New Bern glows with Christmas Spirit

The 2016 Christmas season officially got underway with the New Bern Christmas Parade on Saturday, December 3 with the arrival of Santa on a vintage New Bern fire truck amid cheers from a crowd that lined both sides of Craven Street.

The Downtown Council of the New Bern Area Chamber of Commerce has sponsored a month-long holiday celebration affectionately known as a Beary Merry Christmas. There was live music and holiday cheer for most of the official kick off on Friday, December 2. At just the right magical moment Santa took the stage and flipped the switch to light up Bear Plaza which will serve as his home through Christmas Eve.

The Santa House at Bear Plaza is open through December for children to visit Santa and his elves. Snow machines will produce a wintery scene to thrill children each weekend of the month. Sledding is in the forecast!

Shopping in downtown New Bern will yield unique Christmas gifts for the entire family. The majority of shops in downtown New Bern are family owned and operated. Explore all the sights and sounds of historic downtown New Bern and you will discover quaint restaurants and cafes, art galleries and antique stores.

Another holiday favorite is the New Bern Parks & Recreation's Coastal Christmas Flotilla. The 32nd Coastal Christmas Flotilla set sail also on Saturday, December 3. The flotilla of gaily decorated boats of all sizes proceeded down the Trent River, passing Union Point, to give spectators a long, lingering look at the boats festooned with sparkling lights, diving dolphins and red-nosed reindeer.