A new year begins on Ocracoke and we reflect on some of the notable island events that took place in 2025.
January
Ocracoke Island’s first appreciable snowfall since the last one in 2018. Snowfall on Jan. 22 measured 8.3 inches, according to the National Weather Service.
Noting how winter is a quiet time on the island, Ocracoke Alive began an experiment by sponsoring a series of free cultural activities to the community in art, music, dance, memoir writing, Spanish/English coffee chats at the community library, yoga, wellness and cooking classes, as well as films, concerts and presentations.
“Part of our mission is to bring entertaining things to the island,” said Dave Tweedie, the nonprofit’s executive director. “While everyone is busy during the tourist season, if you don’t travel (like many islanders do in the winter) “doing creative things is a way you can travel in your mind.” It turned out to be so popular, it will resume again in this year from mid-January through the end of March.
February
The Ocracoke Dolphins boys’ basketball team had a strong 2024-25 season, finishing 15-4 overall and 10-0 in conference play (1A Atlantic) to earn a state tournament playoff berth. They defeated KIPP Pride Panthers 60-43 in their first 1A playoff game which was at home and lost to the Camp Lejeune Devil Pups, 66-45, in the second round. It was the last year for retiring coach Frank Brown.
March
Passengers from Ocracoke to Swan Quarter on the M/V Silver Lake had their travel plans crushed on March 6 when the boat got stuck in Big Foot Slough just outside Ocracoke for more than 12 hours. Ocracoke’s Assistant Fire Chief Doshier braved the cold dark waters in the evening and delivered pizzas to the stranded. The boat was finally freed by Ferry Division tugboat Wanchese and passengers made it safely back to Ocracoke at 3:30 am.
The NC Shell Club held their spring meeting on Ocracoke. Weather-permitting, a trip to Portsmouth Island takes place in search of rare shells. This year’s “Find of the Day” was a Giant Eastern Murex, which was found by Maria Lloyd.
April
The Second Annual Earth Day Weekend Celebration took place with a variety of indoor and outdoor activities that included nature walks, history talks, nature crafts, live music, stargazing, a beach litter pick-up, and informative discussions on sustainability and environmental solutions.
The Ocracoke Waterfowl Festival celebrating local and regional decoy carvers took place at Ocracoke School This popular event is produced by the Ocracoke Island Decoy Carvers Guild, The recently deceased islander Mark Justice was honored as the featured carver.
Islanders joined an estimated 1,400 communities at the National “Hands Off” protest. The group walked from Irvin Garrish Highway to the lighthouse
May
Members of the Rolls Royce Owners Club in their vintage cars turned heads as they traveled through Ocracoke featuring cars built before 1939.
This 83rd British Cemetery Memorial Ceremony honors WWII British and Canadian sailors who lost their lives when the HMS Bedfordhire was sunk by a German U-Boat off the island’s coast. This year’s event will be May 8.
The Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department (OVFD) held its annual Firemen’s Ball at the Berkley Barn. This is department’s biggest fundraiser. One of the island’s biggest social events, the event includes barbeque dinners that can be taken home and two auctions followed by live music by the Ocracoke Rockers and the Dune Dogs.
Every year, Donald Davis, the renowned Ocracoke Island-based storyteller and author, offers two weeklong storytelling workshops on the island. Selected participants get to present their stories at the Ocracoke Preservation Society and under the cedar trees at Books to Be Red.
June
The three-day Ocrafolk Festival features local and regional musicians, storytellers, artisans and characters on the Manor Berkley Manor grounds.
Shrimp trawl ban: Ocracoke islanders joined hundreds of men and women who make their livelihood in commercial fishing who converged on the North Carolina General Assembly June 25 to protest House Bill 442, which would have banned shrimp trawling. Dubbed by wags as “Shrimpgate,” the protest included a truck caravan that continuously circled the legislative complex with horns loudly blaring for lawmakers to hear. It worked, the legislation did not pass.
July
Ocracoke celebrated July 4 with a variety of activities over several days including fireworks, which in 2025 were canceled due to the threat of a storm that night, an old-fashioned Ocracoke Square dance July 3, and Sand Sculpture Contest and parade on July 4.
The tradition dates back to 1914 as the Wilmington Morning Star published a news story: “OCRACOKE BREAKS INTO THE LIMELIGHT ON THE 4TH Little Banks Village Celebrates Independence Day First Time.”
August
The Fig Festival Cake Bake-off competitions in the Berkley Barn drew many competitors and those waiting to taste the submissions after judging at the Berkley Manor Barn. Special guest, Dean Neff, owner of Zora’s Seafood & Kitchen, Wilmington’s oldest seafood market, prepared the annual Savory Fig Dinner.
The Hyde County Board of Commissioners declared a State of Emergency and mandatory evacuation for Ocracoke Island due to the anticipated flooding impacts from Hurricane Erin Aug. 17 and potential impacts to NC Highway 12. The storm caused significant inundation and overwash, shutting down NC 12, suspending Hatteras Inlet ferry service and a lot of beach erosion.
Coyotes: Evidence of coyotes were spotted on Ocracoke’s beach and in a collaborative effort by the NPS, three coyotes were caught and killed in August by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Ocracoke ponies: The NPS said in 2024 that it was conducting a study on how best to breed them (per the wishes of the community), but due to the crisis of uncovered underground fuel tanks in Buxton and numerous collapsed houses along that area of the Cape Hatteras National Seashore (from ocean erosion) and then the government shutdown, that study has not been done.
The Ocracoke Health Center held its fourth Seafood Festival fundraising benefit at the Berkley Barn with live music and silent and live auctions.
September
A Clam Chowder Cook-off to benefit pool association took place Sept. 20 in the Community Center when it was announced that the pool association had secured land for building the pool.
October
After several months’ suspension, the Bread of Life Food Pantry at the Life Saving Church on Lighthouse Road reopened and reestablished its partnership with the Food Bank of the Albemarle and the Ocracoke United Methodist Church.
Working Watermen’s Festival took place at the Community Square docks.
Health Fair and Touch a Truck at the OVFD firehouse drew awareness to the Ocracoke Health Center and the Ocracoke Volunteer Fire Department
No Kings protest took place at corner of Irvin Garrish Highway and Lighthouse Road.
Blackbeard’s Pirate Jamboree featured historian Kevin Duffus who gave a presentation on what happened to Blackbeard’s head.
November
Ocracoke’s Mexican community invited all to experience one of their culture’s signature remembrances, Day of the Dead, or Dia de los Muertos, in the Community Center.
December
Ocracoke Island celebrates Christmas with holiday lights that can be seen on houses throughout the village.
North end conditions: Continue to plague island access via Hatteras.
The Ferry Division presented four possible scenarios about what to do about South Dock, and Ocracoke Islanders overwhelmingly voted for continued stabilization of the dock in its current location at the north end.
UNC-Chapel Hill researchers presented findings on possible solutions to dealing with the overwash area on NC12.
Formation of Ocracoke Access Alliance to pay for lobbying for Ocracoke’s transportation concerns.
Business: The Silver Lake Motel property was sold to ABC Family LCC, a property management company, located in Greenville. Renovations began on the motel, now called Silver Lake Hotel, as well as rebuilding of the Jolly Roger Restaurant, which had been devastated by Hurricane Dorian in 2019.
Howard’s Pub was sold in May to Nags Head restaurateur Colin Wiseman.
Work continued on Plum Pointe Kitchen’s new location in the former Breeze, across the road from 1718 Brewing Ocracoke.
Other businesses changing hands include the Thurston House B&B and The Castle B&B.
After more than 40 years in business, Oscar’s House Bed and Breakfast closed.
Eduardo’s Taco Truck closed in November as did the Sweet Tooth/Fig Tree Deli.
Politics: The NC Legislature approved a new Congressional district map they hope will help maintain the GOP’s hold on the U.S. House in the 2026 midterm elections. The new proposed map would put the Outer Banks counties in the same district, while at the same time trying to flip a seat currently held by a Democrat.
