CRAVEN COUNTY -- The largest gathering of Sudan Shriners east of Raleigh is moving from New Bern to Goldsboro.

• This year’s annual Winter Ceremonial and Election weekend event was moved due to damages from Hurricane Florence
• The event usually brings 3,000 Shriners and their families to New Bern
• The schedule for the event can be viewed here

This year’s annual Winter Ceremonial and Election weekend event was moved due to damages from Hurricane Florence.

The event usually brings 3,000 Shriners and their families to New Bern.

The fraternal organization says they tried to choose a central location for their jurisdiction and landed on Goldsboro.

Public relations spokesman George Raecher said this is only temporary. 

“We’re not changing anything for what we do as far as the event. I know it adversely affects the New Bern community and again we’re sorry for that.”

He said the Shrines just did not see a feasible way to accommodate the event with their own offices being damaged, as well as extensive damages to the Convention Center.

As long as New Bern does not face another devastating hurricane, the Shriners plan to hold the event in its traditional location next year.

The schedule for the event can be viewed here.