This year's Festival on June 1-3 will showcase some new and returning artists.
This is a free weekend presented by Ocracoke Alive. The Festival celebrates music, storytelling, and artisans from the NC coastal region and beyond. An increasing buzz about this popular event has drawn even greater visitors over the past several years. In fact, in the February 2012 issue of the nationally distributed magazine Coastal Living, the Ocrafolk Festival was rated as one of the top fifteen island festivals in the world.
The Hyde County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Melissa Joyner has noted that the festival attracts more than 2,000 people to the island.
“Everywhere we go, people know about the festival,” Joyner said.
The 2012 Ocrafolk Festival is also seeking private and business sponsorships of stages and performers, and is accepting applications for limited program advertisement. The festival is financed solely upon donations, grants, merchandise sales and fundraising events to pay for the artists and production for the weekend.
Interested contributors should visit the website at www.ocrafolkfestival.org and click on “Financial Sponsors” for more information, or contact the festival at info@ocrafolkfestival.org. For an online information form visit www.ocrafolkfestival.org/files/OcrafolkFestival_Donors_E.pdf. Although the press deadline for contributors for inclusion in the program was April 30 (I neglected to post this earlier) I am sure the Festival committee still welcomes your contribution, and would make every effort to recognize you appropriately during the event.
New performers in 2012 include Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Jacob Johnson, Lizzy Ross, Shana Tucker, The Bernie Pettaway Trio, Carolina Lightnin’, & Banjo Island. The festival will also feature returning favorites Storyteller Donald Davis, Molasses Creek, Beleza, The Steel Wheels, L Shape Lot, The Green Grass Cloggers, Martin Garrish and the Ocracoke Rockers, Bob Zentz, Philip Howard, Lou Ann Homan, Capt. Rob Temple, The Ocrafolk Opry, Chainsaw Artist Clyde Jones, Jef the Mime, The Ocracoke Jazz Society, Rodney Kemp, Craicdown, John Golden, Aaron Caswell Band, The Ocrachicks, and the NC Marionette Theater.
Artisans in and around the festival grounds will showcase fine arts and crafts in painting, sculpture, wood carving, jewelry, textiles and more.
For more details visit the festival website at www.ocrafolkfestival.org.
Ocracoke Alive, Inc., is a private non-profit committed to enrichment of the Ocracoke Island community through the encouraging and sponsoring cultural, artistic, educational, and environmental activities including the production of plays, musicals, musical events, exhibits, schools, workshops, and festivals. For more information, visit the website at www.ocracokealive.org.
Check the Ocrafolk Festival facebook page daily for new photos of artistic creations available at the festival auction (Friday, June 1 @ 7 pm). Here's the link:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Ocrafolk-Music-Storytelling-Festival/210781592277504
we so wanted to be there for this years festival but my daughters school schedule interfered :(
ReplyDeleteI didn't think that I would be able to make it to Ocracoke at all this year. However I had a stroke of fortune and am very much looking forward to be at the Ocrafolk Festival.
ReplyDeleteWhen making reservations, I was suprized to find that rooms were difficult to get. Another stroke of fortune!
I while back, when checking out the web site, I thought that the Donald "Underwood" Thompson Band was returning. Was I wrong, or had there been changes to the schedule?
Who is that Philip Howard guy that is performing?
ReplyDeleteAt the last minute I have an opportunity to attend-but alas am having a hard time finding a room! Called most motels with no luck-any ideas-just me and basically need a bed! Sue M
ReplyDeleteAnon 2:53 -- Your dilemma is, unfortunately, not unique. I understand that every room on the island is reserved for the Festival weekend. There may be exceptions or cancellations, but I do not know about any. Your best bet is probably to ask a hotel clerk to call you if there is a cancellation.
ReplyDeleteThe irony of this situation is that early June was chosen for the Festival weekend years ago because it was such a quiet time of the year (high school and college graduations kept visitors away from Ocracoke). One idea was that the Festival might stimulate the economy the first week in June. It certainly has!
I hope you can find a room.
Well that is great and I can certainly understand that-there is quite a nice mix of musical genres over a three day period-right up my alley..thanks for your feedback..everyone I've called has been so nice as usual. Am thinking of tent camping. It's been awhile but would be an adventure and what a campground view!! The last time was many many years ago when my husband and I rode out quite a storm-there was even a tornado up the banks aways. We were so happy to find the Edwards cottages to dry out and explore O! Sue M
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