With days growing steadily longer and temperatures on the rise, everyone is looking for reasons to be out and about. Fortunately, in the upcoming weeks, there will be several events that will give residents the opportunity they’ve been seeking.
This slate of activities begins with Saturday’s Marine Market and BoCO Music Festival — two events happening simultaneously in downtown Washington. Food, vendors, demonstrations and more, the Marine Market is both a celebration of Washington’s maritime heritage and a catering to today’s boaters. Merging with it is the Beaufort County Traditional Music Association’s eighth annual festival, featuring music all day, indoors and outdoors, culminating in an evening performance on the Turnage Theatre stage by the acclaimed band After Jack.
May 28 holds another merging of celebrations: Bath Fest and the town of Bath’s First Port Celebration, a recognition of North Carolina’s oldest town’s designation as the state’s first port 300 years ago. Steeped in history, the event centers around reenactments, informative talks about Bath’s important maritime, and pirate, history and a visit by Gov. Pat McCrory. Throw in music, art, vendors and a croquet tournament, topped off with a fireworks display, Bath Fest-First Port is an acknowledgement of Bath’s special place in North Carolina history wrapped in an entertaining package.
Just weeks later, the fun moves back to Washington for the Washington Summer Festival. For over 30 years, this event has drawn thousands of people from near and far to experience and enjoy the Washington waterfront.
On the surface, each of these events appear to be a simple effort to showcase the county’s rich history or offer a fun outing the entire family can enjoy — or both.
However, these events, and the people who organize them and volunteer to help with them, actually do so much more. They put the region on the map of North Carolina and create a buzz that this is a place where things happen. They pull people in–people who will patronize local restaurants and hotels and bed and breakfast establishments and not only leave with souvenirs purchased from shops, but with memories of a beautiful place where life and celebrations are centered on the river that runs through it.
These events deserve local support, but not just because they generate revenue and potential visitors’ interest. Ultimately, these signature events are a celebration of a way of life — one that can’t be found anywhere else but here.