Several local entities and the North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources have combined to offer summer family fun that is budget friendly, with an array of activities all across Kinston and Lenoir County.
The second of these second Saturday events starts with a jazz concert Friday night. Two of a Kind — featuring Dick Knight and Bill Myers — will combine soft jazz with light hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar at the Garden Center at Frenchman’s Creek. Food will be provided by Olivia’s Catering. The concert is free to the public. This concert is sponsored by the Community Council for the Arts.
Combining arts and heritage with food and fun, the 37 museums and historic sites across the state will highlight 2nd Saturdays, with Kinston’s final weekend being Aug. 9-11. All of the programs are designed to reflect the unique character of each historic place, blended with history, art and authentic North Carolina culture. For a complete list of the state’s historic sites and the 2nd Saturday events, go to ncdcr.gov/2ndSaturdays.
Saturday will be packed full of family activities, beginning with a complimentary breakfast at 9 a.m., while food lasts, at the Lenoir County Farmer’s Market. Fresh local produce and specialty vendors will be on site as well.
Also downtown will be CSS Neuse tours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mother Earth Brewing tours on the hour from noon to 7 p.m., and downtown merchants’ shops and restaurants open, all nestled around the banks of the Neuse River.
More adventure awaits on West Vernon Avenue. The CSS Neuse State Historic Site and Governor Caswell Memorial will host a demonstration of an 18th-century Militia Muster as the second part of the three-part 2nd Saturdays program. The free event will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Museum staff and re-enactors will show how citizens served as both soldiers and police in times of war or civil unrest. Participants can learn how the militia lived, ate and entertained themselves in a display of militia camp life. There will be hourly demonstrations of military drill and firing of flintlock muskets. Visitors and children are welcome to partake in drill instruction and 18th century games.
Admission is free and Sarah Risty-Davis can give more information by calling her at 252-526-9600, ext. 232.
Just next door at 2602 W. Vernon Ave., Lions Water Adventure will offer all types of water fun and excitement from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Wrap up Saturday with bluegrass music at Lenoir Community College. The Eastern N.C. Bluegrass Association will have jam sessions from 7 to 11 p.m. and bands playing, including Potter’s Clay at 7 p.m., Still Water at 7:50 p.m. and The Harmony Boys at 8:40 p.m.
The weekend will wrap up with more water fun from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Lions Water Adventure.
2nd Saturday Weekend
Friday
Two of a Kind Jazz Concert
6:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Frenchman’s Creek Garden Center
U.S. 70 East
Saturday
9 a.m., complimentary breakfast, Lenoir County Farmer’s Market, Herritage and Caswell streets
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Militia Muster, Gov. Caswell Historic Site, West Vernon Avenue
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., CSS Neuse II tours, Gordon and Caswell streets
11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Lions Water Adventure, 2602 W. Vernon Ave.
Noon to 7 p.m., Mother Earth Brewing hourly tours, 311 N. Herritage St.
7 to 11 p.m., Bluegrass jam sessions, Lenoir Community College gym, 231 N.C. 58 S.
Sunday
12:30 to 5:30 p.m., Lions Water Adventure