Spring has officially sprung on the island. It is time to get outside, tend to gardens, hunt the beaches for treasures brought by winter storms, view local artists’ new works, and plenty more. April is the time to visit Martha’s Vineyard. Here are our favorite things to do this month.

·         Thursday, April 1^st – Sunday, April 4^th – Online Stream: The Niceties from the Martha’s Vineyard Playhouse - Who gets to tell the story of race, history and power in America? In this riveting, provocative play, a black student and her white professor – both brilliant – debate whether the legacy of slavery defines our past, and our present.

·         Sunday, April 4^th from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm – Easter Brunch at Bettini Restaurant at the HarborView - Spring blooms, ocean views and sand beneath the toes set the stage for Easter. Join us for Easter at Harbor View Hotel, which includes an Easter Sunday brunch bursting with a few holiday favorites, showcasing the best of the Vineyard’s seasonal bounty. Call for reservations.

·         Sunday, April 4^th from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm – Easter Beach Safari on Cape Pogue - Hop through the dunes this Easter Sunday on an open-air, over-sand exploration of Cape Pogue Wildlife Refuge. We will trek the barrier beach - prowl the saltmarsh, brackish pond, bay and sea - in search of signs of Spring: osprey, plovers and more.

·         Sunday, April 4^th from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm – Easter at the Light at Cape Pogue Wildlife Refuge - Celebrate Easter with a trek through the dunes (via over-sand vehicle) to the remote Cape Pogue Light. We’ll search for signs of Spring as the refuge welcomes back osprey, shorebirds and more. And don’t forget a camera for a hop up the iconic wooden staircase for unmatched views of the Muskeget Channel, Cape Cod and Nantucket.

·         Sunday, April 11^th from 11:30 to 3:00 pm – Bowl for Paws at the Barn, Bowl & Bistro - A fundraiser for Sandy Paws Rescue MV. 100% of all proceeds go towards rescuing and caring for Island dogs without homes. Ticket price includes pizza, soft drinks, bowling and 50/50 raffle. Email happytailsmvi@gmail.com to reserve your spot in the one of two sessions.

·         April 13^th – April 17^th - Fabulous Spring Auction – Virtual Auction to benefit the Friends of Family Planning of Martha’s Vineyard – Local artists’ works, Vacations, Food, and more!

·         Thursday, April 15^th at 4:00 pm - One Island, Many Stories Speaker Series: Changing at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum - The history of Martha’s Vineyard has unfolded over thousands of years, across hundreds of square miles of land and sea, and in dozens of communities across the Island. It is not a single story, but many interwoven stories.

·         Saturday, April 17^th from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm – Earth Day Beach Clean-Up - The Vineyard Conservation Society is happy to report that we are able to return to (almost) normal this year for our 29th annual event. We have different options so that everyone can participate while feeling safe. Gather your family ‘pod’, or just get out there on your own.

·         Saturday, April 24^th from 10:30 – 12:00 pm - Prepare Your Garden for Spring the Regenerative Way - Led by Roxanne Kapitan of Garden Wisdom. Space is limited, email emily@igimv.org to sign up.

·         Saturdays in April – Pop-Up Library at the West Tisbury Free Public Library – from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm - Books and other items will be available for browsing and check out with your library card. Children and Young Adult materials, along with adult books and DVDS, will be available for contactless browsing. Librarians will be available on site to help browsers choose their next reads. This event will take place in the library parking lot, weather permitting.

·         Tuesday-Saturday in April from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum - Museum Exhibit: Nature & Change - Stories from the Anthropocene - Islands are dynamic environments, and here on Martha’s Vineyard, we are constantly confronted with changes in the natural world. The fact that change happens is a given and, in many ways, out of our control, but what we can control is how we respond to it.

·         Daily in April from 11:00 am to 11:30 am at Island Alpaca - Alpaca Walk & Talk Walking with alpaca is a way to learn more about how gentle alpacas truly are. A wonderful experience for all ages. Every participant will learn the basics of handling an alpaca safely as well as where alpaca come from and why they are important to us. One can see how sweet and gentle they are by interacting with them, and literally get your hands on them to see how luxurious, and how soft their fleece is.

·         Daily in April from 12:00 pm to 4;00 pm – Art Show: Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining at Featherstone Center for the Arts - The seemingly endless storm clouds hanging over us, often make it hard to find the silver lining, yet artists are resilient. Many of you discovered new themes for inspiration, found new voices and selected a different medium for creative expression. Through your work you share your unique vision for light, hope and love. We invite to share works of art that represent a silver lining as we anticipate brighter days on the horizon.