Monday, October 16, 2017

Ocracoke Alive Fall News: Latino Festival, Proposed Ocrafolk Festival Changes, Fall Membership Meeting

Greetings from Ocracoke Island and Ocracoke Alive!

We are getting ready for a busy fall and would love for you to be a part of our events. This newsletter tells about the upcoming Festival Latino de Ocracoke, proposed changes to the Ocrafolk Festival (we want your input!), and what is happening on the island in November and December. Hope that you are enjoying the season!

Your friends at Ocracoke Alive
Ocracoke Alive November / December Schedule
  • November 11 (Saturday) ~ Festival Latino de Ocracoke. Grounds of Books to be Red, Ocracoke School, Ocracoke Community Center. 11 AM-Midnight
  • November 17 (Friday) ~ Ocracoke Alive Fall Membership Meeting. Deepwater Theater. 7 PM
  • November 24 (Friday) ~ Ocrafolk Thanksgiving Fundraising Concert (Tentative) Deepwater Theater. 7:30 PM
  • December 7 (Thursday) ~ Ocracoke Community Christmas Concert. Ocracoke Community Center. 7:00 PM
  • December 15 (Friday) ~ Concert with Finley Woolston and his Joyful Band of Singers. Ocracoke Methodist Church. 7:30 PM

Continue the Celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month with Fesitval Latino de Ocracoke (Saturday, November 11, 2017).

 
            Although October 15 marks the close of National Hispanic Heritage Month in the US, on Ocracoke the celebration is right around the corner! November 11, 2017 brings the 2nd annual Festival Latino de Ocracoke to our community.  The festivities will begin the week before with a number of workshops at the Deepwater Theater, such as papel picado handicrafts and dance lessons. 
            On November 11, the Festival Latino de Ocracoke day activities will take place on the grounds of Books to be Red on School Road. Traditional games and food from different regions of Mexico will be present, as well as Tamale, Churro, and Itacate workshops. “Flor y Canto”, a folkloric group with roots from Guerrero, Mexico, will perform throughout the day. That evening, a program including music and traditional dances by Ballet Folklorico “Orgullo y Alma Latina” and community members will be held at the Ocracoke School Gym followed by a Latino dance at the Ocracoke Community Center featuring Kalidad Musical. 
            Festival Latino de Ocracoke is organized by the Ocracoke Latino community with the support of Ocracoke Alive.
Click to Read More & Help Sponsor Festival Latino de Ocracoke!

Give Us Feedback on Proposed Changes to Ocrafolk Festival

Ocracoke Alive Considers Changes for Ocrafolk Festival, Seeks Community Input.

           In 2018, Ocracoke Alive’s Ocrafolk Festival will turn 19 years old. What started in 2000 as a small, single day event on the grounds of the Berkley Manor has grown to a three-day weekend that draws faithful followers from around the country for a celebration of music, stories, artisans, and the Ocracoke community.
            With the growth of the event, Ocracoke Alive has worked to listen to the needs of the community, increasing performance locations around the village, bringing the performers to Ocracoke School students, and implementing the ideas and feedback of the Ocracoke residents and Ocrafolk fans. The island nonprofit is once again asking for community input.
            The growth of the festival has resulted in an increase in its infrastructure and expenses. In 2017, the Ocrafolk Festival expenses were around $67,000, with an income of $69,000 after Cost of Goods. Around half of the expenses go towards businesses right in the Ocracoke community, with the remaining expenses covering visiting performers, equipment rental, and insurance. A little under $30,000 in pre-festival sponsorships comes from a faithful group of Ocrafolk fans, $6000 from Hyde County Occupancy Taxes, $18,000 from product sales, $5000 from a fundraising auction, and the remaining income from vendor fees. The bottom line from 2018? The event made around $2000.
            The Ocrafolk Festival has relied upon voluntary admission contributions to date, but Ocracoke Alive is considering requiring admission bands to gated seating areas for 2018’s event. “We want to ensure that we maintain the spirit of this great community event, but we also need to be certain that the event is a successful fundraiser for Ocracoke Alive (and doesn’t bankrupt it), so that we can continue our mission of building cultural programming on Ocracoke,” says Executive Director, David Tweedie.
            The suggested plan would not restrict visitors from strolling festival grounds (many of which are on public areas of the village), but would require attendees to have an admission armband to enter into audience seating areas. The 2017 “Requested Donation” level for visitors to support the festival was $25 for adults and $15 for kids for the weekend. Similar music and storytelling festivals throughout country commonly cost $40-50 per day per attendee.
            As the festival has grown, it has drawn a greater audience, but the audience has become less inclined to make “voluntary” donations. Many consider the cost of coming to Ocracoke as their donation, and mistakenly believe that the event is completely sponsored by the town. “Their response to our requests for a donation is that they already spent a lot of money to be here,” says David. “Unfortunately, that sentiment doesn’t pay for the event or support Ocracoke Alive programming.”   
            Ocracoke Alive uses monies from activities like the Ocrafolk Festival to bring programming to the Ocracoke community. The organization sponsors and directs the Ocracoke School Arts Partnership, supports Ocracoke Arts week, produces the Festival Latino de Ocracoke, and summertime programs. In 2018, Ocracoke Alive will produce Julia Howard’s A Tale of Blackbeard, and will sponsor visiting director, Karen Gulotta who will be working with Ocracoke students in the spring.
Give Us Feedback on Proposed Changes to Ocrafolk Festival

Ocracoke Alive Fall Membership Meeting at Deepwater Theater (Friday, November 17, 7 PM)

Ocracoke Alive welcomes you to our home at Deepwater Theater, School Road, Ocracoke on Friday, November 17 for our annual Fall Membership Meeting. We will provide the desserts as we wrapup  2017, vote in new board members, ask for your input, and let you know our plans for 2018. Look forward to seeing you there at 7 PM!

Thanks for your support! Ocracoke Alive 2017 Board of Directors

Desiree Ricker ~ President, Assistant Director
Tom Pahl ~ Vice President
Gary Davis ~ Treasurer
Sharon Brodisch ~ Secretary
Allison O'Neal
Freddy Contreras
Jeanie Owens
David Tweedie ~ Executive Director

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