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NEWS FROM MUMfest
New Bern, North Carolina
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Is New Bern House Really Haunted?
September 20, 2007
New Bern, NC
Is the Attmore-Oliver house in New Bern, NC really haunted?
Visitors to the city’s MUMFest on Oct.13-14 will have a chance to make up their own minds about the presence of ghosts when they take evening tours of this historic house, built in 1790. During the first part of the tours, actors portray previous occupants of the house from the Civil War through the middle of the 20th century. The house is in mourning for a child who has died of yellow fever just after the Civil War ended.
To determine whether the house is haunted, as many believe, the North Carolina Ghost Hunting Society carried out extensive investigations about a year ago. Using audio-visual and heat sensing equipment, the society found evidence of paranormal activity and produced a DVD showing its findings. The DVD is shown at the end of the tours.
The Attmore-Oliver house was built by Samuel Chapman and was occupied by Hannah Attmore during the Civil War. Two of her brothers died while serving in the Confederate army and a third was wounded but survived. Hannah died in 1881, leaving the house to her three daughters. William Oliver then bought the house, and upon his death in 1908 Mary Taylor Oliver became the sole owner.
The Attmore-Oliver house, at 510 Pollock St., is on the National Register of Historic Places in New Bern and is currently the headquarters of the New Bern Historical Society. It features a Civil War museum, and the rooms have been restored and contain furniture from its historic past.
Tour tickets are $12, and each tour is limited to 20 persons.
This is the 27th annual MUMfest, a weekend of family fun. The event, which has been voted among the top festivals in the Southeast and in North Carolina and attracts 80,000 visitors each year.
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Contact: Director Press Relations
director@swissbear.org press@swissbear.org
(252) 638-5781 (252) 638-5422
NEWS FROM MUMfest
New Bern, North Carolina
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Aug. 22, 2007
New Bern, NC
The 27th annual MUMfest, a weekend of family fun, is scheduled for Oct. 13-14 in historic downtown New Bern, NC. The event, which has been voted among the top festivals in the Southeast and in North Carolina, attracts 80,000 visitors each year.
This year will see the return of old favorite events from previous years as well as haunted evening tours, a new event.
Making encore appearances are Keith King’s bike stunt show with three performances each day featuring the best bicyclists in the country performing high aerial stunts while flying off a ramp and complex flat land maneuvers.
Also returning is the Chevy Racing Tour II. Visitors will get a close-up view of vehicles that have helped inspire the next big revolutionary ideas from Chevy. On display will be the NASCAR Nextel Cup Chevy Monte Carlo, ALMS Corvettes, the Chevy racing Cobalt drag car, four Daytona interactive race games, trucks and trailers.
Coca-cola Family Festival features CANn-erpillar and other games, roving magicians, stilt walkers and clowns and to the fun along with dance groups, the Carolina Puppet Theatre and arts and crafts booths. Also returning are commercial vendors, festival foods, the new-model car show and fire fighting and police exhibits, including K-9 demonstrations.
Each evening a guided tour will take place in the 19th century Attmore-Oliver house, which some believe to be haunted. Factual accounts include spirits from the past, Southern funeral customs, life after the Civil War and recent paranormal investigations. Tickets are $12, and tours are limited to 20 persons. Call 252-638-8558 for more information.
And, of course, visitors will see thousands of mums ablaze in their majestic fall colors at Tryon Palace, home of North Carolina’s first royal governor in 1770.
The 6th annual boat show on the Neuse River waterfront will include everything from small pleasure boats to 60-foot power boats. The popular 4th annual Hatteras boat building event will feature 10 family and non-profit groups constructing their own eight-foot wooden dinghies from pre-cut kits.
The 5-K run and the one-mile fun walk will also return. The entry fee is $12 before Oct. 3 and $15 thereafter. To register call 252-639-2920.
For children 10 years old and younger, the Kidstuff area will include a number of creative activities, a Punch & Judy puppet show and carnival rides. There will also be a pumpkin patch at Christ Church in downtown New Bern.
For more information, visit www.mumfest.com.
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SIDEBAR:
If You Go
Delta Airlines has three flights a day weekdays except Tuesdays from Atlanta to the New Bern airport. U.S. Air has seven flights a day weekdays except Tuesdays from Charlotte to the New Bern airport.
New Bern has 13 hotels and 13 bread and breakfasts. Chain hotels are Comfort suites, Days Inn, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Sheraton and Travel Lodge. Some of the bed and breakfasts are in 19th century homes.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
SAVE THE DATE!
MUMFEST 2007 HITS NEW BERN OCTOBER 13 & 14
Award-winning family festival draws 82,000 visitors from 26 states
The 27th annual MUMfest will be held October 13 and 14, attracting more than 82,000 visitors to the revitalized beauty of New Bern’s historic downtown and waterfront. Recognized as one of the finest award-winning family festivals in the state, MUMfest offers an amazing array of attractions, including live entertainment, outdoor concert performances by hot local bands, amusement rides, kids’ activities and more. Roving dance troupes and street performers add to the fun, interacting with festival guests as they sample local arts and crafts and savory foods.
MUMFEST HEADLINER
Back by popular demand, MUMfest 2007 is proud to present Keith King's BMX Bike Stunt Show featuring three daily shows of heart-stopping action with high aerial stunts and mind-boggling technical maneuvers when bicyclists take to the air for a high-flying, high-energy ramp and flatland riding show.
RETURNING FAVORITES
For more fast-paced fun, returning MUMfest favorites like the Chevy Racing Tour, Coca Cola Family Festival and the 2007 model car show also rev up the fun. MUMfest guests also enjoy a blast from the past with tours of the historic Attmore-Oliver House and New Bern Firemen’s Museum, and explore the beautiful gardens of Tryon Palace, exploding with thousands of chrysanthemums in full bloom. Gardens are open free to the public. The Farmers’ Market is ripe with fresh produce, and families can even pick their Halloween pumpkin at the nearby pumpkin patch.
ON THE WATER
The 6th Annual Boatshow boasts watercraft of all sizes, from kayaks and canoes to 60-foot power boats. The 4th Annual Hatteras Yachts Family Boat Building Weekend features 10 family and nonprofit teams constructing their own eight-foot wooden dinghy crafted from a pre-cut kit. The adventure culminates with a flotilla on the Neuse River followed by an awards ceremony. Advance registrations and fees are required. Visitors also get their feet wet with maritime and marine exhibits, boat rides, a water taxi, nautical displays and demonstrations and parasailing.
KIDSTUFF
To delight kids of all ages, MUMfest 2007 offers a Ferris wheel, bungee trampoline, Hot Shot, Monkey Business, Adrenaline Rush, Sticky Wall, Ronald McDonald, Thomas the Train exhibits, puppet and magic shows, along with the popular Gabardine Sisters, Poly and Ester. Kids enjoy hands-on fun with face painting, finger painting, arts and crafts, pony rides, clowns, magicians, balloon art and more.
“MUMfest is an outstanding family festival, showcasing New Bern’s assets while offering activities and attractions the entire family can enjoy together. There’s something for everyone,” said Susan Moffat-Thomas, Director of Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corporation, the producer of MUMfest. “Visitors can anticipate their old favorites, always combined with something new to keep the festival fresh and exciting.”
MUMfest is brought to you by Title Sponsor Joe Alcoke Auto & Truck Center and Swiss Bear Downtown Development Corporation, in partnership with the City of New Bern and area businesses and non profits. Festival proceeds are used to help build a better downtown. For a complete listing of events and activities and more information about MUMfest or Swiss Bear, call (252) 638-5781 or go to www.mumfest.com or downtownnewbern.com.
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City at its best for MUMfest - Sun Journal: October 15, 2006
Ideal weather graces 26th annual celebration; activities scheduled to continue downtown. Mumfest reigned this year, as opposed to being rained out, like last year. click here for story
MUMfest a Hit - WITN: October 14, 2006
Organizers expect 80,000 people this year and that will bring in millions of dollars for Craven County. A 2003 study determined the festival generated nearly 5.8 million dollars. click here for story
Historic New Bern's Annual Family Fall Festival - Festivals and Events feature: October 14, 2006
Celebrating its 26h year, MUMfest 2006 promises to be the biggest and best yet! Long recognized as one of the finest award-winning family festivals in the state, click here for story
MUMfest Brings Fall Fun to New Bern - Carolina Currents: September 26, 2006
New Bern, N.C. - Warm colors of chrysanthemum blooms in the Tryon Palace Gardens and cool temperatures mean only one thing in New Bern, it's time for the 26th annual MUMfest Oct. 14-15. click here for story
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