Festivals & Events

Family Fare

East Carolina University’s Family Fare Series features entertaining, educational programs for children and their families. All performances are held at 7 p.m. in Wright Auditorium. Canceled due to COVID-19, the series is expected to resume in the 2022-23 season. Visit https://artscomm.ecu.edu/family-fare/.

Farmville Community Arts Council

Farmville Community Arts Council, 3723 N. Main St., Farmville, (Paramount Theatre). Call 753-3832, visit facebook.com/FarmvilleArts or www.Farmville-arts.org.

Magnolia Arts Center

Magnolia Arts Center, 1703 E. 14th St., is a community theater that stages several productions each year — including well-known plays, musicals, and newly written pieces. Magnolia Arts Center also offers educational opportunities for youth and adults. For more information, visit www.magnoliaartscenter.com or call 1-888-MAC-EVNT (1-888-622-3868).

Whirligig Stage

Whirligig Stage presents plays, musicals and other shows and offers classes and a youth theater academy. Visit www.whirligigstage.com.

Smiles and Frowns Playhouse Inc.

Nonprofit production company for children in grades K-12 through which they can explore all aspects of theater with adult supervision. P.O. Box 1945, Greenville, 27835. Two annual productions are held at the Doug Mitchell Memorial Theatre, 4354 Lee St., Ayden. For more information, visit www.smilesandfrowns.net or write to P.O. Box 1945, Greenville, NC 27835.

Umbrella Market

Greenville Grooves

COVID-19 continues to impact events. All details reported here are subject to change.

JANUARY

Unity Event

Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce’s Community Unity Event is held in conjunction with the City of Greenville on the commemoration of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. It also celebrates and furthers diversity initiatives in Greenville and Pitt County. Call 752-4101, ext. 2222.

Polar Bear Plunge

ECU’s Polar Bear Plunge is held at the Eakin Student Recreation Center’s outdoor pool. Sponsored by Campus Recreation & Wellness, the event usually includes free music, entertainment and food. Visit ecu.edu for more information.

Beer festival

The Jolly Skull Beer & Wine Festival takes place at the Greenville Convention Center, 303 S.W. Greenville Blvd.

Outdoor Expo

The Carolina Outdoor Expo is at the Greenville Convention Center, 303 S.W. Greenville Blvd.

First Friday ArtWalk

Uptown ArtWalk is a self-guided tour of art galleries and eateries in the uptown Greenville area. It is held year-round on the First Friday of each month.

FEBRUARY

Book sale

The Friends of Sheppard Memorial Library’s annual used book sale is held at the Greenville Convention Center, 303 S.W. Greenvllle Blvd. Visit sheppardlibrary.org.

Unnatural Resources Fair

The annual Eastern North Carolina Unnatural Resources Fair is held at the Greenville Convention Center, 303 S.W. Greenville Blvd. Visit unnaturalresources.org

MARCH

Fine Arts Ball

A Fine Arts Ball hosted by Greenville Museum of Art is held at the Rock Springs Center. More information at www.gmoa.org.

APRIL

Purple/Gold Pigskin Pig-Out Party

ECU Pirate spring football celebration includes activities, food, a pig-cooking contest and music. Visit www.ecupirates.com.

FESTIVALS & EVENTS CONT.

Relay for Life

Pitt County Relay for Life takes place at H. Boyd Lee Park, 5184 Corey Road, Winterville. Note: In 2021 the event will take place in October. Visit www.relayforlife. org/pittnc for more information.

Billy Taylor Jazz Festival

The Billy Taylor Jazz Music Festival occurs at multiple venues at East Carolina University and Greenville. Visit ecu.edu/ arts for more information.

Farmville Dogwood Festival

Outdoor festival is held on the Farmville Town Common, Visit www.farmvilledogwoodfest.com or call 753-5814.

Grifton Shad Festival

Outdoor festival takes place in downtown Grifton. Visit www. griftonshadfestival.com.

PirateFest

Hosted by Uptown Greenville, this festival features food and art vendors, special events and music. Visit www.piratefestnc.com.

Spring Fling

St. James United Methodist Church, 2000 E. Sixth St., hosts its annual Spring Fling community yard sale and auction at the church. Visit www.stjconnect.org.

MAY

Chamber Expo

The Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce Expo is typically held each year at the Greenville Convention Center. However, the format and location of this event may vary as needed. Call 7524101, ext. 2222.

Derby Dash Bash

The Annual Derby Dash Bash is held at Rock Springs Center, 4025 N.C. 43 North. Call 752-0153 or email derby@rhrnc.com. Visit www.rhrnc.com.

Mayfest

First Presbyterian Church, 1400 S. Elm St., hosts Mayfest for Missions at the church. Note: Mayfest activities for 2021 will be held later in the year. Visit fpcgreenville.org.

Parade of Homes

The Greenville-Pitt County Home Builders Association’s Parade of Homes is a showcase of newly constructed homes hosted by the Pitt County Home Builders Association, 1913 Turnbury Drive. Call 702-8366.

Umbrella Market

The Uptown Greenville Umbrella Market operates at Five Points Plaza at the corner of Fifth and Evans streets. Open weekly on Wednesday from 5-8 p.m., May through August. More than 60 vendors typically participate featuring live performances, food and drink options, and businesses in the district. Visit https://uptowngreenville.com/play/umbrella-market/.

Concert on the Common

Concert on the Common is hosted by IBX Media group and the Junior League. These concerts, held at the Town Common, are typically hosted every Thursday from May-July.

JUNE-JULY

Sunday in the Park

The annual Sunday concert series on the Greenville Town Common begins in June and runs through August. Visit greenvillenc.gov.

Greenville Grooves

The annual Carroll Dashiell Greenville Grooves Music Festival is held at the Town Common. Visit uptowngreenville.com

Juneteenth

Greenville Minority and Women Business Enterprise celebrates Juneteenth with its In the Black Business Pop-up at Five Points Plaza at the corner of Evans and Fifth Streets. The event showcases area minority- and women-owned businesses and features a food and entertainment and is the centerpiece for multiple celebrations across the city.

Piano Festival

East Carolina University School of Music’s Piano Festival features guest and faculty artists at campus venues. Visit go.ecu.edu/ pianofestival.

Guitar Festival

East Carolina University School of Music’s Guitar Festival typically features guest and faculty artists at campus venues. Visit www. ecuarts.com or call 328-4788.

Greenville Fourth

Greenville’s Independence Day celebration, hosted by the city, takes place on the Greenville Town Common.

Farmville Fourth

Farmville’s Independence Day celebration, sponsored by the town of Farmville is held at the Farmville Town Common, 3672 N. Main St. Visit www.farmville-nc. com

AUGUST

National Night Out

Typically held on the first Tuesday in August, this event promotes crime prevention, strengthens the partnership between law enforcement agencies and the communities they serve and fosters neighborhood camaraderie. Gatherings are held at various locations throughout Greenville and Pitt County. Visit https:// natw.org.

Watermelon Festival

The town of Winterville hosts an annual outdoor celebration featuring rides, activities and music. Visit www.watermelonfest.com or contact wintervillemelonfest@ gmail.com.

Comic Con

The annual Greenville Comic Con is held at the Greenville Convention Center, 303 S.W. Greenville Blvd. Visit www.greenvillenccomiccon.com for more information.

SEPTEMBER

Ayden Collard Festival

Outdoor festival in downtown Ayden features collard-eating contests, rides, music, activities. Visit www.aydencollardfestival. com.

Pitt County Fair

The American Legion Agricultural Fair featuring rides, exhibits, music and shows at the Pitt County Fairgrounds, 3901 Greenville Blvd., N.E. Visit www.pittfair.org.

Freeboot Friday

This event, which has become Greenville’s pep rally of sorts for ECU home football games, takes place from 5-8 p.m. on Fridays before Pirate Home Games. It is held at Five Points Plaza, on the corner of Fifth and Evans streets.

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OCTOBER

Latino Festival

AMEXCAN hosts the annual festival at the Greenville Town Common with music, dancing, food, health screenings and more. Free. Call 757-3916.

Lobster Fair

St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church, 107 Louis St., hosts its annual Lobster Fair at the church. Visit www.st-tim.org.

Canine Crawl

The Humane Society of Eastern Carolina hosts its annual Canine Crawl at the Greenville Town Common. Visit www.hsecarolina.org.

Youth Arts Festival

The Community Youth Arts Festival is held at the Greenville Town Common. The event combines ECU’s Youth Arts Festival with the Celebration of Youth Expressions. Call 328-5749 or email reichd@ ecu.edu.

Cancer ride

Eastern Radiologists hosts the breast cancer benefit motorcycle ride and a fire truck pull at the Breast Imaging Center, 2101 W. Arlington Blvd. Visit www.ridefortheribbonnc.com.

Hometown Halloween

A Halloween Trick-or-Treating event is held in Farmville. Residents and business owners host trick-or-treaters at their homes or businesses. Call 714-5158 or email brenda.elks3376@gmail. com.

Dickinson After Dark

A craft beer festival featuring craft beer, food trucks, live music, creativity and quirky fun, this event was created to help celebrate the growing craft beer scene in Greenville. Visit uptowngreenville. com for more information.

Relay for Life

Pitt County Relay for Life, which typically takes place each April at H. Boyd Lee Park, 5184 Corey Road, Winterville, will take place in October in 2021. Visit www. relayforlife.org/pittnc for more information.

John Lawson Legacy Days

This free, family-friendly event celebrates the early pioneer history of Eastern North Carolina from Colonial times through the Civil War era. Enjoy history presentations, demonstrations, exhibits, food, cannon firings, boat rides on Contentnea Creek, tours of the Catechna Indian Village & Museum, and much more. Visit John Lawson Legacy Days on Facebook.

NOVEMBER

Holiday show

The Down East Holiday Show is typically held at the Greenville Convention Center, 303 S.W. Greenville Blvd., with more than 175 vendors offering food, holiday decorations and services. This event raises funds for scholarships and educational activities at Pitt Community College. College. Visit downeastholidayshow. com.

Veterans Day

The Pitt County Veterans Council sponsors a Veterans Day service, usually on the Greenville Town Common, 105 E. First St. Area veterans, residents and dignitaries usually begin gathering at 10:30 a.m. East Carolina University, Pitt Community College, Winterville, Ayden and, usually, other municipalities also hold observances. The Veterans Council typically holds a Memorial Day service on the Greenville Town Common as well.

Small Business Saturday

Small Business Saturday is part of the Shop Small Movement and occurs on the Saturday after Thanksgiving. Small Business Saturday provides the opportunity to support small businesses. Uptown Greenville offers many local merchants with specials specific to shopping small.

DECEMBER

Holiday Parades

Christmas parades are held annually in downtown Ayden, Bethel, Greenville, Grifton, Grimesland, Farmville and Winterville.

Greenville Gives

The annual Greenville Gives holiday celebration is hosted the first Friday in December at Five Points Plaza on Fifth and Evans streets. Greenville Gives kicks off the holiday season with the annual tree lighting, visit from Santa, children’s activities, non-profits, and a holiday vendor market. Call 561-8400.

Festival of Trees

This festival of decorated trees, held at the Greenville Convention Center, benefits The Family Support Network of Eastern North Carolina. Visit www.visitgreenvillenc.com/visit/festival-of-trees.

Christmas Town

Ayden hosts “Christmas Town” with shopping, food and activities. Visit facebook.com/aydenchamber, call 746-2266 or email chamber@ayden.com. Homes tour and bazaar St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 401 E. Fourth St., holds its annual Christmas homes tour and bazaar featuring tours of area homes decorated for Christmas. Call 752-3482.