On May 18 Goose Nest Festival T-shirt collectors will have the opportunity to add a third garment to their collection as Goose Net Festival Founder and Chair Vonetta Porter and her team of volunteers transform the tiny town of Oak City into a metropolis.
Last year, over 2,000 festival-goers converged on the one-square mile town of 260 residents to watch the morning parade and partake in the day’s festivities. While this year’s festival is expected to top that, there will not be a parade.
“There is still time to become a vendor or participant,” said Porter/ “Applications need to be in by April 26.”
When Porter thought of the idea of the Goose Nest Festival in 2019, her goal was to promote a large gathering in the western portion of Martin County. The Robersonville festival always pushed Porter to develop an event to brand and promote Oak City. Covid postponed her plan until 2022.
In two short years the festival has become a destination event attracting people from Bertie, Nash, Northampton and Perquimans counties, as well as all corners of its home county. The word had spread to Virginia, according to plates in the parking lot.
Porter was pleased with the outcome and anticipates a large crowd again this year. The vendor lineup is sure to mirror last year’s food lover’s adventure.
“Last year, we felt like we accomplished our goal. This year we would like for the festival to continue growing and becoming a big part of the town of Oak City,” said Porter, a top Oak City promoter.
The festival’s name brews curiosity.
The Oak City Museum was set up in the town’s fire station by town historian Michael Taylor and Rosalyn Spriggs. Porter anticipates the museum will once again provide a look into the history of the former and current name of the town.
Taylor is a member of the original festival committee and offered to set up an exhibit on a collection of Goose Nest Township’s rich history in Martin County. This includes information and pictures of businesses, churches, schools, civic organizations and people.
“My interest in history and its preservation and my love for the community motivated me to share this with others,” said Taylor. “Since the festival is only a one day fun-filled event, our aim was to also promote the history spanning 140 years of the community that led us to celebrate what a special place this is in which to live”
Taylor recently played an important role in the Martin County 250 celebration.
In the early 1880’s there was a postage stamp sized rural trading center built in the midst of a small collection of farm houses. Later, the small community grew larger and the Goose Nest Post Office was commissioned. The community was officially named Goose Nest in 1888.
In 1905, the town’s name was changed to Oak City because a town citizen visiting Raleigh saw “Oak City Laundry” on a delivery wagon and liked the name enough to urge the N.C. General Assembly to effect the change.
The third annual Goose Nest Festival is set for May 18. The event will begin at 10 a.m. and it runs throughout the day, ending at 7 p.m.
For vendor information contact Vonetta Porter at 252-798-0410.
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