In my opinion August is THE month to be on Martha’s Vineyard… not just because it’s the last full month of summer… but it’s jammed packed with special events.
My favorite is Illumination Night which this year is Wed, Aug 20, 2014. I did a post about my memories of Illumination Night… 
CLICK HERE to read it … and CLICK HERE for information on this year’s Illumination Night.
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The 152nd MV Agricultural Fair is Aug 21 – 24, 2014 … CLICK HERE for information.
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On Friday, Aug 22, 2014 you truly won’t want to miss the Oak Bluffs fireworks at Ocean Park. CLICK HERE to see video of previous fireworks.
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These are just three of MY personal favorite things to do on MV in August… CLICK HERE to check out the MVOL.com calendar of events to see all the other fun and interesting things going on.
As a summer kid on the Vineyard August was always a special month for me. Although my mom and I would arrive for the summer in June it wasn’t until August that my dad joined us until Labor Day when we’d all come home to New Jersey.
In the 40’s and 50’s August was filled with days at the beach, nightly rides on the Flying Horses, ice cream at the Frosty Cottage on Circuit Ave, popcorn bars at Darling’s also on Circuit Ave, trips to my mother’s cousins home in Indian Hill, band concerts in Ocean Park and community sings every Wed at the Tabernacle.
In the 90’s and 2000’s it was about introducing my grandchildren to August on the Vineyard. Days at the beach, rides on the Flying Horses, ice cream at any number of places in Oak Bluffs and Edgartown, bicycle rides, miniature golf, and being together.
I think I was 2 and 1/2 the first time I went, I’m embarrassed to say that even with my annoyingly good memory, I don’t remember it. My first memory of Illumination Night involves wearing a particularly pretty dress so I’m thinking I was around three or four.
At 8 o’clock the Vineyard Haven Band would begin playing and the always fun community sing would start. Patriotic songs like, America The Beautiful, Yankee Doodle, Battle Hymn of the Republic are always stirring and emotional. It took me a couple of years to learn the words to all the songs and I still get messed up on a couple of the rounds like 
