🌪️ This Weekend on Martha's Vineyard: 8/21-8/24
illumination and fair tmo, fireworks sat, comedy fest, dance theatre, mv in national news, beach alerts
What an unpredictable weekend ahead we have! I’m sending this weekend’s edition early because it includes bonus Thursday events. 🌧️
⏱️ This Week on MVacay
This week I’m showcasing FAMILY resources! Paid subscribers can access a new 23-page PDF that incorporates dozens of guides into ONE playbook. My favorite part is the by-town cheat sheets. If you don’t want to become a paid subscriber you can also buy it on Etsy here.
I updated the Ag Fair guide today to include food, vendors, maps and additional links.
🗺️ What To Do This Weekend
Thursday, August 21, 2025
🎡 Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Fair at Agricultural Hall, West Tisbury, 10a–11p (Fri–Sun too) / More Info / Buy Tickets to the Fair / Buy Carnival Ride Passes / $15
🚌 Getting there: VTA routes 2, 3, 4, and the hourly direct Fair Bus from VH & Edg stop at the fairgrounds (fare free)
⭐️ Don’t miss: 4H Opening Day Parade @ 10:15a and LED Light Show @ 8p
🛍️ Vineyard Artisans Summer Festival at Grange Hall, West Tisbury, 10a–2p / More Info / free
🏮 Grand Illumination Night at The Camp Ground, Oak Bluffs, 7p / More Info / free
An island tradition that begins at the Tabernacle with community singing, band music, and the ceremonial lantern lighting.
Friday, August 22, 2025
🎡 MV Ag Fair at Agricultural Hall, West Tisbury, 10a–11p (Thu,Sat & Sun too)
More Info / $15⭐️ Don’t miss: Draft Horse Pull @ 1p and Pet Show @ 3p
📚 Book Signing: Carbivore by Phoebe Lapine at Edgartown Books, 2–4p / More Info / free
🦈 Jaws@50 Screening & Celebration with Wendy Benchley at Martha’s Vineyard Museum, Vineyard Haven, 5–7p / More Info / $35
🎶 Sunset Concert Series: The Jon Bates Band at 80 Trinity Park, Oak Bluffs, 6–7:30p / More Info / free
BYO picnic & chairs for this lively end-of-week concert at the Tabernacle.
🎭 Martha’s Vineyard Comedy Fest at The Strand Theatre, Oak Bluffs, 8p / More Info / cost varies
Annual festival brings top comedians to the Island for a night of laughs.
Saturday, August 23, 2025
🧺 West Tisbury Farmers Market at Grange Hall, 9a–12p / More Info / Free
🛍️ Chilmark Flea Market at Flea Market Field, Chilmark, 9a-2p (Wed too) / More Info / Free
🎡 Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Fair at Agricultural Hall, West Tisbury, 10a–11p (Sun too) / More Info / $15
⭐️ Don’t miss: Woodsman’s Competition @ 11a and Johnny Hoy & the Bluefish Saturday night
🎭 The Fabulists: The Most Wondrous Thing at Tisbury Amphitheater (Final show of the season!), Vineyard Haven, 10a / More Info
🏃 Sullivan 5K Run at Washington Park, Oak Bluffs, 9:30–11:30a / More Info / $25
Annual fundraiser benefiting MV Hospital, open to all ages.
🎬 Highest to Lowest at MV Film Center, Vineyard Haven, 7:30p / Tickets
Spike Lee and Denzel Washington reunite for a gripping new take on Kurosawa’s classic High & Low, set in present-day New York.
🩰 Dance Theatre of Harlem: An Evening at Union Chapel at Union Chapel, Oak Bluffs, 7:30p / More Info / $35 (GA), $150 (VIP)
A powerful evening of performance and lecture-demonstration with Artistic Director Robert Garland and members of the world-renowned company.
🎆 Oak Bluffs Fireworks at Ocean Park, Oak Bluffs, 9p / More Info / free
The Island’s biggest summer fireworks show. Bring a blanket and arrive early.
Sunday, August 24, 2025
🎉 Oak Bluffs Open Market at Washington Park, Oak Bluffs, 10a–2p
🎨 Vineyard Artisans Summer Festival at Grange Hall, 10a–2p / More Info / Free
🎡 Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Fair at Agricultural Hall, West Tisbury, 9:30a–6p / More Info / $15
⭐️ Don’t miss: Dog Show @ 10a and Women’s Skillet Toss @ 3p
🖼️ Opening: The Phil & Eileen Brown New Yorker Cartoon Collection at Featherstone Center for the Arts, Oak Bluffs, 4–6p / More Info / free
🎺 Vineyard Haven Town Band at Ocean Park, Oak Bluffs, 7:30p / More Info / free
⚠️ Events subject to change due to weather. Always check before you go! The live web version of this post will be updated with any changes or cancellations.
Behind the Paywall: a famous photographer releases island line, beach closures and alerts, MV books, ticks in the Times, Save the Dates thru September.