New Bern Black History Month Parade, Mardi Gras celebration set for Feb. 18
New Bern residents should mark their calendars for Saturday, Feb. 18, when two of the city’s biggest parade events will be returning for another year of celebration.
The annual Black History Month Parade will return on Feb. 18 for its sixth year after being canceled in 2021 due to COVID-19.
The line up will begin at 10 a.m. with the parade kicking off at noon. The parade will begin on 3rd Ave. near the site of the former Stanley White Recreation Center and travel down Broad St. to George St. before ending at Kafer Park.
In the event of inclement weather, a rain date of Feb. 25 has been set.
During the parade, the 400-600 blocks of Fort Totten Dr., 1300- 1600 blocks of Trent Blvd., 400 block of First St., 700- 1200 blocks of Broad St., and 400-600 blocks of George St. will be closed to vehicular traffic.
Parade organizer Victor Taylor with Vision Forward said that while last year’s Black History Month Parade focused on Black-owned businesses, this year the theme will be Black History: Before and Now.
Taylor said the parade will feature a Black History Month float competition. Another highlight will be the Hampton Roads -Chesapeake Corvette Club featuring 45 classic cars.
Other participants include the New Bern High School football team and local churches, businesses, radio stations and news outlets.
Food trucks will also be available along the parade route.
“We’re going to have one at the fire department and the police department and we’ll have one food truck at the beginning of the staging area,” Taylor said.
Taylor said a grand marshall for this year’s event has yet to be chosen, though several names are in the running.
New Bern’s Black History Month Parade has grown significantly since it began six years ago, Taylor said.
“It has gotten larger and larger. We now have people participating from Georgia, South Carolina, Virginia and all throughout North Carolina,” he noted.
For more information, contact Taylot at 252-617-2537.
Ghent Neighborhood Mardi Gras Parade and Block Party
The historic Ghent Neighborhood in New Bern is hosting its 7th annual New Bern Mardi Gras festival and parade on Feb. 18.
The event will run from 11 a.m-5 p.m., with the parade beginning at 3 p.m.
During the parade, the 1400- 1900 blocks of Spencer Ave. will be closed to vehicular traffic from noon to 3:30 p.m. The 1700- 1900 blocks of Spencer Ave. will be closed from 8 a.m. until 6 p.m. for a block party.
The entertainment schedule for this year’s event is:
11 a.m. — Bridge Atlantic with Erica Butters
Noon — Serenades featuring Alisa Mike
1 p.m. — John Van Dyke and Friends
2 p.m. — Multi-instrumentalist trio Boomerang
3 p.m. — Parade
4 p.m. — George Oliver and the Bonafides
The New Bern Puppets will also be on hand throughout the day.
This year’s event will also feature the first annual Mardi Gras Mile at 2:15 p.m. The fun race will take place along the parade route in the middle of the Mardi Gras Festival with the crowds cheering on the runners. Participants should wear their best Mardi Gras attire to join the celebration.
Prizes will be awarded for first place finishers and those in costume will get a chance to ride in the Mardi Gras parade.
Food and beverages will be provided by Brutopia Brewing Company, A Taste of Philadelphia, All About Churros, Barrow’s Pecans, Better Batch Pork Skins, Chandra’s Southern Kitchen, Funnels of Love, Jasmine Tasty Thai, Meraki Mediterranean Kafe, Murphytown Seafood & BBQ, Simply Sweets, Snook Dawgs, S.O.B. BBQ, Tanja’s Hella Hot Food, and Two Crazy Donuts.
Vendors will include the Coastal Carolina Artists & Crafters Guild, Dawgs Gone Crazy, Happy T Farms, Rising River, Superstar Face Painting and Balloons, and Yellow House handcrafted jewelry and pottery.
For more information, visit https://newbernmardigras.com/
Reporter Todd Wetherington can be reached by email at wwetherington@newbernsj.com.
This article originally appeared on Sun Journal: New Bern Black History Month Parade, Mardi Gras fest set for Feb. 18
