Rain or Shine, the Festival Will Go On!
"As you probably know, there is foul weather coming tonight and Friday that may affect your travel to Ocracoke. If the wind gets above approximately 35 mph there may be delays or cancellations of ferry runs, so we strongly advise calling the ferry terminal listed below to confirm your departure and get possible schedule updates.
We may have to change some venues and scheduling, but the event will go on rain or shine. Friday’s dinner has been moved indoors to Ocracoke School [in the multi-pupose room/old gym], and “Martin and Friends” will be performing indoors at the Ocracoke Community Center. Admiralty Cruise has been moved to Saturday night, June 8.
The festival directors will convene at 6 a.m. on Saturday morning to look at the weather. We hope the storm will be moving on and we will be outside!"
Friday night's Ocrafolk Art Auction will go on as planned at the Berkley Center. Details, including a list of the items, are here.
Stay tuned to the Ocracoke Current for updates on the festival scheduling.
In other festival news, some readers of the Current have expressed surprise that the festival has "admission buttons" this year. The Ocrafolk Festival posters advertise that admission buttons are $15 for adults, $5 for kids, and free for kids under 6 years old. The festival website puts it this way:
"The Ocrafolk Festival is held in the heart of Ocracoke Village on a combination of public and private properties. Although we won’t restrict access to the festival (aside from specially ticketed events), we do ask that all festival attendees purchase an admission button for the weekend. This helps ensure that the festival stays happy and healthy for years to come! Buttons can be purchased Saturday morning of the festival at the info/merchandise booth (Don't worry about having a button for the Friday night events)."
So that Ocracoke residents feel welcome, Ocracoke Alive issued a free admission button to all Ocracoke School students. Festival volunteers (who are legion – but more are always needed) also received free buttons.
David said that local residents and business owners should "encourage people to come and see what the festival is all about. Feel free to visit the artisans, go to the non-profit booths, get food, and walk the festival grounds."
"We hope people who stay and listen to the music will feel inspired to support the festival by purchasing a button," he said.
David acknowledged that this year's changes might be a bit confusing, but he's confident that, after this year, it will be clear that the festival needs more support from festival-goers in order to survive.
The festival usually attracts around 3000 attendees over the 3-day event. Even with Andrea on the way, festival organizers expect good-sized audiences.
For more information on the new and returning performers, the wonderful artisans, and all the other festivities, look for programs and rack cards distributed around the island.
