Join us on June 1st in Plymouth, NC for the 10th Annual Black Bear Festival. Created to celebrate NC Black Bears and educate the public about them in fun and interactive ways, the event takes place each year on the first Saturday in June on Plymouth’s historic waterfront on the banks of NC’s Amazon – the Roanoke River.

Schedule of Events:

2024 Tentative Schedule

Saturday - May 4th

National Black Bear Festival Pageant

9:00 am: Baby, Wee, Tiny & Little Divisions
5:00 pm: Junior, Teen & Miss Divisions
Doors open 1 Hour In Advance.
Admission $10 for the day
Concessions Available

Location: First Baptist Church, 309 Washington St., Plymouth

Friday - May 31st

10:00 am-4:00 pm: Port O'Plymouth Museum at 302 E Water St, Plymouth
10:00 am-4:00 pm: Bear-Ology-NC Black Bear Museum at 111 West Water St. Plymouth
10:00 am-4:00 pm: Maritime Museum & Lighthouse at 206 West Water St. Plymouth
4:30 pm-5:30 pm: Jet Boat Cruise - Every hour on the Half-Hour - $20 (Tickets Available Online) at 132 East Water Street Dock
5:00 pm-Until. Vendors Open
5:00 pm-6:30 pm: Gerry Maddox in Concert - Island Style & Rock at Music Stage-302 E Water St.
5:00 pm-7:00 pm: "Albemarle Queen" Jazz Cruise $40 (Advance Tickets available Online) at 132 East Water Street Dock
5:00 pm-8:00 pm: Pontoon Boat Rides (30 Min.) (Free, but must sign up at the dock) at Departs Dock Behind the Port O'Plymouth Museum
5:00 pm-8:00 pm: Helicopter Rides $40 per person at 516 East Main St.
5:30 pm-6:30 pm: Jet Boat Cruise - $20 (Tickets Available Online) at 132 East Water Street Dock.
6:00 pm-8:00 pm: "Bear Necessities Paddle" $25 w/own boat or $45 w/rental (nativegirlkayaking.com) at 1006 E. Main St. Bear Track Landing
6:00 pm-8:00 pm: Tethered Hot Air Balloon Rides ($20) at Landing Zone in Field east of Port O'Plymouth Museum
6:00 pm-9:00 pm: Bear Tour (Online registration required) at Departs from the Plymouth Church of Christ - 905 Washington St. Plymouth
6:30 pm-7:30 pm: Jet Boat Cruise - $20 (Tickets Available Online) at 132 East Water Street Dock
6:30 pm-8:00 pm: Photography & Fine Arts Show Public Reception at Maritime Museum - 206 West Water St.
6:30 pm-9:30 pm: Sensory Friendly Evening - Neurodivergent Activities for Kids at Kid's Zone (215 W. Water St.)
7:30 pm-9:00 pm: Rhythm Express in Concert - Motown, Funk, R&B at Music Stage-302 E Water St.
8:00 pm-10:00 pm: "Albemarle Queen" Sunset Jazz Cruise $40 (Advance Tickets available Online) at 132 East Water Street Dock

Saturday - June 1st

6:00 am-9:00 am: Bear Tour (Online registration required) at Departs Plymouth Church of Christ-905 Washington St.
7:30 am: "Run with the Bears" 5K at Bear Tunnel on Washington St.
9:00 am-Until: Vendors are Open at Throughout the Festival
9:00 am-Until: Birthday Bash!! - Free Birthday Cake for the Kids Plus Live Entertainment at Kid's Zone (215 W. Water St.)
9:00 am-11:00 am: "Albemarle Queen" 10th Birthday Bash Cruise $40 (Advance Tickets Available Online) at 132 East Water Street Dock
9:00 am 3:30 pm: Feyer Auto Group Classic Car Show - Awards at 3:00 pm at East Water St.
9:00 am-4:00 pm: Port O'Plymouth Museum - Free at 302 E Water St.
9:00 am-4:00 pm: Bear-Ology-NC Black Bear Discovery Center - Free at 111 West Water St.
9:00 am-4:00 pm: Roanoke River Maritime Museum - Free at 206 West Water St. Plymouth
9:00 am-4:00 pm: Interactive Photo Booth Free at Near Port O'Plymouth Museum
9:00 am-4:00 pm: Photography & Fine Arts Show - Air conditioned -Free at Maritime Museum - 206 West Water St
9:00 am-5:00 pm: Black Bear Theater - 20 min. film about NC's Giant Black Bears-air conditioned $2 at NC Cooperative Extension Bldg 128 East Water Street
9:00 am-5:00 pm: Can You Out Run a Bear? at Kid's Zone (215 W. Water St.)
9:00 am-5:00 pm: Children's Bear Train - $2 at Kid's Zone (215 W. Water St.)
9:00 am-5:00 pm: Cowboy Trick Roping - Learn to Lasso a "Steer" at Across Port O'Plymouth Museum
9:00 am-5:00 pm: Mechanical Bear $5 at Across Port O'Plymouth Museum
9:00 am-8:00 pm: Helicopter Rides - $40 per person at 516 East Main St.
9:00 am-9:00 pm: Kayak Rentals at Dock Behind the Port O'Plymouth Museum
9:30 am-10:30 am: Jet Boat Cruise - $20 (Tickets Available Online) at 132 East Water Street Dock
10:00 am-10:30 pm: The "Off-Broadway" Bears at Kid's Zone (215 W. Water St.)
10:00 am-1:00 pm: Bear Tour (Online registration required) at Departs Parking Lot across from First Baptist Church at 309 Washington St.
10:00 am-5:00 pm: Water Slides-Free at Kid's Zone (215 W. Water St.)
10:00 am-5:00 pm: Lazy River Tubing-$5 at Behind Port O'Plymouth Museum
10:00 am - 6:00 pm: Pontoon Boat Rides (30 Min.) at Departs Dock Behind the Port O'Plymouth Museum
(Free, but must sign up at the dock)
10:30 am-11:30 am: Jet Boat Cruise - $20 (Tickets Available Online) at Bear-Ology Black Bear Museum - 111 West Water St.
10:30 am-11:30 am: Presentation by State Black Bear Biologist at Kid's Zone (215 W. Water St.)
11:30 am-12:00 Noon: The "Off-Broadway" Bears at Kid's Zone (215 W. Water St.)
11:30 am 12:30 pm: Jet Boat Cruise - $20 (Tickets Available Online) at 132 East Water Street Dock
Noon-1:00 pm: Photographing Bears & Wildlife Seminar by Mark Buckler at Bear-Ology Black Bear Museum - 111 West Water St.
Noon-1:30 pm: Noah Jackson Cobb in Concert - Blues, Folk & Old Country at Music Stage-302 E Water St.
1:00 pm-1:30 pm: The "Off-Broadway" Bears at Kid's Zone (215 W. Water St.)
1:00 pm-3:00 pm: "Albemarle Queen" 10th Birthday Bash Cruise $40 at 132 East Water Street Dock
(Advance Tickets Available Online)
1:30 pm-2:30 pm: Jet Boat Cruise - $20 (Tickets Available Online) at 132 East Water Street Dock
Approximately 1:30 pm-2:30 pm: Golden Knights Elite Skydiving Team at Landing Zone in Park east of Port O' Plymouth Museum
1:30 pm-4:30 pm: Bear Tour (Online registration required) at Departs Parking Lot across from First Baptist Church at 309 Washington St.
2:30 pm-3:00 pm: The "Off-Broadway" Bears at Kid's Zone (215 W. Water St.)
2:30 pm-3:00 pm: Ember Fire Arts Show at Behind Caboose next to Music Stage
2:30 pm-3:00 pm: Native American Pow Wow at Eastern Riverfront Port O'Plymouth Museum
2:30 pm-3:30 pm: Jet Boat Cruise - $20 (Tickets Available Online) at 132 East Water Street Dock
2:30 pm-3:30 pm: Presentation by State Black Bear Biologist at Bear-Ology Black Bear Museum 111 West Water St.
3:00 pm-3:30 pm: Car Show Award Presentation at Music Stage-302 E Water St.
3:30 pm-4:30 pm: Jet Boat Cruise - $20 (Tickets Available Online) at 132 East Water Street Dock
2:30 pm-3:00 pm: Native American Pow Wow at Eastern Riverfront Port O'Plymouth Museum
3:30 pm-5:00 pm: Vintage Cross in Concert-Christian at Music Stage-302 E Water St.
4:30 pm-5:30 pm: Jet Boat Cruise - $20 (Tickets Available Online) at 132 East Water Street Dock
5:00 pm-5:30 pm: Ember Fire Arts Show at Behind Caboose next to Music Stage
5:00 pm-5:30 pm: The "Off-Broadway" Bears at Kid's Zone (215 W. Water St.)
5:00 pm-7:00 pm: "Albemarle Queen" Jazz Cruise $40 (Advance Tickets Available Online) at 132 East Water Street Dock
6:00 pm-7:00 pm: Sarah Hardison in Concert-Christian at Music Stage-302 E Water St.
6:00 pm-8:00 pm: Tethered Hot Air Balloon Rides ($20) at Landing Zone in Field east of Port O'Plymouth Museum
6:00 pm-9:00 pm: Bear Tour (Online registration required) at Departs Parking Lot across from First Baptist Church at 309 Washington St.
6:30 pm-7:30 pm: Jet Boat Cruise - $20 (Tickets Available Online) at 132 East Water Street Dock
7:00 pm-7:30 pm: Ember Fire Arts Show at Behind Caboose next to Music Stage
7:30 pm-9:00 pm: Spare Change - Rock, Country, Beach, Top 40. at Music Stage-302 E Water St.
8:00 pm-10:00 pm: "Albemarle Queen" Sunset/Fireworks/Jazz Cruise at 132 East Water Street Dock
$40 (Advance Tickets Available Online)
9:05 pm-9:10 pm: Bandits Flight Formation Team - Pyro! at Over the Festival
9:15 pm: "Reflections on the Roanoke Fireworks Show" at Viewing from anywhere on waterfront
9:30 pm-10:15 pm: "Neon Nights Laser Glow Party" at Landing Zone in Field east of Port O'Plymouth Museum v 5.24

Have a Beary good trip home!

Sunday, June 2, 2024

5:30 am-8:30 am: Bear Tour at Departs Plymouth Church of Christ-905 Washington St.
(Online registration required)
1:00 pm-3:00 pm: "Albemarle Queen" Luncheon Cruise with Live at 132 East Water Street Dock
Music $60 (Tickets & Menu Online)
6:00 pm-8:00 pm: "Albemarle Queen" Luncheon Cruise with Live at 132 East Water Street Dock
Music $60 (Tickets & Menu Online)

Date: June 1, 2024

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