Play Dates

Play Dates IMPORTANT NOTE ON UPCOMING EVENTS: Many festivals, concerts and other events have been canceled for the forseeable future due to the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent stay-at-home orders and social distancing guidelines from North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper. All of the events listed here were still on schedule as of press time, but it’s best to check with each venue to ensure that the event is still going on as planned.

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MumFeast 2020 Every Saturday in October Downtown New Bern

To keep its highly successful MumFest going in the time of COVID-19, organizers have modifed this year’s festival to a month-long weekends only event will be an expansion of Downtown New Bern’s dining in the streets. Downtown streets will close at 5 p.m. Fridays and remain closed through 9:30 p.m. Saturdays so participating restaurants can provide “Feasting in the Streets.” Not only will you be able to walk through the maze and take pictures by the arch, but downtown streets will be decorated with mums as they have for the past fve years. There will be local live music to enjoy outside to keep a highlight of prior years safely in place. Face masks and social distancing are highly recommended. Visit mumfest.com for more.

Skyline Drive-In Movies (sponsored by the Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts and the Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College) Hanover Parking Garage Roof • Across from Wilson Center @ CFCC 703 North Third St., Wilmington 8 p.m., gates open at 7 p.m. Tickets: $30-40 per carload

Te Talian Hall Center for the Performing Arts and the Wilson Center at Cape Fear Community College are hosting a new Drive-In series — Skyline Drive-in Movies. Tis unique new entertainment experience will elevate the concept of the drive-in cinema to an entirely new level — specifically, the top level of the Hanover Street Student Parking Deck, just opposite the Wilson Center. Te series will highlight the history of cinema in Wilmington, and will feature films made in Wilmington and the surrounding Cape Fear region. “Blue Velvet” will be shown Sept. 28-30, while “Stephen King’s Firestarter” will show Oct. 1, 3 and 4. Both movies are Rated R. For tickets and more information, visit https:// wilsoncentertickets.com/skyline.

OCT 23-24

FRI-SAT

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Ghost Walk of Pender’s Past | Downtown Burgaw Te Ghosts of Pender’s Past Ghost Walk will feature historical legends, lore and tales from Pender’s beaches to Moores Creek National Battlefield. Tis year come hear the stories of Train Depot ghosts, pirates, local legends, horror movies filmed in Burgaw, Poplar Grove Plantation ghosts, a Scottish Fairy of Death, a mysterious plane disappearance and more. For tickets, call 910-259-1278 or visit www.facebook.com/ PenderCountyGhostWalk. Te ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has caused the cancellation of a number of festivals and events that have become part of the autumn experience in Southeastern North Carolina. Following is a listing of some of the major events that have been canceled for 2020, due to coronavirus. As mentioned above, if a festival or event you are interested in is not listed here, please check with the individual venue or website for the latest information.

• Te North Carolina Muscadine Festival in Kenansville, usually held the last weekend in September, has been canceled and is scheduled to return in 2021. Duplin Winery, one of the major sponsors of the festival, still has events and activities available for those who would like more than a taste of Duplin Wines. Visit www.duplinwinery.com/upcoming-events for more.

• Te International Folk Festival, originally slated for September 25-27, has been postponed by the Te Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County. “We look forward to a stronger, more vibrant International Folk Festival in 2021,” says UniQue Webster, the Arts Council’s director of engagement and strategic partnerships. For more on the 2021 event, visit www. theinternationalfolkfestival.com.

• Te North Carolina Seafood Festival in Morehead City, usually held in October, has been canceled. Next year’s event is set for Oct. 1-3, 2021. However, festival organizers have come up with a way to continue to celebrate North Carolina’s seafood industry throughout the month of October. One box of fresh seafood prepared by local chefs will be delivered each week in October to celebrate National Seafood Month. To place an order, visit www.ncseafoodfestival.org.

• Wilmington’s Riverfest 2020, scheduled for October 2-4 in downtown Wilmington, has been canceled. Te two-day festival usually draws tens of thousands of people to the downtown riverfront, with street vendors, live music, fun activities and more. https:// wilmingtonriverfest.com/.

• Autumn with Topsail. Te Autumn with Topsail Festival is typically held on the grounds of the Historical Society of Topsail Island, and features a juried Artists’ and Crafts Court with over 120 regional artists displaying and selling their work. For more on this annual event, visit www.autumnwithtopsail.com.

“Totally Fly” Ghost Tours

7 p.m., every Friday night in October Well-Traveled Beer, 201 S. Center St., Goldsboro / Goldsborough Bridge Battlefield Site, Dudley

Visit Goldsboro is relaunching its Totally Fly Ghost Tours just in time for the fall season. Te tours will take place on Fridays starting Oct. 9 and will alternate each week between historic Downtown Goldsboro (Oct. 16 and 30) and the Goldsborough Bridge Battlefield site (Oct. 9 and 23). Tours are from 7-9 p.m. and the cost is $15 per person. Due to new safety precautions, the tours are completely outdoors, limited to 20 people, and face coverings will be required. Parking is free at both locations. Interested participants are encouraged to sign up for both tours for the complete paranormal experience. To book a tour, visit www.totallyflytours.com.

100th Veterans Day Celebration • Warsaw

Downtown Warsaw Te oldest consecutive Veterans Day celebration in the United States will happen in downtown Warsaw on Saturday, Nov. 7. Te parade will kick off with a flyover from the N.C. Forestry Service, followed by a Special Forces Jump Team parachuting into downtown Warsaw carrying a giant American flag. Tere will be food vendors, as well as a memorial service. For more information, contact the Warsaw Chamber of Commerce at 910-293-7804 and see the story in this issue, starting on page 10.

• Te North Carolina Oyster Festival in Brunswick County has been canceled, with next year’s event set for Oct. 16-17, 2021. “While we will all be waiting until 2021 to enjoy the sights and sounds of the Oyster Festival, you will have an opportunity to participate in some ‘39 ½’ activities,” the website reads. “A special commemorative T-shirt has been designed by long-time Oyster Festival artist Keith White. Raffle tickets will also be sold for $100 for a chance to win a stay at one of two OIB beach houses.” For more, contact Jessica Gallant, sales director, Brunswick County Chamber of Commerce, at 910-754-6644 or jgallant@ brunswickcountychamber.org.

• Fayetteville Dogwood Fall Festival, which had been postponed from the spring due to the pandemic, has now been canceled for 2020. Te festival usually features live music, arts and crafts vendors, food, amusement rides and much more. Visit www.thedogwoodfestival.com for more on future festivals.

• Te North Carolina Spot Festival in Hampstead was canceled for 2020. In a statement on Facebook, the organizers wrote, “We know many in the Hampstead area and around the state of North Carolina look forward to this wonderful event, and we understand the disappointment that this may bring to some. Tough we are disappointed too, we are already planning for an incredible 2021 Spot Festival.” For more on next year’s event, and the N.C. Spot Festival pageant, visit www.facebook.com/NCSPOTFESTIVAL.

• Te N.C. Bacon Festival has also been canceled for 2020. It was originally scheduled for Oct. 10-11 at the Homestead Farm in Rocky Point. Organizers have rescheduled the festival for Oct. 9-10, 2021. For more, visit ncbaconfestival.com/.

• Te North Carolina Poultry Jubilee, usually held the first weekend in November, has been canceled for 2020. Te event usually features fried chicken cooked in the World’s Largest Frying Pan, fair food and amusement rides, arts and crafts vendors, and a cake auction led by the Poultry Jubilee queens. Carve out some time for fun this fall

Although many events have been canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some businesses have reopened with guidelines in place, so you can still find plenty of fun and interesting things to do this fall and stay within social distancing parameters!

Moores Creek National Battleground • Te visitor center is now open from 9 a.m. until 5 pm Tuesday through Saturday, and closed on all federal holidays. Park trails, comfort station restrooms, and picnic shelters are now also open. Patriot’s Hall restrooms will remain closed. Park staff has implemented new safety measures to help keep visitors and staff safe. Te visitor center, at this time, will remain at 50 percent capacity. Te park will be showing its 10-minute movie, “In the Most Furious Manner,” with the theater also be at 50 percent capacity. For more information on the visitor center reopening, visit www.nps.gov/mocr or facebook.com/moorescreeknps.

North Carolina Aquariums at Fort Fisher, Pine Knoll Shores and Roanoke Island

• All three aquariums are open for visitation, with some adjustments in order to provide the safest possible environment for guests, staff and animals. Aquarium admission will be available online only at ncaquariums.com, and guests will reserve tickets for specific arrival times. Tis will allow the aquariums to best provide a safe and enjoyable visit by reducing overall building capacity. Also, in accordance with Executive Order 163, both guests and employees will need to wear face coverings and maintain social distancing. Museum of the Cape Fear • Te Museum of the Cape Fear Historical Complex, located on the corner of Bradford and Arsenal avenues in Fayetteville, is now open Wednesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Areas that remain closed to the public include the steamboat exhibit, the Civil War soldier teaching corner, and the general store. Visitors will be able to view these areas, but not enter them. Touch items have been removed temporarily. No tours of the 1897 Poe House will be provided for at least the first 30 days after opening. www.museumofthecapefear.ncdcr.gov. Mike’s Farm • During the month of October, Mike’s Farm is popular for its Pumpkin Patch. You can walk through the fields and select the perfect pumpkin to bring home. Hayrides run Tuesday and Wednesday from 1-5 p.m., Tursday and Friday from 1-8 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Te cost is $2 per person for ages 3 and older. Pumpkins are weighed and run $0.69 per pound with a $3 minimum. www.mikesfarm.com/the-farm/pickin-patch/. Ghost Walk of Wilmington • Due to safety guidelines, those participating in the tours are required to wear face coverings and smaller group limits will be enforced. Times for the 90-minute Ghost Walk are nightly at 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. through Oct. 31, and nightly at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 1-30. hauntedwilmington.com/tickets. Ghost Tour of New Bern • Tours will continue at 7:30 p.m. nightly through Nov. 30, with smaller group sizes, less contact during ticket purchasing and check-in, and masks when social distancing isn’t possible. hauntednewbern.com/ghost-tour-info.

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