BATH – Bath residents and guests will salute the past this Saturday at the eighth annual Bath Fest celebration at Bonner’s Point.

The North Carolina Historical Reenactment Society will portray the Sixth North Carolina Regiment and their Revolutionary War encampment while events throughout the day will pay homage to a patriotic Bath: patriotic music, regiment drills, Northside High School ROTC’s presentation of the colors and a children’s patriotic costume contest.

Known as an arts and history festival, Bath Fest will host arts and crafts and food vendors, along with artwork by the students of Bath Elementary, all populating Bonner Point. Bath is North Carolina’s oldest town — incorporated in 1705, but settled by Europeans in the 1690s. In addition to the Revolutionary War re-enactors, an introduction to Bath’s history will be available through guided tours of the Palmer-Marsh House, built in 1744.

The yearly festival is hosted by the Town of Bath, with volunteers Kara Singleton and Melissa Clinkscales the main organizers of the family-based event that draws many throughout the county, according to Leigh Swain, site manager for Historic Bath State Historic Site.

“It really just strives to be a community event, not just for the people right here in Bath,” said Swain. “There are a lot of Bath people here, but a lot of people in the area come because the elementary school art is on display,” Swain said. “And the local 4-H Club is having chicken and rabbit shows.”

While all students’ artwork will be on display, a ceremony for prize-winning artists will take place at 1 p.m.

Tours of the Palmer-Marsh House begin at 10 a.m. and Bath Fest runs until 4 p.m.

 

 

BATH FEST Schedule of Events

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Arts and crafts and food vendors, children’s art table, North Carolina Historical Reenactment Society portraying the Sixth North Carolina Regiment’s Revolutionary War encampment; children’s fossil dig at the picnic area; music by Beaufort County Traditional Music Association on Bonner House front porch.

10 a.m. Guided tour of Palmer-Marsh House

11 a.m. Northside High School ROTC presents colors for National Anthem

11 a.m. Guided tour of Palmer-Marsh House

11:15 a.m. Bath Elementary band students perform patriotic tunes; 4-H Club chicken show

11:45 a.m. A “member” of the 1790 reads and explains the Declaration of Independence

12 p.m. Guided tour of Palmer-Marsh house

12:15 p.m. Sixth North Carolina Regiment performs weapons drill at Bonner’s Point

12:30 p.m. Music by Pam Carson; 4-H Club rabbit show

1 p.m. Student art show awards presented at South Main and Front streets

1:15 p.m. Interactive handbell performance

1:30 p.m. Children’s patriotic costume contest

1:45 p.m. Sixth North Carolina Regiment performs weapons drill at Bonner’s Point

2 p.m. Music by RiverSong; guided tour of Palmer-Marsh House

2:30 p.m. Storytelling by Judi Hudson

3 p.m. Military music by Simon Spalding

4 p.m. Guided tour of Palmer-Marsh House