Tag Archives: Oak Bluffs

MV Obsession 2026-08-18 18:43:11

Posted on August 18, 2026 by mvobsession | Comments Off

Illumination Night In Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard…

Every few years I post about my favorite summer event on Martha’s Vineyard…

Illumination Night this year is Wednesday, August 19, 2026

It has always been my favorite event of the summer… going to Illumination Night is a thrill for me no matter what my age.

I think I was 2 and 1/2 the first time I went to Illumination Night. 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, which would have been a long time ago.

My dad, mom, god-mother and I would have an early supper and then walk to the Campground. My dad and I would stroll around looking at all the beautifully decorated gingerbread houses while my mother and god-mother would chat with friends and relatives.

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 John Brown’s Baby. The band playing the Star Spangled Banner and the rousing Stars and Stripes Forever are always a crowd pleaser.

But as much fun as that was it was only a precursor to the main event. The Tabernacle and Campground go dark… the crowd cheers. The lighting of the first lantern and then all the gingerbread houses are simultaneously aglow with Japanese lanterns.

Everyone oohs and ahhs and stream out of the Tabernacle to walk through the magical fairyland the Campground has become. My dad would carry me on his shoulders so I could see everything… I felt like I could touch the stars.

After seeing all there was to see we’d head out onto Circuit Ave to either the Frosty Cottage for ice cream or Darling’s for popcorn, a tasty ending to a perfectly enchanting night.

No matter your age, Illumination Night is fun for everyone, I myself morph into an 8 year old.

If you’re on the Vineyard this Wed, Aug 19, 2026 you should go and experience Illumination Night.

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Tagged Illumination Night, Martha's Vineyard, Oak Bluffs

August 2026 …

Posted on August 1, 2026 by mvobsession | Comments Off

My MV calendar picture is of The Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs in the Campground. The Tabernacle is ALWAYS my August picture. Why? Because Illumination Night is my favorite summer event and it’s held in August.

I live in NJ but my heart and soul live on MV… and on MV they like to live here at the Tabernacle in the Campground . It is my favorite spot on the Island… an oasis of serenity and calmness in the middle of the Vineyard’s most bustling and lively town, Oak Bluffs. This magnificent iron structure was built in 1879… in 1979 was listed in the Natl Register of Historic Places… in 1999 a major restoration began, and in 2000 it became a project of Save America’s Treasures. Those are some of the facts of the building but not necessarily what constitutes the heart and soul of it.

Inside the Tabernacle is a banner that says “truly God resides in this place” and so he does. I am profoundly attached to the Tabernacle and visit it several times every time I’m on MV whether it’s in the heat of the summer, or the cold of the winter… I just magnetically gravitate there, I have no choice.

One of the best events of the summer is Illumination Night in the Camp Ground… it’s a magical fairy land and for me it’s hard not to become 8 years old again. The evening starts with a rousing community sing… the band plays… the whole Campground is alive with the sounds of happiness and joy. All the gingerbread houses are decorated with Japanese lanterns… many of them handed down from generation to generation and some still being lit by candles. Suddenly all lights are extinguished and the ceremonial first lantern is lit…. it’s walked up the aisle of the Tabernacle and illuminates it… as that happens all the gingerbread houses come alive with lanterns… it takes my breath away every time.

So there it is… a little bit about my favorite place on MV. I shall end this post by simply saying… amen.

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Tagged calendar pictures, Martha's Vineyard, Oak Bluffs, Tabernacle

The Flying Horses At 150 years old…

Posted on July 25, 2026 by mvobsession | Comments Off

The Flying Horses carousel in Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard are celebrating their 150th birthday today July 25, 2026.

The Flying Horses in Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard are the oldest platform carousel in the United States. It was made in 1876 by early American carousel manufacturer, Charles Dare. The Flying Horses Carousel was originally built for the Coney Island amusement park in Brooklyn. In 1884 after eight years there the Flying Horses Carousel moved to the town of Oak Bluffs on Martha’s Vineyard where it still remains in operation as one of only two surviving carousels fabricated by Dare. The carousel became a National Historic Landmark in 1986, the same year it was acquired by local conservation organization the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust.

There are two ring dispenser arms situated next to the carousel that offer gold rings and the lucky rider who grabs the coveted brass ring gets a free ride

The last time I flew on the Flying Horses a few years ago my granddaughter Tiffany was with me. I thought it might be my last time ever to ride them (I think that every time anyway)… and as my horse came around to the arm shooting the rings out I could see that the next one, the one waiting for me was the GOLD ring. What a fantastic way to possibly end my Flying Horses ride…

But I missed it … my fingers slipped and I couldn’t grab it. But… right behind me was my granddaughter and she got it. She offered me the free ride but it meant more to me that she should have it. Perfect ending, if indeed it was.

Rings of gold are good luck I’m told…

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Tagged carousels, celebrations, Flying Horses, horses, Martha's Vineyard, Oak Bluffs

March 2026 …

Posted on March 1, 2026 by mvobsession | Comments Off

Calendar picture for March 2026 is Oak Bluffs…

Oak Bluffs, my favorite town on the island of Martha’s Vineyard. It’s the town my mother grew up in, the town where I spent all my childhood summers, where my grandmother is buried and where you can wander amongst gingerbread cottages, take a flight of fancy on the Flying Horses the oldest carousel in the US, where you can party hearty, enjoy great food, enjoy the beach, or sit quietly by the Tabernacle in the Campground. Can you tell I love this place.

If you’re wondering how it got its name of Oak Bluffs, The first inhabitants of Oak Bluffs were the Wampanoag people, who have lived on Martha’s Vineyard for approximately 10,000 years. … The town re-incorporated in 1907 as Oak Bluffs, named because the town was the site of an oak grove along the bluffs overlooking Nantucket Sound.

Pictured are: houses along Ocean Park – Union Chapel – Oak Bluffs harbor

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Tagged calendar pictures, Martha's Vineyard, Oak Bluffs

February 2026…

Posted on February 1, 2026 by mvobsession | Comments Off

My MV calendar picture for February 2026 is a painting my dear friend Karen made for me. She and I have known each other almost 20 years yet have never met in person. The love of Martha’s Vineyard is what brought us together in the first place via our blogs and we began referring to ourselves as ‘Vineyard soul sisters’ and who had Gingerbread cottages next to each other in Oak Bluffs. Thus the painting which arrived on my doorstep several months ago.

Oak Bluffs and the Campground in particular are near and dear to my heart. I spent my childhood summers with my parents and relatives in Oak Bluffs and so many memories of my fond memories are of the Campground and the Gingerbread cottages.

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Tagged calendar pictures, Campground, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, Oak Bluffs

MV Obsession 2025-12-01 18:55:58

Posted on December 1, 2025 by mvobsession | Comments Off

December 2025 …

The Bandstand in Ocean Park in Oak Bluffs. One of my favorite places to just sit and enjoy the quiet, or the OB fireworks, or revisit memories from many many years. Merry Christmas.

Wall calendar

Desk calendar

Comments Off on MV Obsession 2025-12-01 18:55:58

Tagged Bandstand, calendar pictures, Martha's Vineyard, Oak Bluffs

August 2025… The Tabernacle

Posted on August 1, 2025 by mvobsession | Comments Off

The Tabernacle in the Campground in Oak Bluffs is my favorite spot on the Island… an oasis of serenity and calmness in the middle of the Vineyard’s most bustling and lively town. This magnificent iron structure was built in 1879… in 1979 was listed in the Natl Register of Historic Places… in 1999 a major restoration began, and in 2000 it became a project of Save America’s Treasures. Those are some of the facts of the building but not necessarily what constitutes the heart and soul of it.

Inside the Tabernacle is a banner that says “truly God resides in this place” and so he does. I am profoundly attached to the Tabernacle and visit it several times every time I’m there whether it’s in the heat of the summer, or the cold of the winter… I just magnetically gravitate there, I have no choice.

Many events take place at the Tabernacle. There are of course religious services held during the summer months. The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School holds its graduation there. There are concerts also and what a magnificent setting for one.

One of the best events of the summer is Illumination Night in the Camp Ground… it’s a magical fairy land and for me it’s hard not to become 8 years old again. The evening starts with a rousing community sing… the band plays… the whole Campground is alive with the sounds of happiness and joy. All the gingerbread houses are decorated with Japanese lanterns… many of them handed down from generation to generation and some still being lit by candles. Suddenly all lights are extinguished and the ceremonial first lantern is lit…. and as that happens all the gingerbread houses come alive with glowing lanterns… it takes my breath away every time.