Ocrafolk Festival Artwork Released, Kids’ Inspiration Sparks at Ocracoke Arts Week, Ocrafolk School Returns in October, and more. . .

Ocrafolk Festival Artwork Released Kids’ Inspiration Sparks at Ocracoke Arts Week  Courses Announced for Ocrafolk School Fall Retreat, October 20-25  Deepwater Project Update  Ocrafolk Festival Early Bird Ticket Sales End April 30 Donald Davis Storytelling and Dessert Tickets Released A Tale of Blackbeard Rehearsals in Full Swing (Look Out for That Cutlass!) Ocrafolk Festival Artwork Released She’s done it again! When we wanted a special image to encapsulate all our warm wonderful feelings about Ocrafolk Festival we approached Kitty Mitchell. Kitty is the Ocracoke School Arts instructor, a past member of Molasses Creek band, and has created some of our favorite festival art over the years. Once we had Kitty’s black-and-white design, we shared it with our layout artist Justin Casey to prepare it for the poster and T-shirt. And here is the result! Kids’ Inspiration Sparks at Ocracoke Arts Week You never know when inspiration will strike and launch a youngster on the path of lifetime of creativity. Ocracoke School Arts Week is one of the favorite programs that Ocracoke Alive helps produce in partnership with Ocracoke School.  This year, Ocracoke youth hand-made Italian pasta, Greek dishes, and tamales, learned about African drumming patterns and Senegalese culture, crafted Eastern Carolina decoys, threw pottery and built a raku kiln, designed their very own digital arts animations, stitched whimsical felt art characters, wrote and performed songs, poured stunning acrylic paintings, and metal crafted colorful canvases. Many thanks to Nancy Leach, and the support of Ocracoke Occupancy Tax, Ocracoke Alive, housing donors, and private sponsors. Photos by Carol Woolgar Ocrafolk School Fall Retreat Returns October 20-25 Courses Announced In October, the much loved Ocrafolk School Fall Retreat will be returning to the island. This week long “school” offers an insider’s guide to Ocracoke that will spark creativity and a sense of community. Instructors and guest teachers will guide adult participants through their choice of one of six specialized courses. Students will enjoy handcrafted local food, inclusive tours, and unique activities as they make new friends and meet some of the most fascinating residents of our remote Outer Banks island. 2019 classes include Cooking with Island Chefs with Debbie Wells, Jewelry Making with Robin Macek, Mind and Body Renewal with Desiree Ricker, Decoy Carving with Jason Daniels, Drawing with Love (and a Little Science) with Kitty Mitchell, and Exploring Ocracoke’s Past, Present and Future with Ann Ehringhaus. Class sizes are usually limited to 6 to 8 people. Ocracoke Alive has a 11 rooms reserved on “campus” at the historic Berkley Manor and the adjacent Berkley Suites, as well as four rooms at Oscar’s House Bed and Breakfast.  Find out more about Ocrafolk School Deepwater Theater Project Update David Perez and John Brock have been working hard over at Deepwater Theater converting our pencil sketches and imaginative scribbles into real world structures. In the next two weeks, we will be finishing  the 16 x 16 storage shed, as well as the front deck expansion. Our faithful team of board members, Blackbeard cast members, and community volunteers have also been scouring the inside theater, repainting, and clearing away a scramble of vines from the property to expose the beautiful live oaks that line the driveway.  The season’s first Deepwater Theater shows will be Molasses Creek in Concert on May 30, and A Dingbatters (All New) Comedy Guide to Ocracoke (Season II) on June 5.  Pre-Sale Tickets are available through the Ocracoke Alive website, by calling 252-921-0260, and also at the door. Discount tickets are available for groups and seniors. We do recommend purchasing your tickets ahead of time as shows do sell out.  Ocrafolk Festival Early Bird Ticket Sales End April 30 Donald Davis Storytelling and Dessert Tickets Released   Just a quick reminder that Early Bird tickets sales will end on April 30. After that date, Weekend Pass prices will increase to $65. Day Pass prices will be released in May. Also, tickets have been released online for Donald Davis’s Storytelling and Dessert Evening on Saturday night June 8th at the Ocracoke Community Center. Tickets are limited to this event, so it is wise to purchase them before festival weekend. Links to Early Bird and Donald Davis Tickets A Tale of Blackbeard Rehearsals in Full Swing (Look Out for That Cutlass!) Avast! Avast! The Captain is our man! With Blackbeard’s return to Ocracoke (actor Peyton Piquard), rehearsals for A Tale of Blackbeard musical by Julia Howard are in full swing. Although Julie has not yet arrived on the island to play live accompaniment, Director Desiree Ricker is at the helm with a steady hand, guiding the cast and the good ship Adventure on its steady course towards destiny. Opening night is July 1st, 2019. The production will run at Ocracoke School on Mondays at 8 PM through August 12. Even if you’ve seen the show in past years, there are many new surprises you won’t want to miss! Tickets can be secured ahead of time online, or at the door. Ocracoke Alive Hosts Salem Select Choir On April 12th and 13th, Lynne German’s Salem Select Choir inspired Ocracoke School students and community members with beautiful performances. These visitors are all members of the Salem High School Madrigals Choir in Virginia Beach. Having performed on stage with the Virginia Chorus Women, at the Virginia Convention Center for Leadership Events, and in the local community for Black History Month events, their singers represent their school well with their energy and musical talent. Thanks so much for their contribution to the Ocracoke community, and also to all the folks on the island who helped make their visit possible! 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

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