Ocrafolk Festival 2020 Announces Performers and Invites You to Become a Sponsor!

A picture is worth a thousand songs . . . so instead of talking a lot, we're gonna show ya who will be here at this year's Ocrafolk Festival. Thank you for helping make it happen by becoming a sponsor! Your friends at Ocracoke Alive . . . . . . plus Mended Wing, food, square-dancing, all your Ocracoke friends and more!

Why do we live on Ocracoke? Plus, Ocracoke Fundraiser in Washington, NC & Ocracoke Appeals to NC Legislature.

Why Do We Live On Ocracoke? A wonderful article by Frances Stead Sellers just came out in the Washington Post a few days ago, entitled “Amid flooding and rising sea levels, residents of one barrier island wonder if it’s time to retreat.” As an Ocracoke resident, I am often asked by friends and visitors how long I plan to stay, how many times we think we can rebuild and fight the inevitable rising tides when it would seem smarter and more secure to move inland to a more stable location. My response reflects why I moved to Ocracoke Island twenty-six years ago.  I believe it also explains why visitors return year after year, generation after generation to this special place. Why do we stay? The simple-yet-complex answer is because it is much easier to rebuild from physical damage, however costly and time consuming, than it is to build a community, especially one that has roots that stretch back 300 years. Although I was first attracted to Ocracoke’s beautiful natural setting, I stayed for the relationships I formed and the sense of welcome I received.  Ocracoke’s tiny village (chocked full of local families, artists, restauranteurs, academics, lost wanderers, curmudgeons, masseuses, and misfits all looking to drop off the map) resonated deep in my heart and soul. I know there are other special places like Ocracoke around the globe, but they aren’t easy to find. So, when I stumbled on one, I instinctively latched on. Living in isolation does something to your psyche, and living in chosen isolation with a group distills and clarifies meaning in life.  Here on the frontier, I am forced to rub shoulders with a wide variety of folks. Most of these characters thrive at this remote post because they have strong personal compasses. . . ones that point in every possible direction. I find it invigorating and inspiring to mix with them each day. Thank you for your interest in the Ocracoke community . . . for your donations, contributions, prayers and thoughts. Whatever the long-term future might hold, we are here now, and look forward to your return. David Tweedie Ocracoke Alive Executive Director Photo by Casey Robertson Upcoming Events That Support Ocracoke Wednesday, Nov 13 ~ 10:30 AM-12 PM, Legislature Building, Raleigh, NC . Rally at the NC State Legislature Building to ask the state legislature to pass a hurricane relief bill for Eastern NC before the end of the session. Come show your support! Saturday, November 16, 7 PM  ~ Music Across the Sounds Benefit Concert for Ocracoke Artists at the Turnage Theatre in Washington, NC presented by Arts on the Pamlico. Funds raised will be channeled through the non-profit Ocracoke Alive to sponsor programming in the Ocracoke community by Ocracoke artists. How Else Can I Help? Ocracoke Alive is recommending two ways that you can donate to help the community. 1. Assist Ocracoke Alive through a tax-deductible donation to help repair Deepwater Theater at www.ocracokealive.org  or mail a contribution to Ocracoke Alive, PO Box 604, Ocracoke, NC 27960. Donations made through our Ocracoke Alive General Contribution Fund will help us get Deepwater Theater back in operation so that this fall and winter, our space will be available for student and community activities and meetings. As you can imagine, a multipurpose space is much in need with so many structures damaged. Fortunately, we had moved many of our supplies to our new storage shed, but we still anticipate about $25,000 in repairs. The Outer Banks Community Foundation has generously started us off by awarding Ocracoke Alive $5000 to replace contents lost (fridge, tables, displays). 2. Make a General Contribution to Ocracoke through the Outer Banks Community Foundation Dorian Disaster Fund. These monies will pass through the Ocracoke Fire Department Board for distribution in the community. When making the donation, you can determine if you would like it to go to a more general fund for Hatteras and Ocracoke, or focus just on Ocracoke. Ocracoke is a resilient community. As we work together, the core spirit of the village has earned the admiration of the aid workers who have arrived on the scene. Thank you for your support in helping us heal. We look forward to having you back here when the dust settles.

That's All for Now! David Tweedie ~ Executive Director OCRACOKE ALIVE BOARD Desiree Ricker ~ President, Assistant Director Sharon Brodisch ~ Vice President Gary Davis ~ Treasurer Katy Mitchell Chad Macek Gloria Perez Shae Youell

Ocrafolk Festival 2019 Performers Announced, Valentine Early Birds, Artisan Applications Due

Ocrafolk Festival 2019 Performers Announced Get Your Ocrafolk Festival Early Bird Tickets, Sweetheart! Artisan Applications Due Now Ocracoke's Latino Festival Makes a Great Contribution Ocracoke Alive Announces Lineup for 20th Ocrafolk Festival We are so excited to announce this year's Ocrafolk Festival Performers. 2019 is our 20th anniversary, and so we wanted to bring back some of the audience favorites from previous years. Please understand that most of our performers turn out to be favorites (Hey! We have pretty good taste!). So if someone you love is missing from this list, take heart . . .they will probably be returning in future years. 2019 Performers include: Molasses Creek (your hosts), Donald Davis, the Steel Wheels, Mipso, Kaira Ba, Aaron Burdette, Chatham Rabbits, Beleza, Craicdown, Noah Paley, Bill Harley, Martin Garrish, Coyote, The Wilders, Paperhand Puppets, Mahalo Jazz, Warren, Bodle & Allen, Bob & Jeanne Zentz, Green Grass Cloggers, John Golden, Rodney Kemp, Jef the Mime, Ballet Folkorico de Ocracoke, and more! Early Bird All Weekend Passes ($50) Available Through April 30! Thinking of Getting Early Bird Tickets? Now's the Time! Valentine's Day can be a sweet time to surprise your family and friends with Ocrafolk Festival Tickets. You also get the added bonus of taking advantage of Early Bird Ticket Specials of $50 for the whole weekend of Ocrafolk fun! Plus we will throw in an Ocrafolk Festival Collector's Button good for stage drawings ($15 value). After April 30th, the price goes up to $65 for the weekend. Single Day Passes to the Ocrafolk Festival will be released at a later date, but you should note that if you are planning on attending two days of the festival weekend, it will be less expensive to purchase the Early Bird All Weekend Ticket Pass than separate day passes.   Sponsor Ocrafolk and Receive Exclusive Rewards 2019 Sponsor Levels are from $600-$3000. Sponsors receive tickets and many perks for helping to ensure that the festival can continue.  For more information, contact us through the Sponsor Ocrafolk page. If you are obtaining tickets by becoming a Sponsor, you will not purchase your tickets separately through the website (unless you need additional tickets for your group). We will include the tickets in your Sponsor Bag.   Ocrafolk Festival Artisan Application Deadline, March 15 Artists who would like to be considered for Ocrafolk Festival 2019 need to apply by March 15. Apply to be an Ocrafolk Festival Artisan Festival Latino de Ocracoke Contributes to Our Community This week the Festival Latino de Ocracoke committee presented $2000 to Ocracoke School (in addition to $500 donated to the Arts Class and Shop Class), as well $1000 to the Ocracoke Health Center. 2019 will mark the 4th annual Festival Latino de Ocracoke, November 8-10. Join us for a multicultural celebration produced by Ocracoke Alive in partnership with Ocracoke's Latino Community! That's All for Now! David Tweedie ~ Executive Director OCRACOKE ALIVE BOARD Desiree Ricker ~ President, Assistant Director Sharon Brodisch ~ Vice President Gary Davis ~ Treasurer Katy Mitchell Chad Macek Gloria Perez Shae Youell