New Bern Calendar of Events 2026

Photo of The Great Trent River Raft Race taken in 2018. (Credit: New Bern Now)
Photo of The Great Trent River Raft Race taken in 2018. (Credit: New Bern Now)

Events in and around New Bern: July – November 2026

Celebrate America’s 250 birthday in New Bern, Havelock, and River Bend NC.

-Enjoy the Glorius Fourth celebration, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. at Tryon Palace in New Bern.

-New Bern’s Independence Day Parade begins at 10:30 a.m. on Pollock Street and ends on Craven Street.

-Stop the Violence Unity Weekend Community Cookout is scheduled for 2 p.m. – 7 p.m. at the Craven Terrace big field.

-The New Bern Southpaws and Carolina Yankees will faceoff at 4 p.m. at Kafer Park, 603 George St.

-Festivities will continue at 5:30 p.m. at Lawson Creek Park, 1309 Country Club Road. The park’s boat ramp #2 will be closed all day and ramp #1 will be closed from 5 p.m.; fireworks will start around 9:15 p.m. and ramp #1 will be open after fireworks conclude.

-City of Havelock Freedom Festival, 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Havelock City Park. Fireworks will start around 9 p.m.

-River Bend’s Independence Day festivities kick off with a car show from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. The parade will start at 10:30 a.m. on Plantation Drive, to Shoreline Drive, to the River Bend Country Club. They’ll have live music, a bounce house, a petting zoo and a golf tournament.

July 10-19: RiverTowne Players’ presents To Kill a Mockingbird at the Masonic Theatre at 514 Hancock St. in New Bern.

July 17: Footloose on the Neuse: Kashmir, 7:30 p.m. at Union Point Park.

Aug. 7: Footloose on the Neuse: On the Border, 7:30 p.m. at Union Point Park.

Aug. 28: Footloose on the Neuse: Tell Me Lies, 7:30 p.m. at Union Point Park.

Sept. 4: Footloose on the Neuse: Abba Nova, 7:30 p.m. at Union Point Park. Presented by New Bern Parks & Recreation.

Oct. 10-11: MumFest in downtown New Bern presented by Swiss Bear.

Nov. 14-15: New Bern Artists Studio Tour.

Note: This calendar is not updated every day. Contact the event organizer for more information.