Another work week and you made it! We’re so grateful for last night’s rain and we’re now looking forward to an excellent weekend.

And, as it just so happens, there’s a new festival in town—Bridgeton RiverFest. With all of the events taking place, this could well turn into an annual event! The RiverFest begins today at the Bridgeton Harbor Marina, Friday, June 24^th from Noon to 7pm and Saturday, June 26^th from 10am until 7pm (sailboat racing rain date of Sunday, June 26^th). San Juan 21 races are scheduled for Friday and Saturday. Also, there are over 40 regional artists for a juried arts and crafts show, food, games and plenty of live music.

The Coast Guard Auxiliary and the United States Power and Sail Squadron will be on hand with information geared to boating safety.

The Twin Cities Paddle Club will have kayaks and kayaking information and there is so much more. Get out during this beautiful weekend and visit RiverFest.

Visit my blog Mondays, Wednesday and Friday, and I’ll give you the scoop for New Bern and the surrounding areas at www.ncpropertiesonline.com.

Wednesday–time to do something new and different.

New Bern has so many activities to offer, especially outdoors. In 1996 a group of outdoor enthusiasts got together to discuss their love of the outdoors and that summer the New Bern Outdoor Adventure Club was formed.

Since then their 85+ membership has taken on kayaking, canoeing, rafting, cycling, hiking, camping, fishing, geocaching, walking, birding, disc golfing, and socializing.

Meetings are held the 3rd Tuesdays of each month at the West New Bern Parks and Recreation Center at 7:00pm in the front meeting room. Membership is only $10 per household per year. Previous experience in these activities is not required.

For more information call 252-639-2912, www.nboac.org or follow them on Facebook.

Follow my blog www.ncpropertiesonline.com every Monday, Wednesday and Friday and learn more about New Bern and the surrounding area Friday’s on the way.

What a beautiful weekend in New Bern, and some much needed rain came our way.

Here’s a quick recap of the weekend. Saturday in Morehead City, The Double B, captained by Kenny Sexton of Manteo, won the 53rd Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament with a 652.8-pound blue marlin. Sexton and crew received $524,375 for the victory.

Also on Saturday, Oriental held its 8^th annual Art on the Neuse outdoor art festival with more than 30 artists. A sculpture by Per Erichsen called “A Day at the Beach” was the logo for the festival. New Bern Farmer’s Market is open every Saturday from 8am-2pm, and this past Saturday celebrated World Refugee Day. Their motto is “Think Globally–Eat Locally.” They feature local produce, flowers and herbs, free range poultry, homemade foods, etc. For more information on New Bern, please visit www.ncpropertiesonline.com.

You can see Friday’s horizon creeping up now! Hang in there, folks. The good news is New Bern always has something on the entertainment horizon and generally with community spirit in mind.

Here’s a heads up for next Wednesday, June 29^th.  Captain Ratty’s Seafood & Steakhouse, 202 Middle Street in New Bern, is holding a fundraising wine tasting. That’s right—next Wednesday, June 29^th from 5 to 8 pm. This fundraiser is for our local treasure, Tryon Palace. Tickets are $35 and seating is limited so call ahead at 252-633-2088.

Several Wine Distributors will be located throughout the upstairs dining rooms offering a selection of their exceptional wines. Appetizers will be served in each room and all proceeds from the wine tasting will go to help fund the Tryon Palace. You can buy tickets to win a raffle drawing of fine wines and other local treasures, $5 for one ticket and $10 for three tickets.

For more information on New Bern, please visit www.ncpropertiesonline.com

Are you a good writer and love to write about the New Bern area?

Contact me about posting your work for free.

Christina Ward

School is out for summer!

Graduations have been held throughout our area and the heat is on! The weekend was beautiful–the days may have been hot, but the evening shade with a nice breeze was a real treat. But, if you wanted to get out of the heat, Bear Town Cinema 6 has opened (formerly Southgate Cinema 6) on Trent Road for business, and they are in the midst of renovations—can’t wait to see the finished product. New Bern has a very strong theatre and artistic community.

New Bern Civic Theatre at the Historic Athens Theatre featured Motown and More this past weekend. Excellent entertainment, but, if you missed this production, many more are planned for 2011. The Youth Theatre Workshop begins today and runs through June 24^th.

Another big happening for Eastern North Carolina starts today in Morehead City–the 53rd Annual Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament with a purse of $1,400,000. A non-profit fishing tournament donating OVER 2 million dollars to charity to date!This Tournament is a non-profit charity event that has donated over $2 Million Dollars to date. Four boats from New Bern and one from Havelock entered the field of 135 boats; competition ends SaA non-profit fishing tournament donating OVER 2 million dollars to charity to date!turday, June 18th. Competitors fish four of the six days starting at 9:00 a.m. today and ending Saturday afternoon with an awards ceremony scheduled for 7 pm Saturday evening at the Crystal Coast Civic Center. Spectators are welcome every evening at the weigh-in on the Morehead City docks.

You can’t help but love this area with so many distinct events happening each weekend from outdoor activities such as biking, kayaking and boating to artistic events as the New Bern Downtown Art Walk and our theatre performances. Follow me and I’ll try to keep you posted!