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

Sunrise Business Update

Swiss Bear and the New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce are happy to announce we are partnering to provide Sunrise Business Update, to the business community.

Beginning January 31, bi-monthly Sunrise Business Update meetings will kick-off with featured speaker, John W. Gibson, attorney with Hull Story Gibson, owners of the New Bern Mall on MLK Jr. Boulevard. Gibson's work at Hull Story Gibson includes the acquisition, financing and operation of retail properties.

The meetings will be held 8 a.m. - 9 a.m. at Baker's Kitchen, 227 Middle Street in the second floor meeting room with a full buffet breakfast. The cost of $10 per person, will be collected at the beginning of the meeting.

Due to limited seating, reservations are required by contacting the Chamber; email smilliron@newbernchamber.com or call 637-3111. Reservations for the January 31 meeting are required by the end of  Tuesday, January 29th workday.

The schedule of the bi-monthly programs for the calendar year is: January 31, March 28, May 30, July 25, September 26, December 5.

A complete listing of speakers for the year will be published in the near future.

The goal in initiating this project/program is to provide an opportunity for the business community to meet and hear presentations from business professionals on topics that are important and timely to New Bern, Craven County and Eastern North Carolina.

Susan Moffat-Thomas

Executive Director

Kudos to Jan Francouer, A Main Street Champion

Jan Francoeur
Owner of Carolina Creations

On Thursday, January 31, Janet Francoeur, owner of Carolina Creations will be recognized by the Secretary of the NC Department of Commerce as a 2012 Main Street Champion at the NC  Main Street Annual Awards ceremony in Salisbury.

As a member of the NC Main Street Program, Swiss Bear is given the opportunity annually to recognize a local Main Street Champion…a person who brings fresh ideas to downtown, is a reliable volunteer for a downtown special event, is a creative building owner whose renovation respects the architectural and history significance of the structure and is committed to the downtown privatization effort.

Jan Francoeur fits the description, for sure. Well-known, well-liked, an innovative entrepreneur, Jan and her husband own a business which is a recognized downtown destination. She and Michael are downtowners through and through.

We appreciate the many contributions of time and talent Jan has contributed to the downtown effort and are happy to add her name to the list of the many other Main Street Champions.

Susan Moffat-Thomas

Executive Director

MUMFEST 2012 Is Here!



Setting up Indy Tour in early morning hours



Locating the necessities



Michael's Amusements...ready for festival goers

It’s hard to believe, MUMFEST is just hours away. The city is busy overseeing the set-up of the Indy Racing Tour, portable restrooms and the rest of the items on their “To Do” list. Bud Van Slyke, an outstanding volunteer who has overseen the Boat Show and Union Point Park for the past 10 years, has been at the park for most of the week and will be there all day today orchestrating the set-up of the boats, vendors, pool assembly. The hustle and bustle is growing in intensity with the goal of having everything ready for Saturday morning at 9:30 am when the party begins!

If it seems in the past month or so, the daily posts have been focused primarily on MUMFEST, it’s true. In the two or three months prior to the festival, our time is consumed with taking care of the many chores that are required to prevent utter chaos.  It is labor intensive, but well-worth the effort when vendors begin arriving, know  where to set-up, know the rules and things go smoothly.

Vendors begin arriving on Friday and setting up after 6 p.m. Many chose to set-up Friday evening and many also arrive early Saturday morning. The same is true for the attractions and vendors.

Once the confusion of  set up is over, the fun begins with two days of numerous venues, savory foods, hundreds of vendors with a myriad of products.

Danielle and I appreciate all the support the community extends to this event and our biggest wish is that everyone will have a grand time.

See you at MUMFEST!

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

MUMFEST Tab/Program

In today’s Sun Journal, the MUMFEST tab/program is inserted to provide a total overview of all that will be happening during the festival weekend. In addition to the many, many venues, entertainment, information of the free continuous shuttles, the drop off and pick-up locations, a map of the festival area with a complete schedule of times for the shows, demonstrations and entertainment is included. The map page was designed as a pull out to make it convenient for festival-goers to take with them so they won’t have to worry or wonder where everything is located.

Stacey Swann, who works for Scott Embrey, put the tab together which I’m sure everyone can see was an enormous challenge. Designing and arranging so much material to fit within the 32 pages was quite a feat. We applaud her for her creativity and all the hard work that went into it.

For those who don’t subscribe to the Sun Journal, copies will be available (as long as they last) at the Swiss Bear booth at the corner of Broad and Middle and at the Sun Journal booth near the entry to Union Point Park on Saturday and Sunday. You may also go to mumfest.com and click on the festival map button to easily print a copy to take with you. For those with smart phones, QR code signage will be located throughout the festival. We worked to make it as convenient as possible for festival-goers to know what is going on. We don’t want you or your family to miss anything as there is truly something for everyone!

The weather forecast indicates we will have nice weather (a great relief) so we look forward to record crowds and a fun-filled family weekend. 

Susan Moffat Thomas

Executive Director 

Coastal Photo Club - MUMFEST Scavenger Hunt



Coastal Photo Club - Mumfest 2011

One of the challenges of MUMFEST weekend is having the time to take numerous photos that capture the  spirit of the festival and are good enough to use the following year for marketing, so we are happy to report the Coastal Photo Club for the second year in a row is embracing this challenge. To add to the esprit de corps, the Club sent members a scavenger hunt list of 30 phrases they need to capture in their photo’s… reminds you of the sun, brings joy to a parent, floats in the sky, spun sugar, makes music, on four wheels, that which best exemplifies MUMFEST 2012. It’s a great list and will surely produce some great photos.  

The Coastal Photo Club meets the second Saturday of each month at Centenary United Methodist Church in downtown New Bern, NC at 9:30 a.m. This active group sponsors many activities including  youth photography workshops, workshops on photographic history, mini and major competitions with special themes, taking publicity shots at special events (like MUMFEST and Riverfest), organizing photo gallery exhibits and seasonal photo worthy events. They also enjoy the camaraderie of members with cookouts and other get-togethers throughout the year.

The home page of the Club’s website www.coastalphotoclub.com to our delight, has a photo of a group of their members at MUMFEST, camera’s in hand, ready to shoot!

If you or someone you know, might be interested in joining the Club, contact President Judy Hills at ahills@suddenlink.net

 for more information. You can also go to their website and download an application form. It's a great way to sharpen your photographic skills, particiate in the numerous activities, share your interst and enjoy the friendship of a great group of people.Swiss Bear and MUMFEST appreciate the Coastal Photo Club’s willingness to share their time, talent and interest with us and look forward to seeing an array of photos capturing a fun-filled family weekend.

How about you…do you plan to take pictures at MUMFEST? We'd love to see them.

Susan Moffat Thomas
Executive Director