NEW BERN, N.C. (WITN) – New Bern is celebrating America’s 250th birthday with a full day of events, and businesses are ready to greet the crowds.
The city will kick off the day on Saturday with free entry at Tryon Palace from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m., and a Swiss Bear Inc. parade downtown at 10:30 a.m.
Located across from Tryon Palace, Beary the Hatchet Axe Throwing Company employee Jack Massie says their location certainly brings in a lot of new faces during the holidays.
“Business has been great. We’ve been getting people in from out of town, coming to see family, and we’ve just loved seeing all these people here,” Massie says.
Even a couple of miles away from the downtown bustle, Saltwater Grill manager Christi-Jo Fisher tells WITN they’re still seeing around twice as many customers as they would on a normal weekend.
“The dock and dine for the boats, a lot of people coming in off their boats, having some beer, having some lunch, absolutely,” Fisher says.
She says it’s an all-hands-on-deck type of weekend.
“We’ve got to stock up on our beer, number one, and we have a couple of specials we’re running, and just staffing,” Fisher told WITN.
According to the city, celebrations will continue in New Bern Saturday evening, with food trucks and festivities at Lawson Creek Park.
There will also be a fireworks show beginning after dark to finish off the day.
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