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Illumination Night, is my favorite summer event and is coming up next Wednesday, Aug 19th. My original post on Illumination Night is one of the most popular on my blog so I decided to re-post it. If you’re on the Vineyard Aug 19th go and enjoy the festivities.
ILLUMINATION NIGHT is Wed, Aug 19th, 2009
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Illumination Night is held every year in the middle of August… this year it’s Wed Aug 19, 2009. If you are on MV you should not miss it, it’s an evening you won’t soon forget.
(2009 date for Illumination Night is Wed, Aug 19)
It all begins here at the Tabernacle in the Campground in Oak Bluffs.
The gingerbread cottages are decked out in Japanese lanterns, many have been passed down from generation to generation, many are even still lit with candles.
The evening begins with music by the Vineyard Haven Band accompanying a lively community sing. After the community sing is over all the lights in the Campground are turned off… a special person who has been already chosen lights the first lantern 
which is then walked up the aisle to the entrance to the Tabernacle and suddenly all the lanterns in the Campground come to life. The Campground is transformed into a magical fairyland delighting…
… kids of all ages. It has always been my favorite event of the summer and it never fails to transform me into a kid again.
Thursday, Aug 13th at 5:30 and 7:15pm at the Capawock Theatre in Vineyard Haven —
DocuTunes is premiering its first feature-lenght documentary.
“Kate Taylor – Tunes from the Tipi and Other Songs From Home“
DocuTunesTV PREMIERE: Kate Taylor – Tunes from the Tipi & Other Songs from Home
Shared via AddThis
Click here – MVOL Calendar of Events
Click the above link to see all that’s going on in the busiest month of the summer.
Below are just a few of the things you might not want to miss.
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*Aug 3 -All Island Art Show & Jr Art Show – a 2 day event at the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs.
Mon, Aug 3 from 9-4 and Tues, Aug 4 from 10-noon
*Aug 3 - Monday Possible Dreams Auction – Ocean Park in Oak Bluffs
Doors open at 3:30 and bidding starts at 4:30
Click here for a list of ‘dreams’ to bid on.
*Aug 8 -Saturday- Chilmark Road Race
*Aug 8 - Saturday - Oak Bluffs Art District Gallery Stroll 4 – 7pm
**Aug 19 -Wednesday - Illumination Night (Pictured above)
Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Assn in the Campground – Oak Bluffs ~ Community sing begins at 7pm ~ Lighting of the lanterns is at dark. (This is my favorite event of the year).
** Aug 20-23 -148th Annual Ag Fair -W Tisbury -10am
A real old fashioned agricultural fair. Livestock & dog shows, fiber arts-tent, midway, rides, games, food, horsepull, and so much more. The Ag Fair is a MUST.
Aug 21- Friday - Oak Bluffs Fireworks - 8pm
This big bang conclusion to the summer is at Ocean Park. The Vineyard Haven Band begins playing at the Gazebo at 8… firework spectacular is at dark.
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Check out the calendar of things to do on these websites:
and
Here are just a few things going on:
*Inspiration Weekend June 5 – 7 at the Tabernacle
*Taste of the Vineyard Gourmet Stroll-June 11
*Taste of the Vineyard Patron’s Dinner and Auction -June 13
*Oak Bluffs Harbor Fest and Fireworks-June 20
*Oak Bluffs Summer Solstice Celebration-June 21
*Summer Solstice Celebration at Polly Hill Arboretum-June 20
*MV Restaurant Week -June 21 to 25
*Decorator Show House & Gardens-June 28 to Oct 12
According to this article in the Vineyard Gazette… the Possible Dreams Auction will be moving to Ocean Park in Oak Bluffs. The auction is Monday, August 3, 2009.
Ocean Park is one of the prettiest settings on the Vineyard and in my opinion a perfect spot to make possible dreams come true.
Saturday, May 9th was the Shearing Festival at the Hudson Valley Fiber Farm. in Hopewell Jct, NY.
Susan and Patrick threw a great party.
Lots of people. Lots of good food.
There was terrific music, compliments of Sax ensemble from the local high school.
Gorgeous wool and yarn to be had.
And of course shearing.
Waiting.
Patrick and Jeff, the shearer.
The sheep seem in a ‘zen’ state.
Shorn.
Beautiful Cormo wool.
The goats & kids are a tad muddier than…
… two weeks ago, but entertaining and adorable as always.
Thank you Susan, Patrick, Erin, Harry and everyone involved for a terrific day.
Topping off the busiest week on the Vineyard is the grand finale event of the summer. The Oak Bluffs Fireworks on Friday night, Aug 22nd at Ocean Park. The Vineyard Haven Band starts playing around 8pm and the fireworks begin at dark, around 9pm.
The Ag Fair, as it’s affectionately known, starts on Thursday, August 21st and runs thru Sunday, August 24th. It is held at the Ag Hall in W Tisbury. This year the theme is “Homegrown Favorites” so get out there and see what the Vineyard has to offer… like…
the fiber arts tent, including MV Fiber Farm yarn
livestock such as pigs, cows, goats, sheep and alpacas
quilting and domestic arts 
Island grown produce and flowers
great rides for the kids, the fairway with games and places to eat… and the always popular woman’s skillet throw competition.
These are just a few of the things to be seen and experienced at the Ag Fair.
Click here and here for more information. Go and enjoy a wonderful time at the Ag Fair.
The Martha’s Vineyard Fiber Farm held its first fiber festival this past Saturday, April 19, 2008. It was a smashing success in my opinion and of everyone I talked with.
The people behind the success of the farm and the festival are Susan Gibbs and Patrick Manning pictured here with Patrick’s younger son Logan (older son Harry isn’t pictured). Susan and Patrick and many others worked tirelessly to put together a terrific event, there wasn’t anything they could have done differently… including the stunningly beautiful day they ordered. A 70 degree, bright sunny day with a gentle breeze in the middle of April on Martha’s Vineyard… the weather gods were kind indeed.
The sheep and goats and the older kids (goat, not human) were already out and about when we got there a little before 10 am. In the picture to the right you’ll notice they’ve closed ranks around one of the young kids and are all focusing their attention in one direction.
They are staring at Chappy, our Boykin Spaniel who to them is a predator. Chappy on the other hand is looking at them increduously and wondering, what the heck are these animals?
Whenever Deb and Chappy moved to another spot the sheep would move and face them… it was really interesting.
I’d never seen sheep sheared before and it’s very interesting. The sheep look almost in a Zen state while they’re being sheared and having their hooves clipped. The wool is mostly in one piece when the shearing is finished, it’s amazing. The wool is so soft you can hardly feel it and it’s still a little warm to the touch.
This is Patrick holding Basil, kid number 4 born in February (if I’m wrong about this Susan I’m really, really sorry). Basil is the softest creature I’ve ever touched, next to Chappy of course. He quickly charmed all the shareholders and everyone wanted to hold him a get a little kid kiss from him.
A before and after picture… unshorn to the right, naked to the left. They really seemed happy to get their coats off.
Chappy not only met sheep and goats but an Island dog named Fritz. Each time they saw each other their tails would wag and they’d do a little bit of playing.
Among some of the festival goers were Sally Taylor, her husband Dean Bragonier and their son Bodhi.
One of the many nice touches that Susan and Patrick thought of was having the shearing stop for lunch. It gave everyone a chance to meet up with one another and socialize a bit. They set up long tables in the entry of the Ag Hall. We wound up eating with Susan and this delightful group of shareholders, who all pulled out their knitting after we ate. We met so many nice people and it was hard to remember everyone’s names except for 11 month old Nora and her mom Kate. The incredibly delicious food was provided by the Scottish Bakehouse… I had one of the best turkey/Swiss wraps ever.
The shearing is done, the day is winding down and so is this post. I have lots more to add so stay tuned but in the meantime enjoy some pictures here and go over to my daughter’s blog at Chappy’s mom to enjoy her posts and pictures about the festival.
Check out the articles from the Wall Street Journal and the Vineyard Gazette.
Illumination Night is held every year in the middle of August… this year it’s Wed Aug 19, 2009. If you are on MV you should not miss it, it’s an evening you won’t soon forget.
(2009 date for Illumination Night is Wed, Aug 19)
It all begins here at the Tabernacle in the Campground in Oak Bluffs.
The gingerbread cottages are decked out in Japanese lanterns, many have been passed down from generation to generation, many are even still lit with candles.
The evening begins with music by the Vineyard Haven Band accompanying a lively community sing. After the community sing is over all the lights in the Campground are turned off… a special person who has been already chosen lights the first lantern which is then walked up the aisle to the entrance to the Tabernacle and suddenly all the lanterns in the Campground come to life. The Campground is transformed into a magical fairyland delighting…
… kids of all ages. It has always been my favorite event of the summer and it never fails to transform me into a kid again.
