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Saturday, July 2 – Monday, July 4
New Bern, NC – This year, celebrate Independence Day with a fun-filled weekend at Tryon Palace. There’s something for everyone, with activities ranging from a presentation by Tryon Palace Theater to a 19th-century town picnic celebration, a special performance by the Fife & Drum Corps, colonial games, kids craft activities, cannon loading demonstrations, and a dramatic 18th-century reading of our Declaration of Independence.
On Saturday, July 2, at 1:00 pm, get yourself into the patriotic spirit with an interactive program presented by Tryon Palace Theater entitled “Making of the State”. In this lively performance, the audience will participate in our First Provincial Congress and help determine North Carolina’s course leading towards the Revolutionary War. The program will take place in Cullman Performance Hall at the North Carolina History Center. Tickets are $6 per adult, $3 per student; or free with regular admission.
In the 1800s, New Bernians celebrated their 4th of Julys on the lawn of the New Bern Academy. On Sunday, July 3, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm, you are cordially invited to attend a recreation of the 19th-century Town Celebration held there on July 4th, 1836 – the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Bring your own picnic and join 19th-century New Bern citizens in patriotic merriment. There will be music, dancing, and games including townball – an early precursor to baseball. A special period reading of the Declaration will take place at 2:30pm, followed by the ringing of the bells celebrating the years of independence. In case of inclement weather, the celebration will be moved inside the Academy. Admission is free, although donations are appreciated, and all ages are welcome!
On Monday, July 4, Tryon Palace will be returning to July 4, 1777 with a Celebration of the Declaration. Enjoy patriotic kids craft activities, colonial games, and a special Fife & Drum Corps performance at 11:00am, followed by a dramatic 18th-century reading of the Declaration of Independence — all free of charge (although donations will be gladly accepted)! Between 9:00am and 2:00pm, practice your colonial penmanship by signing your own copy of the Declaration of Independence with a quill pen, decorate a fan, run in a Minute Man race, play colonial cricket, and explore the equipment of a soldier in the Revolutionary War with reproduction objects you can handle. In an interactive demonstration, you’ll even learn what it took for soldiers to load a cannon during the Revolution. In the event of rain, most activities will be moved inside at the North Carolina History Center. Purchase a Time Traveler’s Pass or Governor’s Pass and enjoy interior tours of all our historic buildings as well. The gardens will be open free to the public from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
For detailed information on individual events, explore the Tryon Palace calendar at www.tryonpalace.org or call Karen Ipock, Curator of Education, at 252-639-3581.
Submitted by: Trish Ashburn, Marketing and Communications Manager for Tryon Palace