Dog will "meet and greet" adding to the fun.

The City acquired the Kids Fire Safety House in the early 1990's, funded through a FEMA grant targeted for fire safety education. It was seen as an opportunity to expand fire safety education by the fire department and connect with the community and school children.

The House, stored at the Main Fire Station on Broad Street, is primarily utilized during Fire Prevention Week. It is taken to public and private schools to educate first graders on the proper way to evacuate a house in case of fire and the importance of defining a meeting place outside the home for all members of the family so everyone can be accounted for. Designed to resemble a home with a kitchen, living room and bedroom, the children are taken through it by firemen, room by room who teach fire safety with lectures and hands-on exercises. Simulated smoke teaches kids how to safely evacuate from a second floor bedroom and how to properly call 911.

This is an important teaching tool and we appreciate Robinson and Stith for making it possible to have this venue at the festival. We invite families with young children to embrace this opportunity and have their children take the tour. It is a fun way to learn fire safety lessons and how to act quickly and decisively in life threatening emergencies.

The Fire Safety House will be located on Craven Street near City Hall during festival hours October 12-13.

Susan Moffat-Thomas
Executive Director

MUMFEST Street Entertainment...meet and greet Willy the Hillbilly!

In addition to Gary Shelton, Steve Wille, the Silver Drummer Girl, Alex Clark and other street entertainers, Willy the Hillbilly will be at MUMFEST to meet and greet, compliments of the Pepsi Minges Bottling Group.

In the l960s the Mountain Dew bottles were green with red and white labels including a picture of a hillbilly character shooting at a revenuer as the trespasser runs out of an outhouse. Mountain Dew was advertised as "zero proof moonshine" and the saying "It'll tickle your innards!". In the early 1970s a different marketing agency replaced the label for a more modern look. Thirty seven years later, Willy is back on a new drink called Throwback, this time with the cork of the Mount Dew jug shooting through his hat, making a hole.

Festival-goers can meet Willy the Hillbilly in person, shake his hands and pose with him for photo ops!

For those old enough to remember the 1960s and would enjoy jogging their memory with a 1966 Willy the Hillbilly commercial, click here: youtube Willy the Hillbilly

Extreme pogo, Earnhardt exhibit added to MUMFEST

The XPOGO Stunt Team members leap upwards
of 10 feet while performing their acrobatic jumps

The famed NO.3 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Chevrolet
Monte Carlo of the late seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup
Champion Dale Earnhardt is among three NASCAR
racing machines that will be on display at MUMFEST.

Extreme pogo and a classic race car exhibit are among the latest attractions added to this year’s MUMFEST.

The annual two-day October festival is New Bern’s largest outdoor event, drawing upwards of 100,000 visitors. The Oct. 12-13 festival is produced Swiss Bear Development Corp.

Richard Childress Racing is bringing the No. 3 GM Goodwrench Service Plus Chevrolet Monte Carlo, driven by the late seven-time NASCAR Winston Cup Champion Dale Earnhardt, to MUMFEST.

Earnhardt and Richard Childress Racing earned 43 of their 67 victories and four of their seven championships together in the famed No. 3 Chevrolet Monte Carlo.

It is still one of the most recognizable race cars in the world.

Childress Racing also will bring two other race cars, the No. 29 Caterpillar and the No. 31 Budweiser machine.

NASCAR fans also will be able to test their driving skills in one of two simulators.

Joe Alcoke Auto & Truck Center is sponsoring Richard Childress Racing’s exhibit.

New this year is the XPOGO Stunt Team, the top extreme pogo exhibition team in the world, with high, acrobatic jumps.

The team currently holds 13 world records and Guinness records earned at Pogopalooza competitions since 2004. Their worldwide performances — from Rio to Beijing to Hong Kong and Europe — have helped grow the popularity of this extreme sport.

Pogopalooza — the world championship of extreme pogo — began in a parking lot in Nebraska in 2004 with six teams. Now, in its 10th year, Pogopalooza has grown into a major sporting event. This year’s world championship will be held July 26-28 in New York City.

Extreme Pogo is an action sport performed on next generation pogo sticks that have the potential to bounce more than 10 feet in the air, measuring from the ground to the bottom of the tip of the pogo stick.

Video on the web: xpogo.com

“MUMFEST fits everyone’s budget with two days of free entertainment, including live bands with music from beach to rock and barbershop. Dance troupes, magicians, roving street performers and face painters add color to the excitement,” according to a MUMFEST release.

Traditional MUMFEST favorites including Alex Clark, performing jaw-dropping stunts; Purina Incredible Dog Team with amazing aerial disc catches; the Silver Drummer Girl; a model train show; Little River Winery mobile tasting room; and NBPD’s K-9s will be back this year.

Also on tap are the Weller Retriever demonstrations and the 13th annual boat show.

Participants also can try their hand at songwriting and get feedback from published songwriters performing original songs.

For wine and beer connoisseurs, there will be a variety of samplings at the Galley Store’s “Juice on the Neuse” Wine and Beer Festival including — “3” — a tribute wine by Childress to his friend Earnhardt from the Childress Vineyard.

On the web: mumfest.com

Sun Journal: July 14, 2013

MUMFEST 2013 Survey - looking for new venues

Lisa Bisbee has designed our new logo ... we love it and hope you do too. The www.mumfest.com website is being updated and vendor applications will soon be mailed to those who participated last year.

We are now looking for new venues to add to the long list of events and activities and retire some that begin to be a bit of a "ho-hum" to festival-goers. To do that, we need your input.

We have a short survey that we would like our readers to fill out and share with friends and family. It is very brief, won't take more than a few minutes of your time and your input will be greatly appreciated.

Please take the survey by clicking here. Thank you!

We look forward to hearing from you.

Susan Moffat Thomas
Executive Director

What's New At Mumfest

Mumfester’s for the most part love tradition…funnel cakes, amusement rides (especially the Ferris wheel), the many vendors with a large assortment of unique items and the long standing festival attractions. They also look forward to something new, a venue that will become a tradition, like the Incredible Purina Dog Show and they won’t be disappointed! Here’s what’s new at MUMFEST 2012

On the Water

SEAFAIR, one of the ten largest privately owned mega yachts in the United States, is a floating art gallery with three decks of fine art, sculpture and photography for sale; docked at the New Bern Grand Marina behind the Doubletree Hilton Hotel it is open for tours Friday through Sunday.

CRYSTAL COAST LADY offers one and a half hour fully narrated scenic nature and history tours aboard the 75’ super cruiser with enclosed and open air seating on the upper and lower decks, a kids steering station, giant bow viewing area, full snack bar and galley and clean, modern restrooms.

LOOKOUT LADY, the 49 passenger ecology tour vessel offers a relaxing getaway from the hectic excitement of the festival with two hour historic and scenic nature river tours. 

In the Midway

The INDY TOUR features the Detroit Chevrolet Grand Prix of Belle Isle Indy show car, a 4L85 transmission, several high performance engines, plus a display of Chevrolet accessories and performance parts.

RING CITY ROLLERGIRLS, a female flat track roller derby team based in Kinston, will be demonstrating the skills and tricks used in the world of roller derby.

Willy the Hillbilly, the popular character representing Mountain Dew in the 1960s, will entertain crowds on Saturday and Sunday.

New Stage

On Sunday, the NC Songwriters Co-op will entertain crowds with newly written songs performed by members of the Songwriters’ Cooperative. 

New Eats

Pumpkin funnel cakes, deep fried butter, alligator bites, shrimp and grits, bacon wrapped scallops, Shawarma and crab fritters, in addition the all the traditional favorites.

In The Park

Expansion of the Boat Show will include Outdoor Recreation exhibits and on-going demonstrations of standup paddle boarding, canoes, kayaks, cycling, motor cross sports, spas, jet ski dealers, outdoor adventure clubs and the Gables Run Equestrian Center is bringing Peanut the Pony for photo opps with children.

On the Downtown Streets

ARTZONE features artists working in different genres with art demonstrations and exhibits en plein air (outside) and in galleries along the 300 block of Pollock Street and throughout the downtown.

QR code signage throughout the festival for smart phone owners to check on schedules and locations.

For a full list of activities, attractions and performance schedules go to mumfest.com. For your convenience, you can download the map of the festival area and/or pull out the center section of the Sun Journal tab delivered to subscribers on Thursday.

See you at MUMFEST…pray for good weather!

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director

Sold Out - Filled Up!

Local honey at Mumfest

Mumfest Food Vendor

Artist at Mumfest

Pumpkin Patch at Mumfest

For the first time, all the vendor spaces are filled and we must turn vendors away. As much as we dislike doing it, we are returning recently received applications as there simply isn’t any more available space. To accommodate the continual applications  pouring in daily over the past three weeks, we studied the maps for every possible location that could be used to increase the number of spaces without compromising the safety of festival-goers. As a result, half of the East side of Craven Street (300 block) will have vendors, also on the easement/sidewalk along the east side of East Front Street (100 block) and in Union Point.  

So if you are looking forward to shopping for unique items and gifts, well over three hundred vendors will offer an array of goods and services. Everything from sculpture, pottery, hand crafted and hand-made items, specialty foods, jewelry, gourmet spices, clothing and accessories, information on area organizations, commercial products, business opportunities, home improvements… even employment opportunities can be found.

Vendors are located throughout the festival midway area and in Union Point Park.

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director

Take The Easy Way

If readers don’t want to deal with hunting for a parking place festival week-end, we suggest they take the easy way as there several other options.

Thanks to the generosity of  Little Caesars Pizza and the little bank, we were able to contract with New Bern Tours to offer free continuous pick-up/drop-off service from the New Bern Mall (parking in the lot behind the JC Penny store) to three points in the festival area…Broad @ Hancock Street, Hancock @ South Front Street and South Front @ Craven Street. Additionally, the City Parks & Recreation Department will provide several buses to insure there is adequate transportation for this popular service.

Service hours are Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Sunday 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

For the very first time, Palm Coast Tours & Outings is providing free shuttle service from Fairfield Harbour, thanks to sponsors Robinson and Stith Insurance and Audiology of New Bern. Departure from Fairfield Harbour is on the hour to one location only - Broad @ Hancock Street. Return trips to Fairfield Harbour are on the half hour.

Water Taxi Service will also be available between Dock # 2 in Union Point Park and the end of the BridgePointe Marina near the small channel. A fee of $5 for adults, $3 for senior citizens and $1 for children under 10 each way, helps defrays the spiraling cost of diesel fuel.

A map of the festival-area and pick-up/drop-off locations can be downloaded from our www.mumfest.com website and the map will be included in the Sun Journal tabloid/official program distributed to 18,000 households in the Wednesday, October 10^th edition. 

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director 

MUMFEST 2012...the "Grits" are back!

Hot Buttered Grits, a festival favorite, is back! The ever popular improvisational/electric band from Eastern North Carolina has been serving it up hot and fresh, in area clubs, at deck parties, backyards and at MUMFEST. Each member brings and eclectic array of influences to the group for a truly unique blend of music that defies classification and draws crowds.

Hot Buttered Grits will perform on the Main Stage on Sunday, October 14 at 12:45 p.m. for two hours replacing TJ Jones & The Pamlico Sound Machine, due to a scheduling conflict.

The Main Stage is located in front of the Galley Store. Be sure and check the jam packed entertainment schedule on mumfest.com, the official program or for those with smart phones, click on the QR code on MUMFEST posters or signage.

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director

MUMFEST...Vendor Spaces Are Filling Up!

As the festival grows closer, the volume of applications increase day by day. The spaces are filling up and we are pleased with the quality and variety of vendors submitting applications.

To peak your interest, arts and crafts include everything from whirligigs and kinetic art to handmade quilts, clothing and accessories, jewelry (of, course), paintings, yard art, photography and pottery.  Numerous vendors in the commercial category offer items and products running the gamut from imported hand-made items and crafts, to pre-packaged spices, candy, specialty food stuff, edible arrangements, spas, small furniture items, kitchen gadgets, even haircuts and feather extensions. Festival-goers can also learn about the many services offered by area nonprofits, government agencies and churches.

Food vendors (the quota reached several months ago) will again be located throughout the festival midway area and Union Point Park representing a wide array of savory foods…Thai, Chinese, American, Mediterranean, pizza, seafood, desserts, funnel cakes, ice cream, beverages and much more.

For those who are considering participating as a vendor, you may want to submit your application in the near future to insure you have a space. For those who love to shop the festival, you can look forward to a great week-end and shopping experience that offers a unique mix of specialty items, arts, crafts, goods and services….something for everyone!

See you there.

Mumfest 2011

                           

Susan Moffat Thomas
Executive Director

MUM’S the Word – the colors of MUMFEST 2012 are on the streets

Billy Bloomfield, City of New Bern...picking up the banners
to hang on the banner arms of the downtown streetlights

The downtown streets are a blaze with the color of MUMFEST. Thanks to our many sponsors, the Noon Rotary Club and the City of New Bern, over 200 MUMFEST banners have been hung adding to the up-coming event that will attract thousands of visitors to our downtown October 13 – 14. 

The Noon Rotary Club has partnered with Swiss Bear for many years, acquiring banner sponsorships from area businesses to raise funds for their many service projects. It is a win win for the Club, for the exposure and support of many area businesses, for Swiss Bear and the festival.  

As the saying goes, it takes a village, and that is very true for the success of the festival. The support of the City, downtown and area businesses, nonprofits and the community in general, has allowed the festival to grow and showcase our City’s many assets.

Have you found your banner?

Susan Moffat-Thomas
Executive Director

The Little River Winery Mobile Tasting Room...one of a kind

Little River Winery
Mobile Wine Tasting Unit

We are happy to announce the Little River Winery will be at MUMFEST 2012.  For a modest $5 admission fee, mumfester’s over 21 can sample a wide variety of wines produced from grapes grown in the foothills of North Carolina’s Uhwarrie Mountain range.

Little Rivery Winery
Tasting Room



The Little River Winery Tasting Room will be located on Craven Street (same location as last year). This Tasting Room is one of a kind, featuring nice amenities such as hardwood and tile floors, granite counter tops, mahogany wine racks holding 300 bottle of wine, a big screen TV with surround sound and air conditioning.

It’s the perfect place to stop and take a break, enjoy a sip of wine and socialize before venturing out into the midway area once again to enjoy the many other venues.

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director

MUMFEST ARTZONE

Painting by Dan Nelson - Downtown New Bern

Every year we look for new venues for mumfest to keep it fresh and interesting. Our goal is of course, to produce a festival that attracts thousands to our downtown area. It is also a goal to entice visitors to come back and shop, dine and enjoy our many attractions at a later date. Certainly, as our downtown has developed as a cultural center with an abundance of artists, museums, theatre and other attractions, it is easy to do.

To highlight the many working artists and galleries, this year's mumfest will feature an ARTZONE. Jim Bisbee is chairing a committee to encourage the galleries to have artists working in their studio’s or on the sidewalk in the 300 block of Pollock Street so they can interface with festival-goers, discuss their painting styles and sell their work. It will be listed on the festival map, on the website and in the festival program.

We expect to see a good mix of painting styles, pottery and jewelry being created and other art forms demonstrated which will add to the streetscape and festivities that fill the downtown on this fun-filled weekend.

Tell us what you think.

Susan Moffat Thomas
Executive Director

Question of the Day ... are you a "mumfester"?

After Nancy Hawley retired, Tryon Palace’s Public Relations/Marketing person for many years, I called and asked if  she would consider doing the PR/Marketing for Mumfest. Fortunately for us, she agreed and this is her third year.

As a big fan of mumfest, she frequently said, “Susan, there are a lot of mumfester's out there…people who love the festival and look forward to attending every year…we need to get their input".

I agree.

So the question of the day is…are you a mumfester? If so what is your favorite venue?

Diane Dennis (who works for our title sponsor, Joe Alcoke Auto & Truck Center) told me last fall her very most favorite venue/attraction that she never misses, is the Weller retriever field demonstrations. The NBPD  K-9 and Weller retriever demonstrations have been traditional favorites so last year we decided to add another animal venue, the Purina Incredible Dog Team, as a new attraction. It was so popular, we are bringing it back again this year. 

Gary Curry's t-shirt collection



Gary Curry, Manager of the BridgePointe Hotel & Marina (a Mumfest sponsor for many years) told me recently, he looks forward to adding each year’s T-shirt to his collection. He moved here in 2006, has bought one every year and enjoys wearing them. In fact, he forwarded me this picture of his mumfest t-shirt’s.

Nancy said the Pollock Street Bunco Babes like tasting wines at the Little River Mobile Wine Tasting Room and buying unique items from the many craft vendors. Another friend told her she and her husband have a pact that once a year they can eat their way through mumfest without guilt.

Others have said they love the festival foods…funnels cakes are at the top of the list for many.

How about you? If you are a mumfester, we would enjoy hearing from you….what is your favorite venue/attraction?

Do you have a t-shirt collection…how many and how far back do they go?

How about mumfest posters…do you collect them?

Tell us what you are looking forward too!

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director