This Thanksgiving, Ocracoke Island invites locals and visitors to rediscover the history that defines this Outer Banks destination with the launch of the first Historic Home Tour since Hurricane Dorian in 2019.
On Friday, November 28, the island will host a day-long celebration of heritage and culture, featuring the long-awaited return of the Ocracoke Historic Home Tour, a holiday lighting of the Commons, a Parade of Boats, and a concert by the Ocrafolk Opry at Deepwater Theater.
The highlight of the afternoon will be the Historic Home Tour, taking place from 2 to 4 p.m., and showcasing four of the island’s most treasured residences along Lighthouse Road and Howard Street in the heart of Ocracoke.
Coordinated by the Ocracoke Preservation Society (OPS), the tour offers a rare opportunity to explore both the architecture and the stories of homes that have been central to island life for more than a century. The four featured homes are:
- Sound Front Inn (Chase-Bragg-Boos, c.1828, #190)
- Susan Williams House (Tilman W. O’Neal, c.1890s, #159)
- Philip Howard House (Bragg-Fulcher, c.1879, #109)
- Lela’s House (Lawrence Howard, c.1912, #94)
A free tram will be available for ticket holders to easily move between locations, allowing visitors to take in the village’s scenic beauty while stepping back through Ocracoke’s architectural and cultural history.
At 4:30 p.m., the tour will culminate with a special presentation at the Island Inn, where two lifelong islanders, Philip Howard and Al Scarborough, will share the history and stories surrounding the beloved landmark.
Built in 1901, the Island Inn has served many roles throughout its lifetime, including as a school, Odd Fellows Lodge, coffee shop, and hotel. Now owned by OPS, the building is being renovated for future use as a community, educational, and visitors’ center—an adaptive reuse that honors its past while securing its future.
Tickets for the Historic Home Tour are $50 each, a tax-deductible donation to the Ocracoke Preservation Society. Because tickets are limited and expected to sell quickly, OPS encourages early purchase through their website at https://www.ocracokepreservationsociety.org/ops-events/hometour. Ticket holders will be contacted before the event with details on where to pick up their passes once on the island.
As evening falls, the celebration continues with the lighting of the Commons at 5:30 p.m., illuminating the landscaped public garden beside the Island Inn. The space, recently revitalized through local volunteer efforts, will serve as the perfect gathering point to transition into the night’s festivities.
Following the lighting, the annual Ocracoke Parade of Boats will set sail from 5:30 to 7 p.m., bringing Silver Lake Harbor to life in a twinkling display of maritime creativity.
The evening will conclude with the Ocrafolk Opry in concert at 8 p.m. at Ocracoke Alive’s Deepwater Theater, featuring local musicians spanning three generations performing a mix of folk, acoustic, and original music rooted in island storytelling and tradition.”
More than just a holiday celebration, the day’s events mark a significant milestone in Ocracoke’s ongoing renewal following the devastation of Hurricane Dorian and the challenges of the pandemic years. The return of the Historic Home Tour represents not only a preservation of structures but a reaffirmation of community resilience and pride.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit https://www.ocracokepreservationsociety.org/ops-events/hometour.
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