The OPS Museum and National Park Service both offer several free programs each week for all ages, including opening the lighthouse. Summer Reading Program happens at the Ocracoke Library! Lifeguards are on duty 9-5, seven days a week at the lifeguard beach (a.k.a. Day Use Area). It's going to be a busy week on Ocracoke and we're all happy you're here. Here's some helpful tips:
- Walk facing traffic; bike with traffic.
- If you have to drive, do it slowly. Relax! You're on vacation and we're all going to get where we're going...
- You have to be 16 to drive a golf cart. Don't let your 15-and-under kids drive golf carts. Seriously.
- Don't cross the yellow line to pass golf carts. They count as real vehicles; slow down and stay behind them.
- Learn about rip currents, and be careful at the beach. The lifeguard beach is the safest place to swim.
Monday, July 15th:
1pm: Ocracoke Pirates NPS Program @ Ocracoke Visitor Center. Learn about Blackbeard and other pirates with a park ranger.
1pm: Museum Tour @ OPS Museum: Get the inside scoop on exhibits!
3pm: Barrier Island Nature NPS Program @ Ocracoke Visitor Center. Join a park ranger for a talk about the wild side of the park.
7pm: Open Mic @ Dajio Every Monday night all summer long!
7pm: Live Music! Jon Lea @ Oyster Co.
8pm: A Tale of Blackbeard @ Ocracoke School gym. Ocracoke's homegrown musical will run on Monday nights from July 1 until August 12 at 8:00 PM in the Ocracoke School Gym. Admission is $15.00 for adults and $7.00 for children 12 and under. You may purchase tickets at the door or online here:
https://www.ocracokealive.org/tale-of-blackbeard.html
8:45pm: Night Sky NPS Program @ Lifeguard Beach Ocracoke After Dark! Enjoy and evening of stars and stories on the beach!
Tuesday, July 16th:
9:30am: Ocracoke Lighthouse is open! You can go in, but not up! You know you want to see inside... 9:30-11am.
10:30am: All About Turtles! NPS Program @ Ocracoke Visitor Center. This activity especially for seashore kids and families.
11am: Summer Reading Program Story & Craft @ Ocracoke Library. It's a Universe of Stories at the library! Our theme is all about space, and we'll read books and do crafts each Tuesday at 11am. All ages welcome; this activity is geared toward grades K-2. Register for the Summer Reading Program at Ocracoke Library for a chance to win books and other prizes! We have lots of great activities happening through July 31st! FREE!
1pm: Porch Talk @ OPS Museum. Porch Talks are free, informative, and informal. Join us for our porch talk with Peter Vankevich about Ocracoke's birds.
1:30pm: Ocracoke Lighthouse is open! You can go in, but not up! You know you want to see inside... 1:30-3:30pm.
2:30pm: Ocracoke History NPS Program @ Ocracoke Visitor Center. Join a park ranger to learn about the island’s rich past.
7pm: Live Music! Bryan Mayer @ Oyster Co.
8pm: Live Music! @ Coyote Music Den: Coyote Plus One "Well-Crafted Spontaneity" - Marcy & Lou with a different special guest every Tuesday at 8pm (doors at 7:30). A fun, heart-felt evening of live music in a magical setting. This week's guest is Desiree Ricker of Ocracoke.
Tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/profile/1040249 Watch from wherever you are for $1 - www.concertwindow.com/coyote
Wednesday, July 17th:
9am: NPS Banker Ponies Program @ Pony Pens. Meet the ponies unique to Ocracoke! Bring bug spray!
10:30am: All About Turtles! NPS Program @ Ocracoke Visitor Center. This activity especially for seashore kids and families.
1pm: Kids's Create-a-Craft @ OPS Museum Join us each Wednesday during the summer (June 5 - August 14) to make a cute craft! This week's theme is Ocracoke Fish. FREE; Donations are happily accepted!
1:30pm: Lighthouse Open! You can go in, but not up! You know you want to see inside... 1:30-3:30pm.
2:30pm: Ocracoke Pirates NPS Program @ Ocracoke Visitor Center. Learn about Blackbeard and other pirates with a park ranger.
4:30pm: Art Opening @ Down Creek Gallery. Down Creek Gallery will be continuing its summer art series “Expose Yourself to Art” with plein aire painter Sarah Searight. The artist has been a part time resident of Ocracoke since 1999. All are welcome to the gallery, 4:30-7:30pm to view the artist’s new works, enjoy light hors d’ oeuvres, and expose yourself to art!
7pm: Kids' Movie Night @ Ocracoke Library. FREE! Snack provided or bring your own. Bring a pillow or blanket to get comfy on the floor. In keeping with the Universe of Stories space theme, this week's movie will be "Space Dogs," an animated feature film based on the true story of the first (Russian cosmonaut) dogs in space! 7-9pm.
7pm: Live Music! Bryan Mayer @ Oyster Co.
8pm: Live Music! Barefoot Wade @ Dajio
8pm: Season 2: Dingbatters (ALL NEW COMEDY) Guide to Ocracoke @ Deepwater Theater Back for a brand new season with all new Comedy-Skits, this critically acclaimed show is the ultimate guide for Ocracoke visitors (and residents) of all ages! Doors open @ 7:30pm. Admission: $20 adults; $10 children.
Thursday, July 18th:
9am: NPS Banker Ponies Program @ Pony Pens. Meet the ponies unique to Ocracoke! Bring bug spray!
11am: Preschool Story Time & Craft @ Ocracoke Library: Story Time with Ms. Juju! All ages welcome; this activity is geared toward the littlest library patrons, age 0-5. Register for the Summer Reading Program at Ocracoke Library for a chance to win books and other prizes! Lots of great activities happening through July 31st! FREE!
1pm: Museum Tour @ OPS Museum: Get the inside scoop on exhibits!
1:30pm: Lighthouse Open! You can go in, but not up! You know you want to see inside... 1:30-3pm.
2:30pm: Ocracoke History NPS Program @ Ocracoke Visitor Center. Join a park ranger to learn about the island’s rich past.
6pm: Wine Tasting @ Zillie's 6pm: Wine tasting at Zillie's Island Pantry! Wine tastings take place every Thursday @ 6pm, and pair five great wines with delicious hors d'oeuvres from the pantry. Space is limited, so make a reservation, and sign up at zillies.com.
8pm: Live Music! Raygun Ruby @ Dajio, 8–11pm. Everyone's favorite 80's cover band!
8pm: Live Music! Molasses Creek @ Deepwater Theater. Every Thursday night all summer! Doors open @ 7:30pm. For 26 years, Molasses Creek's high-energy performances and heartfelt songwriting has brought the love of their coastal home to the stage. The band's elegant harmonies and arrangements, stellar songwriting, blazing instrumentals, and quirky sense of humor have won loyal followers throughout the United States and around the world.
Friday, July 19th:
8:30am: Birds & Beaches NPS Walk @ Campground beach parking lot. Join a ranger for an island exploration. Fun for all ages! (90 minutes). Bring bug spray.
9am: Mobile DMV @ Ocracoke Fire Department. 9am-noon-ish. Come get your DMV stuff down without going off the island!
9:30am: Ocracoke Lighthouse is open! You can go in, but not up! You know you want to see inside... 9:30-11am.
1pm: Porch Talk @ OPS Museum. Porch Talks are free, informative, and informal. Join us for our porch talk with Crystal Canterbury about WWII on Ocracoke's shores.
2:30pm: All About Turtles! NPS Program @ Ocracoke Visitor Center. This activity especially for seashore kids and families.
6pm: Wine Tasting @ Zillie's 6pm: Wine tasting at Zillie's Island Pantry! Wine tastings pair five great wines with delicious hors d'oeuvres from the pantry. Space is limited, so make a reservation, and sign up at zillies.com.
6:30pm: Story Time/Stuffed Animal Sleepover & Trip to the Moon @ the Ocracoke Library. Just the animals spend the night at the library and go to the Moon! Join us at the library at 6:30pm for a bedtime story for the Stuffed Animals. Make a nametag for your stuffed animal (one per child) and leave it at the library. (Come back in the morning for a special Moon Landing breakfast at 10am.) This program is FREE and all are welcome!
7pm: Live Music! Kate McNally @ Oyster Co.
8pm: Live Music! Mercy Creek @ Dajio
8pm: Live Music! @ Coyote Music Den Friday nights through October 25th, Fridays at the Den will be Marcy & Lou "In Concert" with a special guest (or not) at 8pm (doors at 7:30). A fun, heart-felt evening of live music in a magical setting.
Tickets: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/profile/1040249 Watch from wherever you are for $1 - www.concertwindow.com/coyote
Saturday, July 20th:
10am: Moon Landing Breakfast @ Ocracoke Library. Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Moon Landing with a special breakfast at the library. See photos of the stuffed animals' trip to the Moon! FREE! All are welcome!
8pm: Live Music! Dance with the Ocracoke Rockers @ Oyster Co.
8pm: Live Music! Kate McNally @ Dajio
Sunday, July 21st:
1pm: Remembrance Day for Elizabeth Hanrahan @ Community Center. Elizabeth (1944-2018) was a former teacher and Ocracoke's wildlife rehabilitator. She is survived by her husband, Calvin, who lives on Ocracoke. Read her obituary here.
Services @ both churches: Ocracoke United Methodist (Sunday School 10am; service at 11am) and Ocracoke Assembly of God (Sunday School 10am, services at 11am and 6pm; also Wednesday night service at 7pm).
Looking ahead....
Check out the Ocracoke Current calendar for more events and information! We post updates on Facebook, too!
Send info about any events we may have missed to ocracokecurrent@gmail.com.
This story will be updated as needed with more information, so check back!
