Solstice, Christmas, and New Year's!
Find out how the sandbar celebrates the most wonderful time of the year!
If you're curious about where you can shop and eat and sleep in the coming weeks, check out our Who's Open page!
If your event isn't on here, let me know!
Monday, December 21:
Happy Solstice! It's the shortest day of the year – time to celebrate the return of the light as each day gets a little bit longer. The sun will appear to stop in the sky, or it would, if we could see it at the moment of the solstice, which is 11:49pm here in the Eastern Standard Time. (If you've seen calendars that tell you the Solstice is on the 22nd this year, that's because the exact moment takes place at 4:49am in Greenwich, England, where it will already be Tuesday.) The term solstice comes from the Latin word solstitium, meaning "the Sun stands still." This is because on this day, the Sun reaches its southern-most position as seen from the Earth. The Sun seems to stand still at the Tropic of Capricorn and then reverses its direction. This is also the First Day of Winter, or Mid-Winter, as in the bleak thereof. In the southern hemisphere, they'll celebrate their summer solstice and longest day of the year. Axial tilt is the reason for the season!
Tuesday, December 22:
Children's storytime at Books To Be Red, 10:30am. Stories, snacks, and fun for the little ones!
Special Occupancy Tax Board meeting, 2pm at the Community Center. The meeting is to discuss a request for funding fireworks for July 3, 2016.
Open Mic at Coyote Music Den, 7:30–9:30pm at Marcy and Lou's new place in the Community Square. All are welcome to play, sing, or listen. These free music jams will continue every Tuesday night through January.
Wednesday, December 23:
Smile, take a deep breath, it's almost Christmas!
Thursday, December 24:
Live Nativity at the Methodist Church, 5:30–6:30pm. Drive, walk, bike, or golf-cart by and see the tableau of the first Christmas. If you want to be a part of this traditional and beautiful celebration, let Richard or Mary Bryant, or Barbara Adams know. Volunteers are needed!
Christmas Eve service and Children's Pageant, 7pm. All are welcome to the Methodist Church to enjoy the story of the first Christmas as reenacted by the young'uns. There'll be carols and candlelight and good cheer!
Friday, December 25:
Merry Christmas! Feliz Navidad! Joyeux Noel! Frohe Weihnachten! Buon Natale! Craciun Fericit!
Wake up early to see the Full Moon at its fullest at 6:11am on Christmas morning. We haven't had a full moon on Christmas Day since 1977, and the next one will be in 2034. Don't miss it, people!
Saturday, December 26:
Happy Boxing Day!
Sunday, December 27:
Live music: Aaron Caswell Band will be playing at Gafffer's Sports Pub starting at 8pm.
Monday, December 28:
Live music: Matty Beggs Band will be playing at Gafffer's Sports Pub starting at 8pm.
Tuesday, December 29:
Coloring Party at Books to Be Red, Come join the fun of America's latest craze. Books to be Red provides everything you will need. Coloring pages, colored pencils, markers and pens – snacks and beverages, too. There is no charge!
Open Mic at Coyote Music Den, 7:30–9:30pm at Marcy and Lou's new place in the Community Square. All are welcome to play, sing, or listen. These free music jams will continue every Tuesday night through January.
Live music: Matty Beggs Band will be playing at Gafffer's Sports Pub starting at 8pm.
Wednesday, December 30:
Oh yeah, it's time for the 10th Annual Oyster Roast/Shrimp Steam/Fish Stew feast provided by the non-profit Ocracoke Working Watermen's Association. The shucking starts at 2pm at the Fish House. Dessert and hot cider will follow starting at 3pm at the Working Watermen’s Exhibit at the Community Square. Get yer taste buds ready by reading all about last year's event here.
Special opening! The Flying Melon Restaurant will open at 5pm on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday! They'll have a limited menu of delicious entrees and the bar will be hopping!
Live music: Psylo Joe will be playing at Gafffer's Sports Pub starting at 9pm.
Thursday, December 31:
Special prime rib dinner/Live Music: Ocracoke Oyster Company is serving their New Year's Eve special prime rib! Music by Martin Garrish and friends.
Live music/New Year's Eve party: Psylo Joe Masquerade Ball at Gaffer's Sports Pub with champagne toast, balloon drop, raffles, door prizes, and menu specials.
Friday, January 1:
It's 2016!!!! Happy New Year!
Don't care about the bowl games? Join the No Football Zone party at Books to Be Red, 1-4pm. No Football! But lots of treats and goodies! Mimosas, raffles, snacks, and sales!
Join the brave and crazy at 2pm at the Airport Ramp beach for the Annual Ocracoke Polar Plunge!
Saturday, January 2: Martin Garrish at Ocracoke Oyster Company, starting at 6:30pm.
Live music: No Football! But lots of treats and goodies! Mimosas, raffles, snacks, and sales! 1-4pm
Looking ahead:
January 5th is the next Home basketball game! Games start at 4:00pm in the Dolphin Tank, a.k.a., the Ocracoke School gym.
Get creative! The 3rd Annual "Ocracoke Through Your Eyes" show will feature small works by local artists – maybe you! Stop by the Museum, pick up a canvas, and be a part of the show! Or call the museum at 252-928-7375 and they will mail you one! The canvasses are due back to the museum by January 10th. A wine-and-cheese reception and art opening is planned for Saturday, January 23rd, from 5 – 7pm at the Museum.
Wanted: arty people. The Ocracoke Alive Arts Partnership teacher application is open at www.ocracokealive.org Each week (January-May 2016) features two guest artists, who teach 5 or 6 hour-long classes on a particular medium. Ages of students range between preK – high school. On-island artists receive a stipend and off-island artists receive a week's worth of housing for themselves and up to three guests. Check the website for more details!
Registration is now open for the Ocracoke Island 5K/10K, Family Fun Run, and 1/2 Marathon on April 23rd & 24th, 2016. Check out runocracoke.com for more information!
