First Night

Lou Ann and I left Ocracoke mid-morning on Friday...our destination Williamsburg, Virginia for their First Night celebration.

Ocracoke's very own folk/roots/bluegrass band, Molasses Creek, entertained enthusiastic crowds at 7, 9 & 11 pm. As usual, many long-time fans of the band packed the hall to help them welcome in the New Year. More than three dozen other performers and groups rounded out the evening with magic, juggling, clowning, children's shows, Native American storytelling, pirate entertainment, and fireworks. Music ran the gamut from Blues, Bluegrass, String Band, Celtic, Sacred, and Rock, to "Schnicklefritz and the Oompahs" (who could resist that group?). Here's the First Night web site (in case you're interested, the Molasses Creek photo was made in front of my outbuilding): http://www.firstnightwilliamsburg.org/index.php.

It was a great opportunity to join our friends (and family) ringing in the New Year with music, song, fireworks, and exuberance. Maybe you'll want to join all of the happy revelers next year in Williamsburg.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a history of the early twentieth century Doxsee Clam Factory in Ocracoke village. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112110.htm