🚜 Weekend Update: 8/16-8/18 - Events on Martha's Vineyard

ag fair, fireworks, black fashion weekend, comedy shows, built on stilts, islanders write

It’s the ~Busiest Week of the Year~ on MV!

The August Big Three - Illumination, Ag Fair, and OB Fireworks - are here! Expect heavy traffic, so refer to Ways to Avoid Summer Traffic for tips. I’ll update the Ag Fair Guide this afternoon with any new insights after attending this morning!

Last Night’s Illumination Night at MVCMA

🗺️ What To Do This Weekend

All Weekend

Friday, August 16

• 🌻 Pick Your Own Sunflowers @ FARM Institute, Mon-Fri 10a-4p, Sat 10a-12p / More Info / $25

  • Tour the sunflower field and pick your own sunflowers, with a dozen stems included per group and additional available for purchase. (Last Day!)

• 📝 Papermaking Sampler @ 53 Christiantown Road, West Tisbury, 9:30a-12p / More Info / $85

  • Create decorative papers with hands-on techniques using stencils, shaped molds, and pigmented fibers in this introductory papermaking class.

• 👗 Black Fashion Week Inaugural Fashion Show @ The Strand Theatre, Oak Bluffs, 11:30a / More Info / $70

  • Light brunch starting at 10 a.m. before the show at 11:30 a.m.

• 📚 Book Signing: The Pirate’s Wife by Daphne Geanacopoulos @ Edgartown Books, 2p-4p / More Info / Free

• 📚 Book Talk & Signing: NYT Best-Selling Author Sunny Hostin @ Oak Bluffs Public Library, 2:30p-4:30p / More Info / Free

  • Meet three-time Emmy award-winning author and television host Sunny Hostin as she discusses her Summer Beach series, which spotlights historically Black communities.

• 📖 Literary Luminaries @ The Strand Theatre, Oak Bluffs, 4p-6p / More Info / $100

  • Join authors for a discussion on their latest books, including "Negotiating While Black" and "Digitally Invisible," with a VIP reception to follow.

• 🎭 Psychic Comedy Show @ MV Film Society, Vineyard Haven, 7:30p / More Info / $30

• 🎶 Vineyard Haven Band Summer Concerts at Ocean Park @ Ocean Park, Oak Bluffs, 7:30p / More Info / Free

• 🎆 Oak Bluffs Fireworks @ Ocean Park, Oak Bluffs, 9p / More Info / $20 per car

  • Watch the annual fireworks display lighting up the sky at Ocean Park, with paid parking available in Waban Alley and Washington Park ($20 cash), no parking on Sunset Ave or other residential streets. Rain Date 8/17.

• 🎤 Martha’s Vineyard Comedy Fest: Sommore @ The Strand Theatre, Oak Bluffs, 7 and 9p / More Info / $150+ (Sat too)

• 🔁🎤 Live Music: Freestyle Fridays with DJ Smooth B at Nomans, 6-9p

• 🔁🎶 Live Music: Featherstone Fridays with Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish at Featherstone Center for the Arts, 6:30-8p More Info / $20

Saturday, August 17

• 🔁🧑‍🌾 West Tisbury Farmers' Market at Grange Hall, 9a-12p More Info

• 🔁🛍️ Chilmark Flea Market at Chilmark Flea Market, 9a-2p More Info

• 🔁🎭 The Fabulists: Theater for Children at Tisbury Amphitheater, 10a More Info

• 🏃‍♂️ 5K Run for Camp Jabberwocky @ FARM Institute, Edgartown, 9a / More Info / $25

• 🛍️ The Black-owned Marketplace Shopping Experience @ Eleven Circuit, Oak Bluffs, 1p-4p / More Info

• 🎥 Film Screening and Discussion: The Body Politic @ The Strand Theatre, Oak Bluffs, 3p / More Info / $20

• 🎷 U.S. Airforce Band Concert @ Trinity Park Tabernacle, Oak Bluffs, 7p-8:30p / More Info / Free

• 🩰 Built on Stilts @ Union Chapel, Oak Bluffs, 7:30p-9p / More Info / Free

  • Attend the island's free community dance and performance festival, showcasing a variety of performances each night. Sunday and Monday too.

Sunday, August 18

• 🔁🛍️ Oak Bluffs Open Market at Washington Park, 10a-2p More Info

• 🔁🎨 Vineyard Artisans Summer Festival at Grange Hall, 10a-2p More Info

• 🖊️ Islanders Write @ Featherstone Center for the Arts, Oak Bluffs / More Info / Free (Monday too)

  • Join local and visiting writers for panel discussions and workshops on the art, craft, and business of writing.

• 🎥 Film and Discussion: My Father’s Name @ Martha's Vineyard Film Center, Vineyard Haven, 2:30p / More Info

• 🎶 Reggae Splash On The Vineyard @ Martha's Vineyard Performing Arts Center, Oak Bluffs, 6:30p / More Info / $70

  • Experience a live reggae concert featuring Marcia Griffiths, with an appearance by the Braata Folk Singers.

• 🎺 Vineyard Haven Band Summer Concerts at Owen Park @ Owen Park, Vineyard Haven, 7:30p / More Info / Free

• 🔁🎤 Sundays in the Park Summer Concerts at Ocean Park, 5:30p / Free

📅 Save The Date

• August 19 - Moonrise Kayak Tours at Felix Neck

• August 19 - Bite Me! Mark Normand at the Loft!

• August 20 - MVY Radio Summer Concert Series: Dalton and the Sheriffs

• August 20 - Tuesday Bluesday at Morning Glory Farm

• August 20 - Contra Dancing at Grange Hall

• August 21 - Book Talk with Melissa Ludtke: Locker Room Talk

• August 21 - Sun(flower) Salutations: Yoga with YogiJay at FARM Institute

• August 22 - History In Perspective: A Wampanoag Guided Walking Tour at Aquinnah Cultural Center

• August 22 - Comedy with TBD Improv at MV Film Center

• August 23 - Nancy Luce Day at MV Museum

• August 23-September 14 - Billy Baloo at MV Playhouse

• August 23 - Intro to Screen Printing at Featherstone

• August 24 - Sullivan 5K Run at Washington Park OB

• August 24 - Vineyard Sound Presents: Farewell Concert at Old Whaling Church

• August 25 - Amity Shark Race at Little Bridge

• August 25 - MV Oar + Paddle Regatta at Senge Pond

• August 25 - MV Sound Fest at The Cove

• August 28 - Seth Meyers Stand Up to Benefit Chilmark Preschool

• August 29 - Mass Cultural Council Fundraiser at The PA Club

Way more events here on the MVacay Events Mobile App and in 📅 Save the Date: Martha's Vineyard Big Events 2024!

📍Business Updates

• The Happyness Factor is the first to formally host 8-hour long electric bike tours of Martha’s Vineyard.

• Morning Glory Food Truck is hosting Tuesday Bluesdays with live music from 4-6 in August while the food truck is open

• The MV Film Society + Little House Cafe are collaborating again - get $3+ off your movie after dining at LHC

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As always: Times, Dates + Events Are Subject to Change (especially due to weather)! As soon as an event is Sold Out, I do my best to remove it from this newsletter. You can always find the most updated, searchable version at MVacay.com