The Ocracoke Fig Festival returns this week Friday, Aug. 4, through Saturday, Aug. 5, at the Berkley barn and the Ocracoke Preservation Center, which produces the event.
The festival will feature Chef Bill Smith, retired head chef at Crook’s Corner Restaurant in Chapel Hill, and the author of two cookbooks, many articles and winner of multiple awards.
Several live music events will highlight the festival along with storytelling, children’s activities and crafts, talks by local fig experts, and vendor booths offering various fig-centric items.
The schedule of events is below.
All events are free, except where noted. Parking is available at the NPS lot.
Friday, Aug. 4:
At the OPS Museum:
1-3 p.m. Book Signing with Chef Bill Smith, author of “Seasoned in the South: Recipes from Crook’s Corner and from Home.” Bring your own well-loved copy or purchase one at the OPS Museum Gift Shop.
At Berkley Barn:
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Figtastic vendor booths
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Ocracoke Catering Company serving pork, chicken, seafood with fig BBQ sauces.
1-7 p.m. Live music with local musicians
1-9:45 p.m. Cash bar with beer, wine, & soft drinks
3-5 p.m. Fig Preserves Contest – Drop off your entry at OPS Museum before 2pm. Anyone can enter Fig Preserves in two categories- Traditional or Innovative (includes combinations with other fruits). Tasting Tickets/Ballots are $3 each; voters choose the winners.
5-7 p.m. Martin & Friends, including Coyote
7-8 p.m. Traditional Ocracoke Square Dance (outside, weather permitting)
8-10 p.m. Live Music with Raygun Ruby
Saturday, Aug. 5
At Berkley Barn:
10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Bring Fig Cake Bake-Off entries to Berkley Barn
10 a.m. – 6 p.m. Figtastic vendor booths
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Ocracoke Catering Company serving pork, chicken, seafood.
10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Silent Auction fundraiser for OPS
11 a.m. Ocracoke “Fig Cultivation & Culture” talk with Chester Lynn
11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Figgy Tie-Dye and Fig Leaf Painting for kids
Noon – 6 p.m. Cash bar with beer, wine, & soft drinks
Noon- Q & A with Chef Bill Smith
1-3 p.m. Live music with local musicians
2-3 p.m. COYOTE (Lou Castro & Marcy Brenner)
3 p.m. Fig Cakes go on display in the barn
4 p.m. Fig Cake Judging, followed by Serving of Fig Cakes 5 to 6 p.m. Live Music with Molasses Creek
In Ocracoke Community Center:
7- 8 p.m. Ocracoke Kids Rock Band with Lou Castro
8- 11:45 p.m. Dance with Ocracoke Rockers Cash bar with beer, wine, soft drinks
