Island Time: August Arrives

Friday, August 2 | Indoors & out

The Oak Bluffs Public Library hosts its annual Sankofa Festival of African American History and Culture, today and tomorrow from 10 am. to 5 p.m. with speakers, round table discussions and refreshments throughout the day. The West Tisbury Public Library offers free, one-of-a-kind henna tattoos with Char Rooney; advance sign-ups are requested. In Vineyard Haven, First Friday returns from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. with live music, outdoor vendors and retail specials all along Main street.

The opening event for The Martha’s Vineyard Book Festival takes place tonight at the Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center in Oak Bluffs: Emmy Award-winning television host Seth Myers interviews best-selling author Chelsea Handler about her new book Life Will Be the Death of Me, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale continues at the Tisbury Amphitheater at 5 p.m. today, tomorrow and Sunday. Movies today include Jaws at the Capawock in Vineyard Haven, 4:30 p.m., and Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw at the Strand in Oak Bluffs, 8 p.m.

Saturday, August 3 | Book it

The Martha’s Vineyard Book Festival continues today with talks and panels beginning at 10 a.m. at the Chilmark Community Center. Admission is free. From 10 a.m. to noon, the Martha’s Vineyard Museum‘s Discovery Days for kids has games, stories, scavenger hunts and hands-on activities, rain or shine, and Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center has 30-minute Open House Tours to visit the horses and learn about the programs there. The Edgartown Lighthouse is open for tours from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

In Oak Bluffs, the monthly Arts District Stroll invites you to view local artworks and enjoy refreshments and live music from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Island painter Margot Datz holds her annual art show, this year featuring new paintings in antique frames, at the Grange in West Tisbury from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

At the movies, the Strand has The Lion King at 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. and the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center in Vineyard Haven is screening The Great Hack at 7:30 p.m., followed by a panel discussion.

Sunday, August 4 | Run for fun

CNN reporter Jim Acosta discusses his new book, The Enemy of the People, with Rita Braver at 8:30 a.m. at the Chilmark Community Center as part of the Martha’s Vineyard Book Festival. Other speakers today include John Grisham at 9:30 a.m., Henry Louis Gates, Jr. at 1:10 p.m. and Ruth Reichl at 2:30 p.m.

The Amity Island 5k and Fun Run starts at 9 a.m. at the Farm Institute in Edgartown. Coast Guard Station Menemsha hosts a Coast Guard Day Celebration from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with memorabilia displays, boat tours, food and soft drink, games and more.

At 4 p.m., catch comic opera Die Fledermaus in English, with singing stars from the Metropolitan Opera, in its final perfomance at the Katharine Cornell Theatre in Vineyard Haven. Satirical singing group The Capitol Steps have a concert at the Performing Arts Center at 5 p.m.

Art openings today include the latest group show at Old Sculpin Gallery in Edgartown, and the summer art show at Granary Gallery in West Tisbury, both 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

At 7:30 p.m., catch the sailing documentary Maiden at the Film Center or The Art of Self-Defense at the Capawock.

Find more summer events in the Complete Martha’s Vineyard Calendar.