Current Events Week of July 2–8
Aaron Stiles
Woo! 4th of July week is here!

It's the busiest week of the season!

Go to the beach! And when you need a break from fun in the sun, check out all these cool things to do in the village! 

Monday, July 2nd:

8:30am: NPS Crabbing More info @ NPS Visitor Center

1pm: NPS Pirates More info @ NPS Visitor Center

1pm: Museum Tour @ OPS. Learn about Ocracoke history and culture with a tour of the exhibits. FREE. 

2pm: Summer Reading Program @ Ocracoke Library Free! All are welcome to join the Libraries Rock Summer Reading  Program events. This week: Stories & Songs with Charlie Temple. Fun for all ages.

3pm: NPS Barrier Islands More info @ NPS Visitor Center

6pm: Hyde County Commissioners Meeting @ Community Center. Click here to view the agenda and packets. 

8pm: A Tale of Blackbeard takes the stage again this week @ the Ocracoke School gym. Call (252) 921-0260 to reserve tickets. Act fast! it's a popular sell-out show. Singing, dancing, and swordfighting pirates woo talented village girls on the eve of Blackbeard's final battle at Ocracoke! The show runs Monday nights through August 13. For presale tickets and more info visit http://www.ocracokealive.org

8pm: Ocracoke Rockers @ Ocracoke Oyster Co. Dance party!!! 

8:30pm: NPS Night Sky program @ Lifeguard Beach More info @ NPS Visitor Center

Tuesday, July 3rd: 

8:30am: NPS Cast Netting More info @ NPS Visitor Center

9am: Ocracoke Friends of the Library Annual Used Book Sale @ Ocracoke Library, 225 Back Road. FOL members can shop early @ 8:30am. Not a member? Join at the door! 

1pm: Porch Talk @ OPS Museum "Ocracoke 4th of July Traditions" Join Woody Billings and Al Scarborough as they remember Independence Day Celebrations gone by. Porch Talks are FREE, informal, informative, and fun!

2:30pm: NPS Ocracoke History More info @ NPS Visitor Center

6pm: Square Dance @ Berkley Barn Kick-off the Independence Day Celebration with a traditional Ocracoke Square Dance. Easy and fun for all ages! 6–8pm.

6:30pm: Live Music! Bryan Mayer @ Ocracoke Oyster Co. 

8:pm: Gathering @ NPS Docks. Music with a deejay to get you ready for the fireworks!

9:15pm: Fireworks!  The fireworks will be launched from the large National Park Service parking area (closed for the fireworks), located at the southern end of the island. Hyde County sponsors the show in conjunction with the Ocracoke Civic & Business Association and the National Park Service. Spectators are encouraged to arrive early and gather anywhere around beautiful Silver Lake harbor for awesome waterside viewing.

Wednesday, July 4th: 

8am: Meet Winnie the newest member of Ocracoke’s Pony Heard at the NPS Pony Pens, 8–10am

9am: Flag Raising @ Ocracoke School flag circle on School Road

8:30am: NPS Crabbing More info @ NPS Visitor Center

9:30am: 40th Annual Sand Sculpture Contest @ Lifeguard Beach

10am: Classic Car Show @ Pony Island lawn, 10–Noon.

10am: Ocracoke Lighthouse open. You can go in, but not up! 10am-2pm.

10:30am: NPS Turtles More info @ NPS Visitor Center

2:30pm NPS Pirates More info @ NPS Visitor Center 

4pm: 4th of July Parade

5:30pm: Storytelling with Donald Davis @ Books To Be Red

6:45pm: Awards Presentation Parade and Sand Sculpture Contest @ Books To Be Red

7:30pm: Glow-in-the-Dark Laser Show and Dance Party @ Ocracoke Community Park. Wear your glow-in-the-dark gear and dance to music from the last five decades, all with laser special effects. There will be interactive games, contests, giveaways and fun for all ages. $5 admission. Glow items and concessions will be available for purchase. Proceeds benefit Ocracoke Youth Center. Rain date is July 5th. 

Thursday, July 5th:

8am: Island Inn Yard Sale Useful stuff for donation to OPS Island Inn project

8:30am: NPS Program @ Pony Pens More info @ NPS Visitor Center

1pm: Porch Talk/Book Signing @ OPS MuseumLocal teacher and author, Jeanie Owens, will be at the museum to talk about her new book and sign copies. Jeanie teaches 5th grade at Ocracoke School and spent much of last year doing research for the book Images of America - Ocracoke.

2:30pm: NPS Barrier Islands More info @ NPS Visitor Center

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.

7pm: Community Beach Bonfire Under the Stars @ the Ocracoke Day Use Area/NPS Lifeguard Beach. Bring your beach blankets, chairs, marshmallows, roasting sticks. S’mores will be provided for first 150 attendees.

8pm: Live Music! Raygun Ruby @ Dajio, 8–11pm

8pm: Molasses Creek in concert every Thursday at 8pm @ Deepwater Theater. Doors open at 7:30pm. Reserve your tickets online at molassescreek.com

Friday, July 6th:

12noon: Fiesta Latina Mexican Food Sale: Community Square! Delicious Asada Tacos! Noon–4pm, $12 per plate, including drink. Proceeds benefit Ocracoke Alive's Festival Latin de Ocracoke in November.

1pm: Museum Tour @ OPS. Learn about Ocracoke history and culture with a tour of the exhibits. FREE. 

1:30pm: Join the Band @ Ocracoke Library: Bring an instrument if you have one (we have plenty to share)! We'll start a library Rock Band with Mr. Lou, Ocracoke's most enthusiastic rocker! (When he's not rockin' at the library, he plays with Coyote, Raygun Ruby, and Martin & Friends....) FREE Summer Reading Program event. All are welcome! Fun for all ages. 

6pm: Wine tasting at Zillie's Island Pantry! Wine tastings take place every Friday @ 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.

6pm: Live Music! Willis Gupton @ Jolly Roger

7pm: Live Music! Kate McNally @ Ocracoke Oyster Co.

8pm: Live Music! Mercy Creek @ Dajio

Saturday, July 7th:

7pm: Live Music! Martin & Friends @ Ocracoke Oyster Co. 

9:30am: Ocracoke Lighthouse open. You can go in, but not up! 9:30–11:30am.

6pm: Live Music! Willis Gupton @ Jolly Roger

8pm Live Music! Kate McNally @ Dajio, 8–11pm

9pm: Fiesta Latina Dance @ Community Center. Cash bar all night. Admission $15 for men; $10 for women. 

Sunday, July 8th:

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).

Noon: Celebrate 75 years of OUMC! Church Picnic; BBQ chicken and drinks provided; please bring a side dish or dessert to share. ALL are welcome. 

1:45pm: Ocracoke Lighthouse open. You can go in, but not up!

Looking ahead....

Check out the Ocracoke Current calendar for more events and information! We're on Twitter and Instagram, 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!

Current Events Week of July 2–8