🍿 This Weekend on Martha's Vineyard: 8/7-8/9
First Friday, Built on Stilts, tax-free weekend, Motown Monday, and new pocket guides for MVAAFF + the Ag Fair
Happy August, Friends!
⏱️ This Week on MVacay
With so many Black, HBCU, Greek, and African American events happening this week, I wanted to resurface one of my favorite guides, which I’ve updated to include businesses that are new for 2026:
My paid subscribers have a special perk this week: two handy pocket guides! They take the 100-page, not-so-mobile-friendly event guides and distill them into easy-to-skim resources to help you plan your time at both events:
🗺️ What To Do This Weekend
All Weekend
💃 Built on Stilts at Union Chapel, 7:45-9p nightly / More Info / Free
The community dance and performance festival celebrates its 30th year with performances Friday, Saturday, and Sunday from 7:45-9p each night.🎬 MV African American Film Festival at MVPAC, times vary / More Info
The annual festival presents film screenings, conversations, and cultural programming across MV from Aug. 7-15. Individual tickets available.Massachusetts Tax-Free Weekend
Please note that MVacay’s Weekend Updates exclude SOLD OUT Events!
Friday, August 7, 2026
🎣 Family Fishing at Oak Bluffs Fishing Pier, 9:30-11:30a / More Info /
Kids, teens, and their adults can fish with an Oak Bluffs librarian, with equipment and supplies provided.🎉 First Friday Vineyard Haven throughout downtown Vineyard Haven, 10a-11p / More Info / Free
10a–2p: Daytime Art Market + Art Hang (Live Music at 12)
4p: Live Music Begins
5p: Food trucks open, activities on the hill (Owen Park)
7:30–8p: Fire performance
9–11p: Silent DJ Party
🌻 Pick Your Own Sunflowers at The FARM Institute, 10a-3:30p (Sat too) / $25
🗼 National Lighthouse Day at Gay Head Lighthouse, 10a-4p
🎨 Art En Blanc at Cottagers, Inc., 10a-8p (Sat too) / Free
Explore a curated exhibition of paintings, sculptures, graphics, and quilts by prominent Black artists.🛍️ Sips & Sweets with She Shell Designs at Rainy Day, Vineyard Haven, 12-4p
💬 Center for Constitutional Rights: A Conversation with Vince Warren at Oak Bluffs Public Library, 3-5p / More Info
🧘 Family Yoga at The Yard, 4-5p / More Info / Free
🎶 Sunset Concert Series with Anna Laura Quinn at Trinity Park Tabernacle, 6-7:30p / More Info / Free-will offering
🎭 As You Like It at Tisbury Amphitheater, 6p (Sat too) / More Info
🎷 Grace Kelly Benefit Concert at Old Whaling Church, 7:30-9:30p / More Info / $30-$100
Saxophonist, vocalist, and composer Grace Kelly celebrates more than 20 years of music while raising funds for Island nonprofits.🎸 Will Dailey in Chilmark at Ocean View Farm Road, 7:30-9p / More Info / $40
😂 15th Annual MV Comedy Fest at The Strand Theatre, 8-10p / More Info / $72+
The annual comedy festival returns to the Strand Theatre for an evening of live stand-up.🎵 BlueSwitch Blues Band at Portuguese-American Club, 8-10p / $10 at door
Saturday, August 8, 2026
🥕 West Tisbury Farmers Market at MV Agricultural Hall, 9a-12p / More Info
🛍️ Chilmark Flea Market at Flea Market Field, Chilmark, 9a-2p / More Info
🎭 The Fabulists at Tisbury Amphitheater, 10a / More Info
🌊 August Seine Net Event at Doug’s Cove Preserve, 12-2p / More Info / Free
Join local scientists as they drag a seine net through the pond and identify the coastal species collected.👜 Create Your Legacy: Bee Blunt x Tote-Ally Yours Pop-Up at Tote-Ally Yours, Oak Bluffs, 6p / More Info
🎤 A Soulful Evening with Theresa Thomason at Stillpoint, 7p / More Info / $30-$60
😂 Comedian Jackie Flynn Live Stand-Up Comedy Event at MV Film Center, 7:30p / More Info / $30-$35
Sunday, August 9, 2026
🛍️ Oak Bluffs Open Market at Washington Park, 10a-2p
🎨 Vineyard Artisans Festival at Historic Grange Hall, 10a-2p / More Info
🏀 Alex Cohen Memorial Basketball Marathon at Chilmark Community Center Basketball Court, 10:30a-3:30p / More Info / $30 solo; $75 per team of three
🙏 Festival of Worship in Word and Song at Trinity Park Tabernacle, 2p / More Info / Donations welcome
Rev. Senator Raphael G. Warnock and music director Mark A. Miller lead an afternoon of worship, music, and community.🎨 Anonymous Art at Featherstone Center for the Arts, Art Barn, 4p / More Info / $30
Guests can compete for anonymous 6-by-6-inch artworks while enjoying wine, beer, and appetizers.🎤 Community Sing at Tisbury Amphitheater, 5-6p / More Info / Free
🎶 Sundays in the Park Concert at Ocean Park, 5:30-7:30p / Free
BONUS SECTION: I usually don’t talk about Weekday Fun…but if there’s ever a week to do it it’s this week! I didn’t audit which of the following is sold out, but get out there and enjoy! Upgrade to Paid to get the rest of August.
Monday, August 10, 2026
Motown Monday at MVCMA Tabernacle, 6–7p / Broadway Divas at Martha’s Vineyard Film Center / Black Oak Ensemble at First Congregational Church of West Tisbury / Magic and Mentalism with Magic Mike Jacobson at Chilmark Community Center / Otra at Grange Hall, 5p / Bob and David Climb Machu Picchu at Grange Hall, 7:30p
Tuesday, August 11, 2026
The Vineyard Classic 5k at Washington Park /Martha’s Vineyard HBCU College Fair at Trinity Park Tabernacle / The Pursuit of Home: An Evening on Martha’s Vineyard / Martha’s Vineyard Soulfest Opening Night Party at 11 Circuit Avenue / Silo Session with Shawan Rice at Slough Farm / Martha’s Vineyard Black History & Legacy Tour Experience from Union Chapel / Tuesday Blues with Jeremy Berlin + Delanie Pickering at Morning Glory Farm
Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Black Wealth Weekend Begins / Rotational Grazing Tasting Tour at Beetlebung Farm / A Conversation with Belle Burden & Amy Schumer at The Yard / Terrible Thicket Escape Room at Vineyard Haven Public Library, 3:30p + 5p / This Is Our Island at MV Film Center / Skippy Scallop Storytime and Touch Tank at Grange Hall /
Thursday, August 13, 2026
August 13 - The Momentum Summit / Sen. Raphael Warnock at the Chilmark Community Center / Summer Institute: Meet the Puzzlers at Martha’s Vineyard Hebrew Center / Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Fair Begins / Fairy Houses and Gnome Homes in the Sunflower Field at The FARM Institute
Behind the Paywall: Weekday events and what to buy before it sells out in August, new Island and business updates, Cool New Event Spotlights, and the full Save the Dates list through September: