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. However, due to COVID-19 the series anticipates no shows through the end of 2020. Visit https://artscomm.ecu.edu/family-fare/.

Farmville Community Arts Council

Farmville Community Arts Council, 3723 N. Main St.,Farmville, (Paramount Theatre) will present occasional productions throughout the year. However, all events are cancelled at this time due to COVID-19. Call 753-3832 or stay up to date by visiting facebook.com/FarmvilleArts or www.Farmville-arts.org. The Farmville Community Arts Council is also on Instagram.

Magnolia Arts Center

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

Smiles and Frowns Playhouse Inc.

Nonproft 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. The production scheduled for Fall 2020 was canceled due to COVID-19. The Playhouse intends to proceed with planning for a Spring 2021 with auditions in January. For more information, visit www.smilesandfrowns.net or write to P.O. Box 1945, Greenville, NC 27835.

COVID-19 has impacted events greatly. Many events are canceled. All details reported here are subject to change.

JANUARY Unity breakfast

Greenville’s annual Community Unity Breakfast, which commemorates the birthday of Martin Luther King Jr., is held on the King Holiday at ECU’s Murphy Center. Call the Pitt-Greenville Chamber of Commerce at 752-4101.

Polar Bear Plunge

ECU’s Polar Bear Plunge is held at the Student Recreation Center’s outdoor pool. Sponsored by Campus Recreation & Wellness, will include 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 will be held at the Greenville Convention Center, 303 S.W. Greenville Blvd.

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

First Friday Art Walk:

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

FESTIVALS & EVENTS CONT.

MARCH Purple/Gold Pigskin Pig Out Party

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

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 Relay for Life

Pitt County Relay for Life takes place each spring.

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 at 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 Business Expo

The Pitt County Business Expo is held at the Greenville Convention Center. Contact the Greenville-Pitt County Chamber of Commerce, 752-4101. Visit www.greenvillenc. org/events.

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. 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 756-7915.

Umbrella Market

Five Points Plaza at Fifth and Evans streets. It is typically open

Same Great Service

from 5-8 p.m. on Wednesdays from May through August. More than 70 vendors usually participate. It features live performances and food and drink and participation from businesses in the district. Visit uptowngreenville. com.

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 Five Points Plaza, the corner of Fifth and Evans streets. Visit uptowngreenville.com

Piano Festival

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

Guitar Festival

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

Greenville Fourth

Greenville’s Fourth of July celebration hosted by the city and the Noon Rotary Club takes place on the Greenville Town Common.

Farmville Fourth

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

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Maddi Lamm 229-894-9638 REALTOR® Buyer Specialist Jeannie Register Unlicensed Assistant AUGUST Watermelon Festival

The town of Winterville hosts an annual outdoor celebration featuring rides, activities and music. Visit www.watermelonfest.com or contact Watermelon Festival Committee Chairman Alton Wadford at 378-5344.

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 contest, rides, music, activities. Visit www.aydencollardfestival. com. Note: The 2020 festival has been canceled for this year.

Pitt County Fair

American Legion Agricultural Fair featuring rides, exhibits, music and show at the Pitt County Fairgrounds, 3901 Greenville Blvd., N.E. Visit www.pittfair.org. The 2020 fair has been canceled.

Freeboot Friday

The event 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 at Five Points Plaza, on the corner of Fifth and Evans streets.

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 Annual Canine Crawl from 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 beneft motorcycle ride and a fre truck pull at the Breast Imaging Center, 2101 W. Arlington Blvd. Visit www.facebook.com/ rideforthecurenc and www.ridefortheribbonnc.com.

Hometown Halloween

A Halloween festival is held in downtown Farmville. Call 753- 6713.

Truck or Treat

Uptown Greenville and the Greenville Police Department host Truck or Treat, featuring food vendors and fun. Call 561-8400 or email info@uptowngreenville.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.

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 ofering food, holiday decorations and services. This event raises funds for scholarships and educational activities at Pitt Community College. College. (The Holiday Show will be held virtually in 2020.) 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 other municipalities also hold observances. The Veteran Council typically holds a Memorial Day service on the Greenville Town Common as well.

DECEMBER Holiday Parades

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

Festival of Trees

This festival of decorated trees held at the Greenville Convention Center benefts 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.

Greenville Gives

The City of Greenville holds its Greenville Gives Holiday Celebration and tree-lighting ceremony at Five Points Plaza on Fifth and Evans streets. Call 329-4538.

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.