Plymouth on the Albemarle Loop -- by Claude Milot

Sail seven miles up the Roanoke River from the Albemarle Sound and you come to a “must-stop”
on the Albemarle Loop. Plymouth is a quiet town of 3,600 people, a place some people might think has been forgotten by time. But Plymouth comes alive throughout the year due to fi sh, bears, and boats.
There are fishing tournaments for rockfish and bass almost every Saturday from March to November when anywhere from 10 to 100 boats will sail up the river or use Plymouth’s boat ramp to compete for prizes and boasting rights. Then on the weekend of June 2-4 the streets of Plymouth will be fi lled with visitors who come to enjoy the North Carolina Black Bear Festival. And on the weekends of April 12-13 and October 7-8, spectators will line the banks of the river to watch speedboats roar up and down in races sponsored by the Virginia Outlaw Drag Boat Races. But the biggest event of them all is Living History Weekend.
Plymouth is proud of its illustrious Civil War history, which it celebrates annually on the Living History Weekend. On April 21-23, volunteers will re-enact the Battle of Plymouth, which took place in April, 1864, and the sinking of the Confederate ironclad Albemarle in October. It is without a doubt the most important event of the year for Plymouth and for fans of Civil War re-enactments.
When you’re there, don’t miss visiting the Port O’ Plymouth Civil War Museum and its great collection of Civil War artifacts.
Even if you’re not a Civil War history buff, Plymouth’s Living History Weekend is sure to reward your visit.

(The Albemarle Loop is a group of marinas and towns that have come together to promote the marine aspects of the Albemarle Sound)