EVENTS AND FESTIVALS
-In The Jacksonville NC Area
-Everything about the Crystal Coast Boat Show, May 19-20, hosted by the Downtown Morehead City Revitalization Association promises to be supersized. The Boat Show takes place on the MHC waterfront on Saturday, May 19 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sunday, May 20 from 11 a.m to 4 p.m. The free concert on Saturday starts at 5 p.m. and ends at 8 p.m. The Boat Show features both new and used boats both in the water and on land as well as showcasing a variety of marine products and services, outdoor gear, fishing tackle, outfitters, brokers, fishing clubs and resource conservation groups. This event is free and open to the public. Food and beverages will be available at the Boat Show Food Court as well as the downtown restaurants. Plans are also underway to nearly double the space afforded the ARTrageous art event held on the waterfront in conjunction with the Arts Council of Carteret County. In addition, on May 19 at Katherine Davis Park, the Morehead City Chapter, Antique Automobile Club of America will hold its 39th annual car show. A traditional hit at the Crystal Coast Boat Show returns with a Pirate Treasure Hunt for children 12 and under. The kids cruise on a ferry boat across the harbor to Sugarloaf Island on both Saturday and Sunday to hunt for treasure with ‘real pirates’. An exciting new feature this year will be an ‘Alive at Five’ style free concert, featuring the Steady Eddies, open to the public that will rock the waterfront at Jaycee Park on Saturday night. For more information about the Boat Show go to crystalcoastboatshow.com or for any events happening downtown, call 252-808-0440 or go to downtownmoreheadcity.com.
Hammocks Beach State Park in Swansboro
-will be invaded by Pirates on May 5. Activities will include a pirate costume contest beginning at 1:30 p.m., pirate story telling, kayaking, fishing featuring Dr. Bogus, treasure Hunts, vendors, music, food and much more. Non-profit vendors and local talent are encouraged to participate. For more information, call 910-347-5332, Onslow County Parks and Recreation or visit onslowcountync.gov/parks
Onslow County Public Library
-will host a series of Spring Gardening classes for adults and teens featuring Lisa Rayburn, horticulture and agriculture agent with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension in Onslow County. These events are free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.
Propagating Cuttings for Fun—Learn how to propagate popular ornamental plants from cuttings for your own use. This class meets May 19 at 10 a.m. at the main library in Jacksonville and again at 1p.m. at the Richlands branch library.
For more information, visit onslowcountync.gov/library or call Karen Moore at 910-455-7350, ext. 1421.
Camp Lejeune Theater Arts
-Lejeune High School Theatre Guild presents “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown” based on the comic strip “Peanuts” on May 3 at 3 p.m., May 4 at 7 p.m. and May 5 at 3 and 7 p.m. at the Lejeune High School Auditorium. Thursday’s pay what you can performance is a $3 suggested minimum donation. Friday and Saturday admission is $5 for students and seniors, $7 for adults and $3 for Wounded Warriors. For more information or special accommodations, call 910-451-2451, ext. 204 or lejeunetheatre@gmail.com.
JACKSONVILLE - Sweet Coffee & Ice Cream Shop
-will host Open Mic Nights every Thursday at 7:30 p.m. All ages are welcome to perform family friendly music, poetry, comedy and more. This event is free and open to the public. Sweet is located at 408 Western Blvd., Ste 200. between Five Guys and Popeye’s Chicken. For more information, call 910-219-4777 or visit Sweet’s Facebook page.
MUSIC AND CULTURE - Morehead City
-The Alive at Five is a free, family friendly concert series that takes place in Katherine Davis Park on Arendell Street between 6th and 7th Streets from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. Coolers are not allowed and beverages will be available. The full roster of bands booked for Alive at Five this year are: May 4 –The Central Park Band, June 1- the Doerfels, July 6th-Band of Oz, Aug. 3- Liquid Pleasure, Aug. 31- Spare Change. For more information about Alive at Five or any other activities, call 252-808-0440 or visit downtownmoreheadcity.com.
SPORTS AND RECREATION - Jacksonville
-The Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department are sponsoring a Kids Golf Competition (Punt, Pass & Kick of Golf) on May 6 at Bear Trail Golf Course. Registration begins at 3 p.m. Contest begins at 3:30 p.m. Individual competitions open to all junior golfers, up to 17, and graduating High School Seniors. There are 4 age divisions for both Boys & Girls and a unique handicap system allows kids to compete against one another. The cost of the contest is free. For questions about this program, please call the Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department at 910-347-5332 or visit onslowcountync.gov/parks.
ODDS AND ENDS SWANSBORO
-Volunteers of all ages can join the N.C. Coastal Federation and Hammocks Beach State Park in several shoreline plantings in April and May. Jones Island is part of Hammocks Beach State Park and is home to the Jones Island Environmental Education and Restoration Center.Volunteers and students will plant thousands of marsh grasses along the island’s shoreline on the following dates and times: April 30: 9 a.m.-1 p.m.; May 1: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; May 2: 11 a.m.- 3 p.m.; May 3: 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.; May 14: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; May 15: 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; May 16: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Volunteers for the marsh plantings will meet at the Hammocks Beach State Park Visitor Center in Swansboro. Park rangers will ferry them to the island. Volunteers should bring a lunch and wear closed-toe shoes and clothing that may get wet or sandy. Planting tools, gloves, water, snacks and sunscreen will be provided. All events are weather dependent.Those interested in volunteering for these fun and rewarding planting events should register through the federation’s online calendar at nccoast.org. More information will be emailed to registered volunteers a few days before the event.
CAMPS AND CLASSES ONSLOW COUNTY
-The Onslow County Parks and Recreation Department and the Onslow County Board of Education are sponsoring a Summer Day Camp Program at various school sites. Campsites are: Dixon Middle School, Hunters Creek Middle School, Southwest Middle, Swansboro Middle and Summersill Elementary School. (Registration is open for session I and II. The eight weeks of camp includes a full day of scheduled field trips, games, activities and arts. Camp is Monday-Friday, June 18-Aug. 10 from 7:45 a.m. – 5:15 p.m. Cost is $120 per child with each additional child from the same family paying only $110 per child to attend each four week Session. For more information, call 910-347-5332 or visit onslowcountync.gov/parks.
North Carolina Blueberry Festival at Pender County Courthouse Square 
