Jazz Showcase    -   February
Sheraton Grand, 1 Bicentennial Park, downtown New Bern waterfront (252) 638-2577 . An annual jazz showcase in early February assembles some of the most recognized names in modern jazz.

Annual New Bern Wine Festival   -    March
Sponsored by the New Bern Breakfast Rotary Club, this event is an exciting opportunity to discover new wines, increase your wine IQ and share an afternoon with friends in beautiful downtown New Bern.

Spring Historic Homes & Gardens Tour   -   March/April
Attmore-Oliver House Museum , 510 Pollock St., New Bern (252) 638-8558. The Spring Historic Homes & Gardens Tour in late March and early April includes tours of private homes, gardens and churches in the historic district, with guides and location maps provided.

Annual Air Show   -   May
MASCherryPoint is the largest Marine Air Station in the United States and each year it presents perhaps the finest airshow in the country.  Check the link for details on this years program.

Tryon Palace Concert Series   -   May/June
Tryon Palace's South Lawn, Pollock and George Sts., New Bern (252) 514-4900, (800) 767-1560. This four-concert series of free evening performances on the palace's South Lawn runs from mid-May through late June each year and includes concerts by a broad range of ensembles, including the North Carolina Symphony.

Independence Day Celebration & Fireworks   -   July
Various locations, New Bern (252) 637-9400, (800) 437-5767. New Bern is one of the first towns to have a Fourth of July celebration and it enjoys a well-turned-out celebration. An impressive fireworks display takes place at Union Point Park on the downtown waterfront where bands perform complementary patriotic music. The gardens of The Tryon Palace are open for free and patriots will find additional holiday activities take place.

Carolinian Shakespeare Festival   -   August
Scottish Rite Temple , 516 Hancock St., New Bern (252) 634-3269. The Carolinian Shakespeare Festival performs the first three weekends of August. Discounts are available for students and seniors.

Carolina Chamber Music Festival   -  September
Downtown New Bern (252) 626-5419. In mid-September, CCMF presents musicians of the highest caliber affliated with organizations including the Boston Symphony Orchestra, the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and the Metropolitan Opera, in a variety of programs designed to delight. Created to foster communication between audiences and artists, CCMF events include entertaining concerts and interactive social functions.

Octoberfest   -   October
Farmer's Market, 421 S. Front St., New Bern (252) 637-3199. Oktoberfest gathers people for an October evening celebration at the Farmer's Market on S. Front Street. German food is served as Bavarian bands and performers provide the music and entertainment.

MUMfest   -   October
Downtown New Bern (252) 638-5781. MUMfest, one of the top 10 festivals in the state, is the annual three-day celebration in the fall that has taken place for the past 25 years. Always the second weekend in October, it highlights the city's assets as more than 70,000 visitors are attracted to the downtown area and its waterfront. MUMfest offers an endless diversity of festival foods, arts and crafts, corporate exhibits, and a kids' corner with amusement rides, fun activities, puppets, rock climbing, a petting zoo and more. Those attending also can enjoy such attractions as live-stage and roving entertainment; a model railroad exhibit; military vessel tours; flower and art shows; and a boat show. Tryon Palace Historic Sites & Gardens features lectures, tours and free admission to its gardens

New Bern at Night Ghost Walk   -  October
Attmore-Oliver Civil War House Museum, 510 Pollock St., New Bern (252) 638-8558. The New Bern Historical Society conducts the New Bern at Night Ghost Walk for three nights in late October, complete with ghosts from New Bern's past. Walking tours feature historic homes, churches and the Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Coastal Christmas Flotilla   -   December
Union Point Park, New Bern (252) 672-0309. Santa arrives in downtown New Bern in style abroad a Hatteras yacht as part of the Coastal Christmas Flotilla on the first Saturday of December. The flotilla of gaily decorated boats of all sizes proceeds down the Trent River and passes Union Point, giving spectators a long, lingering look at the boats festooned with sparkling lights, diving dolphins and red-nosed reindeer.

Tryon Palace Holiday Celebration & Candlelight Tours   -   December
Tryon Palace, Pollock and George Sts., New Bern (252) 514-4900, (800) 767-1560 . By the beginning of December the Tryon palace looks much as it did during the holidays in 1770 when Governor William Tryon hosted a "very grand and noble Entertainment and Ball" to celebrate the grand opening of his sumptuous home and the Royal capital. The palace is lighted and adorned with fresh fruit and fragrant greenery. Cooks are busy in the kitchen preparing confections and delicacies, and the air is filled with holiday aromas. The tours run throughout the month of December and include all of the site's historic homes. Special events include the Holiday Garden lecture, candlelight tours and the Jonkonnu celebration.

For a full listing of all Attractions, Activities, Events and Information in New Bern:

New Bern Visitor Center

The Insiders' Guide