Community Calendar

Cotten Funeral Home & Crematory and VFW Post 2514 invite local veterans and their families to a special Veterans & America 250 Celebration honoring America’s 250th anniversary and the men and women who have served our country. The event will feature a Living Military Timeline with historical reenactors and displays representing multiple eras of American military history, followed by the National Anthem, a Missing Man Table Ceremony, dinner, acoustic music, door prizes, and a 50/50 raffle. Doors open at 3:00 p.m., with the Living Military Timeline beginning at 3:30 p.m. Dinner will be served at approximately 4:45 p.m.
This event is free and reserved for veterans and their families. Veterans will be asked to provide documentation of military service. Space is limited and RSVP is requested. Please see the attached flyer for complete event details and RSVP information.

The Arts Council of Fayetteville/Cumberland County presents the 48th Annual International Folk Festival, a free celebration of the music, dance, food, art, and cultural traditions that make our community unique. Festivities begin Friday, September 25, from 4–8 PM in Downtown Fayetteville, followed by the signature Parade of Nations on Saturday, September 26, from 10 AM–Noon. The celebration continues Saturday from Noon–7 PM at Festival Park with live performances, international food, cultural demonstrations, vendors, and family-friendly activities.

Join us for our 1st concert of 2026-2027 featuring the Kenari Saxophone Quartet, at 7:00 PM on September 26, 2026, at the First Presbyterian Church, 1604 Arendell Street, Morehead City, NC.

KENARI SAXOPHONE QUARTET - Applauded for their “flat-out amazing performances” and “stunning virtuosity” (Cleveland Classical), the highly acclaimed Kenari Saxophone Quartet delivers inspiring performances that transform the perception of the saxophone. The quartet aims to highlight the instrument’s remarkable versatility by presenting a meticulously crafted repertoire from all periods of classical and contemporary music. Their programs are designed to showcase the saxophone while thoughtfully engaging listeners with an emotional, thought-provoking narrative. Steven Banks, a quartet founding member is also the composer of one of the works in the program. He is a distinguished international soloist now. He is a proud North Carolinian who attended the NC School of the Arts.
The mission of the Kenari Quartet is committed to reshaping the image of the saxophone through progressive projects and collaborations, and engaging with an extensive array of music spanning the collective passions of the ensemble members.

Program:
David MASLANKA l Songs for the Coming Day
Viet CUONG l Prized Possessions
Joel LOVE l In Memoriam
Steven BANKS l The Current

A Taste of France, Right Here on the Crystal Coast!

Get ready for an unforgettable culinary adventure while supporting the next generation of talented chefs and hospitality professionals at Carteret Community College!

Join us for an extraordinary dining experience featuring the creativity and passion of students from the College’s Culinary Arts, Baking & Pastry Arts, and Hospitality Management programs. Every bite helps support an incredible educational opportunity that takes these aspiring culinary professionals all the way to France.

Each year, two to four exceptional students are selected for the once in a lifetime opportunity to spend five weeks in France training alongside master Escoffier Chefs. They return home with new skills, techniques, inspiration, and stories to share, and there is no better way to experience their newfound talents than at the highly anticipated Escoffier Chefs’ Dinners.

Come hungry, raise a glass, and prepare to be impressed as these rising culinary stars put their skills to the test. Your ticket does more than provide an exceptional evening of food. It helps make their journey to France possible and invests in the future of the culinary and hospitality industry.

Great food. Incredible talent. A taste of France. And a delicious way to make a difference.

Emerge Gallery & Art Center is excited to announce a new schedule of classes and workshops for youth and adult learners. Classes include pottery, painting, bookmaking, sewing, and jewelry making. Workshops suitable for small children and families include Family Workshops, ArtWalk Workshops, Pop In Pop Art Workshops, and our newest Mini Makers Workshops. Times range from 30 minutes to 2.5 hours. Check out the full listing at www.emergegallery.com!

Come Again is a social respite program where people in early to middle stages of dementia spend time with trusted, trained volunteers in a safe, judgment-free space. We aim to bring joy, friendship, and purpose to everyone while giving care partners a chance to rest. Activities include fellowship, music, art, movement, and service projects, plus a hot lunch. Starting May 1, Come Again meets every Thursday from 10 am to 2 pm at Trinity United Methodist Church, 2311 Elizabeth Ave. There is a small fee to attend. Come Again honors our loved ones living with dementia by lifting up their remaining strengths in a supportive, creative and purposeful way. For more information about joining Come Again or volunteering, contact director Lindsay Roberts at lindsayroberts@newbernrespite.org, 919.428.0618 or www.newbernrespite.org.

Join Pitt Community College and area sponsors at the Greenville Convention Center for the annual Better Skills, Better Jobs Career Fair, eastern North Carolina’s premier workforce and employment event. Designed for job seekers, adult learners and students exploring new career pathways, this free community event features up to 130 regional employers, industry leaders and educational representatives actively recruiting for open positions. Attendees can connect face-to-face with hiring managers across healthcare, manufacturing, public safety, business, and skilled trades, access free professional headshots and career resources and explore short-term workforce training programs. Bring copies of your resume and dress in professional attire to take the next step toward your career goals.

Area musicians come together to play traditional music in an acoustic string jam. This is a fun, friendly easy-going group. New musicians and traditional music fans are welcome. Please visit www.bctma.org for more information

The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary (CGAUX) is the uniformed citizen volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard. All of our missions are operated as directed by the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard or the Secretary of Homeland Security. Auxiliarists provide crucial non-law enforcement and non-military support to the U.S. Coast Guard land, sea and air missions. There are four general task areas served by the Coast Guard Auxiliary: Recreational Boating Safety, Operations, Marine Safety and Mission Support. The CGAUX has units in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and Guam.

The 40th Annual North Carolina Seafood Festival is one of the area’s most popular, drawing in more than 200,000 people to Morehead City. The festival provides residents and visitors alike with great entertainment, family fun, and most importantly, the best seafood you’ve ever tasted. Food lovers have the chance to sample just about every piece of seafood imaginable or learn how to prepare their own with chef cooking demonstrations. The North Carolina Seafood Festival also features amusement rides, music concerts, a road race, pier fishing tournament, and a sailing regatta. For food, you’ll find seafood such as calamari, “Down East” clam chowder, and charcoal mullet, as well as carnival classics like funnel cakes and even a wide array of desserts. Live music is offered at three different stages with continuous acts playing, all of which are free to attend. There are carnival rides and arcade games for the kids.