Sorry for the lack of blogs lately. It has been getting busier on the island and the days run together into a blur until you stop and realize how much time has passed. I started working on a blog about graduation but suddenly I realized that the 4th of July is just a week away. The graduation blog will be posted soon.

Independence Day is always an adventure on Ocracoke Island. There are many events planned and it is no doubt the most crowded day of the year. Or maybe it just seems more crowded because everyone is all out doing a lot of the same things in the same place at the same time. However, we do get a lot of "day-trippers" who come down just for the 4th of July fun.

Here is the schedule for the 4th of July events on Ocracoke Island:

9 AM-FLAG RAISING CEREMONY on School Circle, School Road performed by the Ocracoke Boy Scouts

9:30 AM till Noon-ANNUAL SAND SCULPTING CONTEST at the NPS Lifeguard Beach

10 AM till Noon-OCRACOKE PONIES behind the Ocracoke Preservation Society Museum

10 AM till 2 PM-CLASSIC CARS on the lawn at the Pony Island Motel Pool area

10 AM till 2 PM-OCRACOKE LIGHTHOUSE open for public viewing-WALKING SUGGESTED, VERY LIMITED PARKING

3 PM-OLD TIME OCRACOKE PARADE-must register by 6 PM July 3rd. Forms may be picked up at the Post Office or th OPS Museum

PARADE ROUTE: Line up on HWY 12 beginning at Captain Ben's Restaurant, follow HWY 12 south, left onto Lighthouse Road, right onto Creek Road, right onto Silver Lake Drive, follow road around Silver Lake Harbor to the OPS Museum.

JUDGING WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE ISLAND INN BALCONY.

AT PARADE'S END at the OPS Museum-National Anthem, Entertainment and Awards for parade entrants.

9 PM-FIREWORKS will be located behind the NCCAT Campus. The fireworks can be viewed from many areas on the island but the most popular viewing spot is the large parking lot by the OPS Museum. The parking lot will be blocked off so WALKING IS SUGGESTED.

PLEASE REMEMBER: PYROTECHNICS OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING FIRECRACKERS, FIREWORKS AND HAND-HELD SPARKLERS, ARE ILLEGAL ON OCRACOKE ISLAND. POSSESSION AND USE OF PYROTECHNICS COMES WITH A HEAVY FINE!

Rain date for 4th of July events is July 5th.

(Sponsored by the Ocracoke Preservation Society and the Ocracoke Civic and Business Association)

I hope everyone has a safe, fun and happy Independence Day! Please remember to watch out for your own safety and the safety of others so we can all have a great time! I hope to see a lot of smiling faces and the only sirens I want to hear are the ones in the Parade!