An Ocrafolk Music Playlist, A Tale of Blackbeard Auditions (Mar 16), Flamenco Vivo to Visit Ocracoke (Mar 18), Makeover Begins at Deepwater Theater

Ocrafolk Festival 2019 Performers Playlist on Spotify Deepwater Theater Makeover Begins Ocrafolk Artisan Applications Close March 15 A Tale of Blackbeard is Off & Running Flamenco Vivo Comes to Ocracoke School Ocrafolk Festival News  Listen to Ocrafolk Festival 2019 Musicians on Spotify ~ Of course you don't want to wait to get your Ocrafolk Festival Fix! Desiree Ricker, our Assistant Executive Director, is so excited about this year’s lineup that she put together a Spotify Playlist so we can enjoy the music of 2019’s artists all spring!    Don't Forget! Artisan App Deadline ~ March 15 Early Bird Ocrafolk Festival Ticket Sales End ~ Apr 30 Early Bird All Weekend Pass Tickets ($50) are on sale through the end of April. After that, All Weekend Pass Prices will increase to $65. Individual day prices will be released as we get closer to the festival date.   You'll Love Our Ocrafolk Festival Sponsor Rewards! 2019 Sponsor Levels are from $600-$3000 and contributors receive incredible rewards!      Thanked in program, on web, and from stage      Reserved Sponsor Seats at Live Oak Stage & for Saturday Night's Gala Performance at the Berkley Manor     Gift certificates for 1718 Brewery Drinks, Serving on Festival Grounds     All Weekend Festival Passes     Tickets to Donald Davis Storytelling & Dessert Evening     Ocrafolk Festival Ts     2019 Ocrafolk Festival Raffle Buttons (For Stage Drawings)     Emcee thanks from stages Learn More About Ocrafolk Festival Sponsorship Work Begins on Ocracoke Alive's Deepwater Theater The BIG Makeover Has Begun! With the building permit in place, activity stepped up at Deepwater Theater this week with the installation of the pilings by Jamie and Galen. The pilings will be support a 16x16 storage shed with an 8 foot porch, situated next to the existing Deepwater Theater. A resounding cheer was heard around Ocracoke Village as residents brainstormed what they would do with all the extra space in their attics currently occupied by Ocracoke Alive's supplies. Thanks so much to John Brock and David Perez for all of their work (and work yet to come) for our expansion. Also, many thanks to Carter Lumber for working with us on pricing so that we could afford the project supplies! A Tale of Blackbeard Auditions this Weekend! AUDITIONS ON MARCH 16 Come out to Deepwater Theater on Saturday, March 16 to audition to become a part of our cast and crew! 2019’s summer production of A Tale of Blackbeard will run from July 1-August 12, Monday nights at Ocracoke School for a total of 7 shows. Audition instructions 1. Drop by anytime between 2-4 on March 16. You may make an appointment to audition on March 17 if you can’t make the 16th. Contact Desirée Ricker at desireer@ocracokealive.org if you have any questions. 2. We provide scripts for cold readings. Be prepared to sing a song (Happy Birthday will work!) 3. Wear comfortable shoes that are easy to move in. We will be teaching an easy dance. 4. Auditioners will fill out an audition form. 5. Have fun! Flamenco Vivo Comes to Visit Ocracoke School This coming Monday, March 18th, at 8:30 AM in the morning, the world-renowned Flamenco-Vivo will visit Ocracoke School Gym, offering a wonderful blend of entertainment and education. Students will learn about the intricacies of flamenco, a spirited style of Spanish music played especially on the guitar and accompanied by singing and dancing. The cultural history combined with details about the various instruments involved in the art form will be highlighted. A great big thank you to the North Carolina Arts Council Grassroots Grant for giving Hyde County Schools the opportunity to host this dynamic group, and to Nancy Leach and the Ocracoke Alive staff for assisting production on Ocracoke. For more information on Flamenco-Vivo visit flamenco-vivo.org 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

Stuff Your Stockings with Ocrafolk Festival Early Bird Tickets! Holiday News and more from Ocracoke Alive.

Ocrafolk Festival 2019 Early Bird Tickets Released in Time for Holiday Gifting!              It’s hard to believe but the wheels are already turning for next year’s Ocrafolk Festival (June 7-9). We are in top secret discussion with our lineup for 2019 (not revealing any names yet), and have some great surprises in store for our 20thOcrafolk Festival celebration. Hope you can join us! We have just released Ocrafolk Early Bird Tickets online in time for stuffing the stockings of your Folkie Friends and Family. The Early Bird $50 All Weekend Pass price will be good through the end of April, at which point Early Bird Ticket prices will rise to $65 for the weekend. If you are only able to attend two days of Ocrafolk Festival and Saturday is one of those days, it will be most economical for you to purchase an Early Bird All Weekend Pass.   Your Festival Feedback Helps Shape Ocrafolk . . . Kids and Students 0-17 Years Old Free in 2019! Photo by Ann Ehringhaus We work really hard to gather your wise feedback and use it to inspire the crafting of Ocrafolk Festival. Thanks to everyone who responded to this year’s survey. One of the brilliant suggestions floated this year was to make Kids and Student tickets free in 2019. Since one of our Ocracoke Alive goals is to provide fabulous programming for kids and students, this resonated with our crew! Attendees interested in securing Kids/Student passes may do so online as well as on festival weekend.   By becoming an Ocrafolk Festival Sponsor, you help make this happen!  Stay tuned for more press releases in 2019!   Sponsor Ocracoke Alive & Help Make Our Inspiring Programming Possible Diali Keba Cissokho gives a demonstration on the kora during Arts Week 2018 As we approach the end of the year, Ocracoke Alive would like to remind you how critical your contributions are to our mission on Ocracoke Island. Our small community relies upon the generous contributions from folks like you to produce vital student and community programming. Your donation fuels the Student Arts Partnership Program, the Deepwater Theater Community Space, Ocrafolk Festival, Festival Latino de Ocracoke, and community workshops and presentations. We couldn’t do this without your help! Make your tax-deductible contribution to Ocracoke Alive through our website at www.ocracokealive.org, or by sending a check into Ocracoke Alive, PO Box 604, Ocracoke, NC 27960.   Festival Latino de Ocracoke Festival Warms Up Blustery November Ballet Folklorico de Ocracoke gives a colorful performance! November 9-11, Ocracoke Island came alive with the vibrant sounds of mariachi songs, salsa music, and the mouthwatering flavors of a multitude of tasty Mexican dishes. The 3rd annual Festival Latino de Ocracoke brought together Latino and non-Latino islanders with Ocracoke visitors for a celebration of Hispanic culture and heritage. “Ocracoke’s Latino residents have become such an integral part of our community . . . we are thrilled to have a festival to share their culture,” says Ocracoke Alive Director, David Tweedie. Thanks to all of the volunteers and donors, as well as WOVV, Ocracoke Observer & the Ocracoke Current for getting the word out! For a snapshot of the weekend event (including some great photos), read Debbie Leonard’s article, “Ocracoke Celebrates Together,” on the Ocracoke Current website.    And the Quilt Winner Is .  .  . The Ocracoke Quilters gift us with a beautiful quilt each year for the Ocrafolk Festival as a fundraiser. This year was the first year that we didn’t sell all 150 tickets over June’s festival weekend, so as promised we delayed our drawing until our mission was complete. At our annual Thanksgiving Ocrafolk Concert on Ocracoke Island, we sold the final ticket and had the official drawing. We are pleased to announce that Barbara Hardy of Kitty Hawk, NC was the winner! Congratulations and thanks to all the participants. You raised $1500 towards Ocracoke Alive’s student and community programming!

Click Here to Add Your Critical Support to Ocracoke Alive's Community Programs

Ocracoke Alive December Schedule December 15 (Saturday) ~ Ocracoke Community Christmas ConcertOcracoke Community Center. 7:00 PM

Happy Holidays! Ocracoke Alive 2018 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

Ocracoke Alive Fall News: Hurricane Report, Latino Festival, A Tale of Blackbeard, Ocrafolk Festival 2019

Hurricane Florence Update   Hello friends! We’ve had a lot of people asking how the storm affected Ocracoke, and would like to assure everyone that things are well on the island.  We did have a bit of rain and wind as we caught the northern arm of hurricane Florence, but for the most part our community was fortunate and received little tide swell from the sound and ocean. Power did go out, but Tideland EMC crews worked hard to keep electricity coming to most of the houses during the storm. Many thanks for their dedicated service! The biggest impact to Ocracoke has been the two weeks interruption in our fall visitor season. With a seasonal economy, that time off can be the equivalent of a 3-4 weeks break. We know that businesses are as eager to reopen as the tourists are to return, but it takes a little bit of time to put the house back in order. Currently there is sand on the road between Ocracoke Village and Hatteras to the north.  A few days of work, and ferry traffic via Hatteras Island will be able to resume. As of today, residents, non-resident land owners, emergency personnel, and essential services are being allowed to return to the island through Swan Quarter Ferry. The island will reopen to visitors on Friday. Conditions are much different for mainland North Carolina, especially south of us where the eye of the storm came ashore. Morehead City, Harkers Island, Beaufort, and Wilmington have dramatic tales to tell. We are keeping our coastal friends in our thoughts during these challenging times.

Click Here to Add Your Critical Support to Ocracoke Alive's Community Programs

Ocracoke Alive September-November Schedule October 27 (Saturday) ~ A Tale of Blackbeard Ocracoke School Gym Auditorium. 8:00 PM  November 9-11  ~ Festival Latino de Ocracoke.  November 15 (Thursday) Tentative ~ Ocracoke Alive Fall Membership Meeting.Deepwater Theater. 7 PM November 24 (Saturday) ~ Ocrafolk Thanksgiving Fundraising Concert (Tentative)Deepwater Theater. 7:30 PM

A Tale of Blackbeard Final Performance (Saturday, Oct 27, 2018). (Photo by Eakin Howard) Our next big event coincides with Ocracoke’s Blackbeard Pirate Jamboree, Oct 25-28. On Saturday, October 27 we will have a special performance of Julie Howard’s A Tale of Blackbeard Musical at the Ocracoke School gym auditorium. Presale tickets are available at our website and tickets will also be available at the door. This will be the final performance of this production for the 2018 season and we look forward to all the piratical revelers in the audience as well as on stage. Please check cutlasses and small arms at the door. Many thanks to our volunteer cast and crew for a terrific season! The production has not only been great fun, but has also helped raise funds for Ocracoke Alive's programming in our community and at Ocracoke School!

Reserve Your Ticket to A Tale of Blackbeard, Saturday, Oct 27

When is Ocrafolk Festival 2019? June 7-9, 2019 Photo by George Wood A quick reminder that next year’s Ocrafolk Festival will be June 7-9, 2019. We always tell folks that the Ocrafolk Festival is the first Friday-Sunday of June.  This next year it jumps back a weekend, so make sure you have reserved the correct date! October is the month when our Ocrafolk Festival Entertainment Committee lines up performers for the next year. 2019 will be our 20th Ocrafolk Festival and we are planning a big celebration featuring many favorites from previous years. The 2018 Ocracolk Festival ticketing system worked tremendously well! We appreciate you, our fans, for your enthusiastic support and for helping us to stabilize the finances of this outstanding event. You enabled us to pay our bills while raising money for critical student programs! Pre-purchase 2019 Ocrafolk Festival Tickets in November & December . . . The Perfect Holiday Gift for the Folkie in your Family! We’ve had many emails asking about pre-purchasing tickets for next year. We plan to release 2019 Ocrafolk tickets sales in November . . . in time for 2018 holiday season. Give your friends and family the magical gift of Ocrafolk Festival in their holiday stockings!

Festival Latino de Ocracoke is right around the corner (Nov 9-11, 2018)! As the summer season comes to a close, our focus has shifted to the Festival Latino de Ocracoke.  This third annual celebration will take place November 9-11, 2018. The weekend will feature music, dances (by our very own Ballet Folklorico de Ocracoke), games, workshops, and (of course!) food. On Sunday, there will be a basketball tournament at Ocracoke School as part of the festivities. We will post schedule details on the Ocracoke Alive website, so stay tuned as we near November.

Photo by George Wood

Deepwater Theater Fall Schedule Fall is almost here and there’s just one Molasses Creek Deepwater Theater concert on the schedule. On Thursday, September 27, our hometown band will take to the stage to wrap up its official 2018 season. The MC crew may add more concerts spontaneously on October weekends, but for the time being if you would like to see them . . . now is your chance!  In 2019, they will return, along with a brand-new comedy show from the folks who brought you A Dingbatter’s Guide to Ocracoke. Rumors have also been circulating about an encore season of A Tale of Blackbeard. Stay tuned!

Reserve Your Ticket for Molasses Creek's Sept 27 Concert at Deepwater Theater

Thanks for your support! Ocracoke Alive 2018 David Tweedie ~ Executive Director OCRACOKE ALIVE BOARD Desiree Ricker ~ President, Assistant Director Tom Pahl ~ Vice President Gary Davis ~ Treasurer Sharon Brodisch Allison Serafin Freddy Contreras Katy Mitchell

Help Us Improve Ocrafolk Festival and You Could Win Tickets to Ocrafolk Festival 2019!

Ocrafolk Festival, Ocracoke Island, NC ~ A Community Festival with a Mission                        Ocracoke Alive wants your feedback and suggestions for Ocrafolk Festival! You are part of our family and can help us improve this event by letting us know what you think. Please follow this link or click the picture above to fill out a survey. All those who give us feedback will be entered in a drawing to win tickets to next year's festival. Thank you! Your friends at Ocracoke Alive. PS. Next year's Ocrafolk Festival will be June 7-9, 2019. Put it on your calendar and see you there!