BATH — A series of special events celebrating local history continues in the upcoming week with a new program hosted by Historic Bath Site.

“‘An Evening With …’ Series Presents: John Lawson” will be held Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the visitor center, according to site manager Leigh Swain.

“A local gentleman, Jimmy Edwards, is going to start off this new series,” Swain said. “We’re starting something different this year, a series of first person lectures. Our first one is about the founder of Bath.”

The site invites those interested in local history to attend the lecture, which will include a question and answer session.

“Come spend an evening with the gentleman who aided in the creation and making of the Town of Bath,” Swain said. “John Lawson will speak of those early years in Bath and will also discuss his connection with New Bern and Baron de Graffenreid.”

Cost to attend “An Evening With …” is $5 per person. Anyone wishing to attend is asked to preregister and make their payment by Tuesday since seating is limited, Swain said.

Next up on the site’s schedule is Bath Fest, planned for May 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Although the town itself sponsors the festival, Historic Bath staff members are involved with its planning and presentation. The annual event features craft vendors, free tours of the site’s historic homes, performances and other activities. There is no cost to attend the festival.

Held in conjunction with Bath Fest is this year’s Cut-Throat Croquet Tournament, which runs from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. the day of the festival. The 12th annual tournament benefits the Beaufort County Community College Foundation and will be played adjacent to the historic Bonner House.

The summer promises to be a busy one at Historic Bath, and while the site is still finalizing some plans Swain said two special events will take place in July.

“We’ll have our Pirate Day Camps for children from July 9 to July 30,” she said. The camps run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and each week is geared to a different age level.

And on July 18, the second annual “Pirates in the Port” will feature the reenactment group Devilmen of Cape Feare/Lt. Maynard’s Crew, Swain added. More information about that event will be made available as the date draws nearer.

Historic Bath Site is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The visitor center is located at 207 Carteret Street.

For more information about the site and its schedule of events, call 252-923-3971 or email bath@ncdcr.gov. The site’s web page is www.bath.nchistoricsites.org, and a blog can be found at www.historicbathsite.wordpress.com.