Island Time: Night Light

Island Time: Night Light

June 20, 2019
The solstice is here at last: Summer, in astrological terms, begins a few minutes before noon on Friday. With well over 16 hours of light between 4:30 a.m. and 9 p.m., these are the longest days of the year—and we’ve got lots of ways to fill them with fun Martha’s Vineyard activities. Find them all in the complete Martha’s Vineyard Calendar; these are our picks for the weekend to come.

Friday, June 21 | Walk on the Mild Side

At 12:30 p.m. in Edgartown, the Vineyard Trust leads a Harborfront Walking Tour of the historic Osborne Wharf Building, Norton Boathouse and Old Sculpin Gallery, a former boatbuilder’s workshop. Meet at the Carnegie on North Water street.

Today or over the weekend, you’ll want to head up to the Old Mill in West Tisbury to see the Martha’s Vineyard Garden Club’s Blooming Art show, which pairs paintings by Island artists with floral arrangements. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today and tomorrow, noon to 3 p.m. on Sunday.

The long-awaited Toy Story 4 is on screen at Edgartown Cinema with two showings this afternoon and four tomorrow. It’s also playing at The Strand in Oak Bluffs over the weekend.

There’s a Summer Solstice BBQ Kickoff at the FARM Institute at 5 p.m. and Garde East restaurant in Vineyard Haven is having a special solstice dinner tonight that includes drinks on the deck afterwards with Mark Alan Lovewell explaining the night sky and entertaining with folk songs.

Saturday, June 22 | Strawberry Fields Forever

It’s the peak of strawberry season, and the Island is celebrating with not one, but two strawberry festivals today. At Morning Glory Farm in Edgartown, the fun begins at 11 a.m. with games, hay rides, face painting, tie dying, a grill menu and strawberry treats galore. The West Tisbury Church Strawberry Festival kicks off at noon at the First Congregational Church and includes a bake sale and a jewelry table as well as strawberry smoothies, shortcakes and more berry delights.

The popular annual Oak Bluffs Harbor Festival (in its 28th year) happens from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today. Highlights include a Coast Guard boat open house, music by Brad Tucker from noon to 2 p.m., and Johnny Hoy & the Bluefish from 3 to 5 p.m.

The Martha’s Vineyard Film Center in Vineyard Haven is holding its Filmusic Festival this weekend. Today’s screenings are Woodstock: Three Days that Defined a Generation at 4 p.m. and Echo in the Canyon, about the Laurel Canyon music scene of 1960s Los Angeles, at 7:30 p.m.

At the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse in Vineyard Haven, Dear Elizabeth—a play in letters about the 30-year friendship of poets Elizabeth Bishop and Robert Lowell—opens at 7:30 p.m. The show runs through July 6.

Sunday, June 23 | Harbor Daze

Meet and greet sheep, cows, chickens and ducks at the Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury from 2 to 4 p.m. It’s a fundraiser for the new Martha’s Vineyard 4-H program.

At the film center this afternoon, you can witness Aretha Franklin at the peak of her powers in the concert documentary Amazing Grace, filmed in 1972 but not released until this year. Show time is 4 p.m.

Gallery receptions today include a group show of Martha’s Vineyard Art Association members at the Old Sculpin and the Granary GallerySummer Art Show, both at 5 p.m.

The Martha’s Vineyard Sharks play the Danbury Westerners at the Shark Tank tonight at 6:30 p.m.  You can also catch a screening of JAWS at the Edgartown Cinema at 6:15 p.m.

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