New Bern
Around New Bern
Photo: Drummike55 · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · North Carolina · 126k people
New Bern
Locals say Inner Banks · “Birthplace of Pepsi”, “Colonial Capital”
Where the Neuse flows into history
Pepsi BlueHistoric GoldBrick Red
Welcome to New Bern, where the Neuse and Trent meet and history feels alive. Grab a sweet tea, stroll the riverfront, and say hi to a neighbor—you're part of the Inner Banks now.
Clubs for New Bern
No clubs for New Bern yet.
The room
One room for everyone around New Bern. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around New Bern. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Tryon Palace Restored 18th-century governor's mansion and gardens
- Union Point Park Where the Neuse and Trent rivers meet
- New Bern Riverwalk Scenic walkway along the Neuse River
- Birthplace of Pepsi Where Pepsi-Cola was invented in 1898
- New Bern Firemen's Museum Historic firefighting equipment and stories
- New Bern Battlefield Park Civil War battlefield with walking trails
- Outdoors Kayak on the Neuse River
- Outdoors Hike Croatan National Forest
- With kids Tour Tryon Palace
- With kids Visit the Firemen's Museum
- Evenings Live music at downtown pubs
- Evenings Craft brewery taprooms
- Locals love Waterfront dining
- Locals love Riverfront parks
Through the year
- MumFest October Downtown arts, crafts, and live music festival
- Tryon Palace Garden Day April Garden tours and plant sales at the historic palace
- Music in the Park Summer Free summer concerts at Union Point Park
- Neuse River Kite Festival March Kite flying and family fun on the riverfront
- New Bern Christmas Parade December Holiday parade through downtown
Humid subtropical climate with hot, muggy summers and mild winters. The best time to be out is spring and fall. Best: Spring and fall are ideal for outdoor activities.
Talk like a local
- “Inner Banks”
- The region's nickname for the coastal plain area
- “The Neuse”
- The Neuse River, a local landmark
- “Pocosin”
- A type of wetland common in the area
Getaways
- Morehead City Beaches, fishing piers, and waterfront dining
- Washington Historic waterfront and the NC Estuarium
- Kinston Eastern NC barbecue and the CSS Neuse museum
- Greenville College town with ECU athletics and dining
Local flavour
Rooting for East Carolina Pirates, North Carolina Tar Heels, NC State Wolfpack
Eat and drink
- Eastern North Carolina barbecue Whole hog, vinegar-based
- Fresh coastal seafood Shrimp, oysters, and fish from the Neuse and coast
- Pepsi-Cola Invented here in 1898
- Sweet tea A Southern staple
Where people go
- Historic riverfront downtown Brick streets, antique shops, and the Neuse River
- Tryon Palace and gardens
- Coastal marshlands and nature trails Boardwalks through tidal creeks and pine savannas
- Seafood shacks and waterfront dining Casual spots with fresh catches and river views
Heritage and traditions
New Bern is proud of its rich colonial history as the first permanent capital of North Carolina, its Swiss heritage, and as the birthplace of Pepsi-Cola.
This time of year in New Bern
- Fall oyster roasts Fall Community oyster roasts are a staple from October through December.
- New Bern Ghost Walk October A Halloween-themed walking tour of haunted historic sites.
Say it like a local: “fixin' to” — About to do something
Festivals
- Swiss Bear Festival April Celebrates the city's Swiss roots with a parade, food, and family activities.
- New Bern ArtWalk Quarterly (Feb, May, Aug, Nov) A quarterly gallery walk showcasing local artists and musicians in downtown.
- New Bern Ghost Walk October A Halloween-themed walking tour of haunted historic sites.
- New Bern Brewfest September A craft beer tasting event with local and regional breweries.
- New Bern Juneteenth Celebration June Commemorates the end of slavery with music, food, and community activities.
- Tryon Palace Candlelight Christmas Tour December Historic rooms decorated for the holidays, lit by candlelight.
Landmarks with a story
- Christ Episcopal Church Parish founded in 1715; current Gothic Revival building dates to 1875, a downtown landmark.
- First Presbyterian Church Established in 1819, with a historic sanctuary and cemetery in the old town.
- Cedar Grove Cemetery A 19th-century cemetery with notable graves, including Revolutionary War soldiers.
- New Bern Academy A historic school building from 1806, now a museum of local education history.
- Attmore-Oliver House A Federal-style house museum from the early 19th century, offering a glimpse of antebellum life.
- Craven County Courthouse The current courthouse dates to 1923, with a classical revival style, in the historic district.
Food traditions
- She-crab soup A creamy soup made with crab meat and roe, a coastal Carolina specialty.
- Oyster roasts A fall tradition of roasting oysters over an open fire, often at community gatherings.
- Fish fry Communal meals of freshly caught fish, battered and fried, often with hush puppies.
- Pepsi and peanuts A quirky Southern snack of dropping salted peanuts into a bottle of Pepsi—a nod to the drink's birthplace.
Music and arts
- Tryon Palace Fife & Drum Corps A costumed corps performing colonial-era music at the palace and special events.
- New Bern Civic Theatre A community theater producing plays and musicals throughout the year.
- New Bern ArtWalk A quarterly downtown event featuring local visual artists and live music.
A little history
- 1710 Founded by Swiss and German settlers led by Christoph von Graffenried.
- 1766 Became the colonial capital of North Carolina, a role it held until 1792.
- 1862 Captured by Union forces during the Civil War, leading to occupation and a significant refugee community.
- 1898 Caleb Bradham invented Pepsi-Cola in his New Bern drugstore.
- 1941 Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station established near Havelock, becoming a major military installation.
Rivalries
- ECU vs NC State College football and basketball bragging rights
- New Bern vs Havelock High school football rivalry
- UNC vs NC State Tar Heels vs Wolfpack loyalties
- Game day Friday night high school football
- Game day Fishing tournaments on the Neuse
- Outdoors Crabbing in the Neuse River
- Outdoors Sailing on the Neuse
- With kids Riding the trolley
- With kids Spotting the bear statues
Locals speak with a Southern coastal accent, often dropping the 'g' in -ing words and using phrases like 'y'all' and 'fixin' to'. The city name is pronounced 'New Burn' (rhymes with 'burn').
Only here
- Pepsi-Cola was invented here in 1898, and the original drugstore still operates as a museum and soda fountain.
- Tryon Palace was the first permanent capitol of North Carolina, reconstructed in the 1950s.
- The city is named after Bern, Switzerland, and celebrates with a Swiss Bear mascot and festival.
- The Neuse River, one of the oldest rivers in North America, flows through the heart of town.
New here? A few tips
- Pronounce the city name 'New Burn' (rhymes with 'burn') to sound like a local.
- Expect hot, humid summers and mild winters; hurricane season runs June through November, so have a plan.
- Try Eastern NC vinegar-based barbecue and fresh seafood—she-crab soup is a must.
- Visit Tryon Palace and the Birthplace of Pepsi to understand the town's colonial and soda-fountain history.
- Downtown parking can be tight during festivals like MumFest; arrive early or use the free shuttle.
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Part of New Bern area
Nearby
Every areaWashingtonNorth CarolinaRiverfront charm, southern soul.Morehead CityNorth CarolinaSalt air, slow tides, and Southern smiles.KinstonNorth CarolinaWhere the Neuse runs slow and the barbecue is vinegar-sweet.JacksonvilleNorth CarolinaWhere the Marines call home and the coast is your backyard.GreenvilleNorth CarolinaThe heart of Eastern CarolinaGreene CountyNorth CarolinaSweet potato country, where the fields meet the sky.GoldsboroNorth CarolinaWhere the fields meet the flight line.WilsonNorth CarolinaWhere whirligigs spin and barbecue simmers.
New Bern, NC. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.