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Events · Martha’s Vineyard
The island year, in order
Fairs, fireworks, film weeks and one fishing tournament that runs for five. Dates verified against the organizers and pruned the day each one ends.
Opened Sep 13 · through Oct 17 81st Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby Read our guide →
Island-wideFive weeks of the island’s fishing tournament, run every fall since 1946.
Thirty-five days and nights chasing bluefish, bonito and false albacore, from 12:01 AM on September 13 to 9 PM on October 17, with weigh-ins at Derby headquarters on Edgartown’s Dock Street every morning (8–10) and evening (7–9). Kids Day is Sunday, September 20, 6 to 8 AM at the Oak Bluffs Steamship wharf, free for ages 4 to 14. The awards at Farm Neck on October 18 (juniors 11 AM, adults 1 PM) close it all with the grand prize drawing. Watching the evening weigh-in is free and worth the trip on its own.
Weigh station: Derby HQ, Dock Street, Edgartown
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Opened Aug 22 · through Jan 17, 2027 Menagerie of Marvels at the MV Museum
Vineyard HavenEleanor Hubbard's paintings of twelve rescued animals, including José the West Tisbury ox.
Vineyard artist Eleanor Hubbard celebrates twelve rescued animals in oil paintings and watercolors, anchored by a tribute to José, the West Tisbury ox. In the Waggaman Community Gallery, on view with museum admission ($21 adult) through January 17, 2027.
Martha's Vineyard Museum, Vineyard Haven
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Aquinnah Flea Market
AquinnahArtisans and vendors fill the Baptist Church grounds up-island every Thursday, 10 AM to 2 PM.
The weekly up-island flea market runs Thursdays from 10 AM to 2 PM at the Baptist Church grounds, from late June into October, per the organizers' own poster: local artisans, vintage finds and a very Aquinnah pace. Vendor booths run about $10.
Baptist Church grounds, Aquinnah
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October 210 AM – 11 PM Vineyard Haven First Friday (October)
Vineyard HavenThe October edition: an art market by day, a Main Street stroll, then the evening at Owen Park.
The day runs in three parts: an art market from 10 AM to 2 PM on Beach Street Extension (closed to traffic), a Main Street stroll with shops and galleries open from 2 to 5 PM, then the evening at Owen Park from 5 to 11 PM with food, music and a silent disco late. Free. The December edition is December 4.
Beach Street Extension, Main Street and Owen Park, Vineyard Haven
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October 31 – 9 PM Ladyfest MV
Oak BluffsAn afternoon-into-evening music festival in Waban Park for Connect to End Violence; $35, kids under 12 free.
The Ritz Cafe presents the island’s annual women-led music festival in Waban Park: Ali McGuirk, The Alpha Gals, Elda Berlin, Sunny War, Gabi, Wolftrap, Delanie Pickering, Island Hip Hop, DJ Dolce Vita and Kate Taylor, with over 50 artisan and food vendors. All tickets $35, kids under 12 free. Proceeds go to Connect to End Violence, the island’s domestic violence program and rape crisis center.
Waban Park, Oak Bluffs
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MVCMA Benefit Golf Tournament
Vineyard HavenThe Camp Meeting Association’s fundraiser at Mink Meadows: a scramble in five-person teams, $180 a player or $900 a team.
The Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association’s benefit golf tournament at Mink Meadows Golf Club: 9 AM shotgun start, scramble format with five-person teams, $180 a player or $900 a team. Proceeds go to the Association’s programming and the upkeep of the Campground, a National Historic Landmark. Sponsorships are available for non-golfers. Register at mvcma.org.
Mink Meadows Golf Club, 320 Golf Club Road, Vineyard Haven
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October 10–1110 AM – 4 PM Vineyard Artisans Fall Festival
West TisburyThe 24th fall artisan market at the Grange Hall, against the foliage. Free.
Island painters, potters, jewelers, weavers and woodworkers fill the Grange Hall for the Columbus Day weekend edition of the artisans festivals, 10 AM to 4 PM both days. Free to wander.
Grange Hall, 1059 State Road, West Tisbury
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October 16–18 MV Women in Film Festival
Vineyard HavenThe eighth weekend of films by and about women at the MV Film Center.
Six films over three days at the MV Film Center, with conversations around the screenings, closing out the fall festival season on the harbor. Single tickets sell per film; the All Access pass is $75 ($65 for members). Showtimes post on the Film Society site.
MV Film Center, Vineyard Haven
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October 1811 AM juniors · 1 PM adults Derby Awards Ceremony
Oak BluffsThe 81st Derby hands out its prizes, including the grand-prize drawing.
The month-long Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby closes with the awards ceremony at Farm Neck: juniors at 11 AM, adults at 1 PM, where the six grand leaders (bluefish, bonito and false albacore, boat and shore) draw for the grand prize. Spectators welcome; details in our Derby guide.
Farm Neck Golf Club, Oak Bluffs
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October 2410 AM – 2 PM Harvest Festival at the Ag Hall
West TisburyThe Ag Society’s sixth Harvest Festival: pumpkin carving, animals, a hay maze and pie contests. Free.
The Agricultural Society’s fall gathering on the fairgrounds: pumpkin carving, animals, a hay maze, crafts for kids and demos for adults, local bites, a pie-baking contest and a pie-eating contest. Free; 10 AM to 2 PM.
Agricultural Hall, 35 Panhandle Road, West Tisbury
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Featherstone Holiday Gift Show
Oak BluffsSix weeks of handmade gifts by island artists at Featherstone, open daily. Free.
The 24th Holiday Gift Show fills the Featherstone galleries with work by island artists and makers, open 12 to 4 PM daily from November 7 through December 16 (closed Veterans Day and Thanksgiving Day). Free admission.
Featherstone Center for the Arts, 30 Featherstone Lane, Oak Bluffs
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November 2710 AM – 2 PM Fall Festival at Felix Neck Read our guide →
EdgartownHayrides, wildlife demonstrations and wreath making the day after Thanksgiving. Free.
The sanctuary’s 46th Fall Festival, a Vineyard tradition on the Friday after Thanksgiving: hayrides, live music, wildlife demonstrations, wreath making with natural materials, crafts and a bird-call competition, with food for sale. Free; an early Bird Sit runs 9 to 10 AM.
Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary, 100 Felix Neck Drive, Edgartown
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November 27–2810 AM – 4 PM Vineyard Artisans Thanksgiving Weekend Festival
West TisburyThe 30th holiday artisan market, Friday and Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend at the Ag Hall. Free.
The biggest of the artisans festivals moves indoors to the Agricultural Hall for Thanksgiving weekend: island-made gifts, 10 AM to 4 PM on Friday and Saturday. Free; pairs well with the Felix Neck Fall Festival the same Friday morning.
Agricultural Hall, 35 Panhandle Road, West Tisbury
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December 5 Light Up Oak Bluffs Read our guide →
Oak BluffsThe town tree lighting and holiday kick-off at Healey Square and Ocean Park.
Oak Bluffs lights its tree on Saturday, December 5 this year (not Thanksgiving weekend): an afternoon of activities in past years, then the switch is thrown at Healey Square with caroling, Santa arriving by fire truck and carriage rides. The Oak Bluffs Association posts the hours.
Healey Square and Ocean Park, Oak Bluffs
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December 10–13 45th Christmas in Edgartown
EdgartownParade, teddy-bear suite and a whole town in lights.
Four days of holiday markets, caroling and carriage rides through white-picket Edgartown. Thursday opens the festival, the lighthouse is lit Friday evening at Memorial Wharf (6 PM sharp in past years, crowd from 5:30), and the parade steps off Saturday at 11 AM on Main Street, rain or shine. Most events are free; a few benefit tickets sell in advance. The Board of Trade posts the 2026 hour-by-hour schedule in the fall.
Downtown Edgartown
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March 6, 202711 AM Martha’s Vineyard 20 Miler and Amity Island Relay Read our guide →
Vineyard HavenThe island’s winter road race, 20 miles from the ferry terminal.
Twenty miles of empty winter roads, plus the Amity Island Relay for teams, starting directly in front of the Steamship Authority terminal in Vineyard Haven at 11 AM. Date and start from the race’s own site; registration opens there.
Steamship Authority terminal, Vineyard Haven
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March 31 – April 4, 2027 Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival Read our guide →
West TisburyFive days of documentary and independent film to close the winter, the 27th edition.
The winter’s cultural anchor: screenings, filmmaker talks and community meals. The 2026 festival ran at the Grange Hall in West Tisbury and the MV Playhouse in Vineyard Haven; the 2027 dates are announced and the program and venues post in the new year.
Grange Hall, West Tisbury and MV Playhouse, Vineyard Haven (2026 venues)
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July 17–18, 2027 Feast of the Holy Ghost Read our guide →
Oak BluffsThe Portuguese feast: Saturday on the club lawn, Sunday parade and free sopas.
Held every third full weekend of July since 1928. Saturday from 5 PM at the PA Club with food, a band and games; Sunday the parade leaves the Steamship terminal at 11:30 AM, the crown is blessed at Our Lady Star of the Sea, and free sopas are served at the club afterwards. Dates follow the club’s rule and are confirmed when the club posts the 2027 schedule.
Portuguese-American Club, 137 Vineyard Avenue, Oak Bluffs
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Nothing in that combination. Try another month, or clear the filters.
Dates verified from official sources; always confirm before planning. See the full 90+ event calendar →
Planning a trip around the calendar?
Spring belongs to film festivals and artisan markets at off-peak prices. Peak summer stacks the giants back-to-back: July 4th, the Ag Fair, Grand Illumination, the African American Film Festival and Possible Dreams all land within six weeks. September is quietly the island’s best month: the Derby begins, crowds thin, and the water is still warm. December closes the year with Christmas in Edgartown.
Read the complete month-by-month 2026 events guide →: every festival, market, race and film night on the island, with times, prices and the details that matter, verified against the organizers.
Got your dates? Build a day-by-day plan around them →. Any of these events that fall inside your trip drop in automatically.
Last year, on film
Parades, fireworks, the Fair and Illumination Night as they actually looked.
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4th of July Parade Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard -
Illumination Night Oak Bluffs 2022 Gingerbread Houses -
Martha’s Vineyard Songwriters Festival at Nomans 2025 -
Agricultural Fair 2023 West Tisbury, Martha's Vineyard -
Illumination Night 2024 Oak Bluffs -
Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Fair 2025, Night Rides, Food and Fun
Four free downloads · 2026 The Beach Guide, the Fall Guide, Where to Stay and What It Really Costs Every beach decoded, the fall season date by date, every town and price band for sleeping over, and the honest budget guide: four PDFs, free with the island letter. No spam, one click to leave. See a sample first Island prices, hours and details change often. Please verify with businesses before you go. Full disclaimer
The island right now
2:15 PM island time
Four free downloads · 2026
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