Carteret County Parks & Recreation

Announcements & News

Come Cruise With Us!

Our next trip will be on May 23, leaving from Fort Benjamin at 8 am taking the ferry route to Aurora and returning over land by approximately 4 pm or slightly later. Registration is $20 per person.

Registration is available at ccpr.recdesk.com

The festival features various activities, including:
Fossil Digging: Explore the fossil pits and discover
your own Miocene-age fossils
Fossil Displays: View exhibits showcasing fossils
from the Aurora Fossil Museum's collection
Live Entertainment: Enjoy music, performances, and
interactive activities
Food and Craft Vendors: Savor local flavors and
shop for unique crafts
Silent Auction: Bid on items to support the Aurora
Fossil Museum
STEM Activities: Engage in science, technology,
engineering, art, and math activities for all ages
The festival is free to attend, but some activities require
paid tickets. Make sure to check the official website for

updates and ticket availability.

For questions please call Darlene at 252-515-3290

Carteret County Parks and Recreation Summer Camp is coming soon! Join us for a summer full of fun, adventures and life long memories! Our camp is based out of Fort Benjamin Recreation Center, earliest drop off is 7:30am and latest pickup is 5:30pm. Field trips throughout the week, games, sports, arts and crafts and so much more! Our camp is for kids ages 7-11 costing $150/week, registration will be opening Monday April 6th. For more information or any questions please reach out to our staff at (252)222-5858 or email Darlene Austin(darlene.austin@carteretcountync.gov) or Jordan Aleixo(jordan.aleixo@carteretcountync.gov).

Summer Camp 2026
Ages 7-11
Location:
Fort Benjamin Recreation Center
100 McQueen Avenue
Newport, NC 28570

Schedule:
Week 1: June 15-19
Week 2: June 22-26
Week 3: July 6-10
Week 4: July 13-17
Week 5: July 20-24
Week 6: July 27-31
Week 7: Aug: 3-7

Monday - Friday 7:30 am to 5:30 pm
Full schedule each day including games, crafts, field trips, fun projects, outdoor adventures, sports, movies and more.

Come Cruise With Us!
Our June trip will be on June 6, leaving from Fort Benjamin at 8am. The trip is approximately 2 hours. Our return time will be approximately 5pm or slightly later. Registration is $20 per person.
Register HERE

Plymouth is excited to host the 12th Annual National Black Bear Festival on June 5-6, 2026! The largest black bears on the planet are found in eastern North Carolina. The highest concentration of black bears in the world is here on the Albemarle – Pamlico Peninsula. The purpose of this festival is to educate the public about these magnificent animals and celebrate this important North Carolina native.

The Black Bear Festival will take place on the banks of the Roanoke River in Plymouth’s nationally registered Historic District. More specifically, the festival will be set up in the large grass park on the east end of Water St. next to the Port O’Plymouth Museum (this is one of 3 museums in 3 blocks on Plymouth’s waterfront).

For more details, visit: https://nationalbearfest.com

252-793-6627

Additional info@nationalbearfest.com

Ages 9-15

Week 1 July 13-17

Week 2 July 27-31

Week 3 August 10-14

$150 per week (includes camp t-shirt)

Adventure Awaits... Down East Adventure Camp is a partial day camp focused on exploring Carteret County and beyond. Each week will feature field trips around the county, sports, nature education, STEM activities and most importantly FUN! Space is limited. Register today!

Monday - Friday 9:00AM-3:00PM

Drop Off/Pick Up location: Eastern Park 450 Hwy 70 E, Smyrna. NC

Drop Off 8:30 am - 9:00 am

Pick Up 3:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Full schedule each day including games, field trips, challenges, outdoor adventures, sports, movies and more.

Weekly Adventures vary each week

(Schedule subject to change due to weather)

Adventures include: Cape Lookout, Altitude Trampoline Park, Down East Bird Dawgs baseball game, Game On Escape Room, Salty Pirate waterpark, Mac Daddy's Arcade & Bowling, AB mini-golf, NC Maritime Museum, Fort Macon, Rachel Carson Reserve, NC Aquarium, Core Sound Waterfowl Museum & more

Questions: Please call 252-808-3301 or email josh.lewis@carteretcountync.gov

EXPERIENCED HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS ONLY

- Ages 14-18

- Singles/Doubles Matches

- Cardio Triples

- Games with prizes

- $5 per participant

Eastern Park - June 19th, 2026, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

June 26th, 2026, 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Ft. Benjamin Park - July 10th, 2026, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

July 24th, 2026, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

Western Park - August 7th, 2026, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

August 14th, 2026, 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm

For more information or any questions, contact Lynette Worthington Livingston at mable.worthington@carteretcountync.gov

CROATAN, WEST CARTERET, & EAST CARTERET HIGH SCHOOL TENNIS PLAYERS ONLY

- June 13th, 2026

- Ft. Benjamin Tennis Courts

- Start time is 10:00 am

- Ages 14-18

- 6 players minimum, 3 boys & 3 girls, per high school team

- 6 games No-AD sets

- World Team Tennis Rules

- Singles, Doubles, & Mixed formats

- $20 per participant

For more information or any questions contact Lynette Worthington Livingston at mable.worthington@carteretcountync.gov

Friday Night Lights is the ultimate evening out for youth ages 10-13! This program is all about giving kids a safe, fun, and exciting place to spend their Friday night with friends!

This event will take place on Friday, May 29, 2026, from 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm, located at Freedom Park, Beaufort, NC, and the cost is $10 per participant.

Join us for our fourth Friday Night Lights event, Blitzball Bonanza! Blitzball is one of the fastest-growing backyard sports trends right now, combining the excitement of baseball with crazy curveballs, home run power, and nonstop highlight plays. What started as a simple backyard game has exploded across social media, with viral clips, competitive leagues, and creators bringing millions of views to the sport. Its easy setup, intense competition, and entertaining style make Blitzball perfect for players of all skill levels.

For this event, we will have teams of 4, battling it out in a 6-team double elimination style tournament. Teams will be made upon arrival!

Basic Rules -

Game Structure: 3 innings, with 3 outs per inning.

Pitching: A strike zone target is used to determine strikes and balls.

Strikes/Balls: A strike is called if the ball hits the target or the batter swings and misses. Three strikes constitute a strikeout, and 4 balls result in a walk.

Whether your kid plays Blitzball already or hasn't tried it yet, this program is a great opportunity to stay active, build friendships, and have fun in a fast-paced and exciting environment. Blitzball brings a unique twist to the game of baseball while helping participants improve teamwork, confidence, and sportsmanship. We look forward to creating a fun and memorable experience for everyone involved!

For any questions or more information, please contact Jordan Aleixo at jordan.aleixo@carteretcountync.gov.

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