July is in full swing on Martha’s Vineyard, and the island is buzzing with energy! From beachside concerts and art shows to food festivals and fireworks, there’s no shortage of ways to soak up the summer magic. Whether you're dancing under the stars or strolling through local markets, there's something fun for everyone. Here are just a few of our favorite ways to celebrate July on the Vineyard!

• 4th of July Parade - Kicks off at 5 p.m. and winds through downtown Edgartown.
• Edgartown 4th of July Fireworks - Find a spot early to see the fireworks from the harbor.
• First Friday Vineyard Haven - Friday, July 4th at 4:00pm - First Friday is a free community-inspired outdoor event in Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard. Started in 2016 and based on the nation-wide First Friday art walks, we celebrate the local art and culture of our island each first Friday of the month June through October.
• Movie Night at The Pawnee House — Jaws - In honor of the 50th anniversary of Jaws, The Pawnee House in Oak Bluffs invites you to a special movie night featuring a themed three-course prix fixe dinner. Enjoy the film with popcorn, candy, and dishes inspired by the iconic movie. $65 per person ($55 for bar seating) includes dinner and admission. Reservations required – email thepawneemv@gmail.com to book your seat!
• Annual Reading of Frederick Douglass' What to a Slave is the Fourth of July? - Saturday, July 5th from 11:00am to 12:30pm - Frederick Douglass was an escaped slave, abolitionist and powerful writer. His speech What to a Slave is the Fourth of July? draws on his remarkable knowledge of political, literature and the Bible. Although it was originally delivered in 1852, many of the issues he raises still resonate today. He asks, "Why the Constitution is being ignored in the treatment of slaves?", "Why fugitives are being hunted across state lines?", "Why the Church is silent about the abuse and enslavement of human beings?" He concludes by asking citizens to take action before their nation is destroyed by the existence of slavery. For the 15th year, the reading is being sponsored by the Federated Church of Martha's Vineyard and the Friends of the Edgartown Library. There will be refreshments at the end of the reading.
• Sunday Service Featuring Hon. Ayanna Pressley - Sunday, July 6th from 10:00am – 11:00am - Join us for featured speaker Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. Doors open at 9:30 a.m. The organ prelude begins at 9:50 a.m., and the Sunday Worship begins at 10 a.m. All are welcome! If you are not on the Island yet, you can join us online via our website and YouTube virtually for the 2025 season: unionchapelmv.org
• Livingston Taylor Live in Concert - Sunday, July 6th from 7:30pm to 9:00pm - We are thrilled to welcome Livingston Taylor back to the Film Center stage for the second year in a row. This time for two summer shows! Livingston is a Martha’s Vineyard resident and when not performing can be found sometimes watching films at the Film Center as a film society member.
• Farm Fresh Pasta with Chef Melissa McCullough - Monday, July 7th from 5:30pm to 7:00pm - Learn how to make your own fresh pasta with farm eggs! Chef Melissa will prepare homemade pasta sauce for participants if they’d like to enhance their dish using seasonal vegetables from the Friendship Garden. We will have a small tasting and participants will cook up a batch of their pasta to take home or enjoy on our picnic tables after the class. Please bring your own container to take your pasta to go if possible!       
• Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club Launch by Martha Hall Kelly - Tuesday, July 8th from 4:00pm to 6:00pm - Join us for the Vineyard launch of The Martha's Vineyard Beach and Book Club, a World War II novel set on the Vineyard in 1942 and inspired by the New York Times bestselling author’s mother's stories of growing up on the Island. Martha's mother's maternal family, the Smiths, settled on Martha's Vineyard in 1891 and operated a family farm on State Road. The panel will dig into the incredible true hidden history behind the book—the mock invasion of Martha's Vineyard, the Army base at Peaked Hill, and the U-boat activity happening in the surrounding waters—as well as her mother's stories about life on the Island during the war, which informed the novel.
• The Bourne Identity: Director's Cut - Wednesday, July 9th at 7:15pm - Join director Doug Liman and former Universal Pictures chairman Stacey Snider for an exclusive screening of the director’s cut of the first film in the Bourne series. As the film plays, they will offer live commentary, sharing behind-the-scenes stories, production challenges, and the unconventional choices that helped redefine the modern spy thriller. A reception, provided by chef Nina Levin, will follow.
• Support Sail MV 34th Annual Seafood Buffet & Auction - Thursday, July 10th from 5:30pm - 10:00pm -  The Seafood Buffet and Auction is Sail Martha's Vineyard's annual gala to support maritime education for Islanders, including free sailing camp for Island kids and programs for all ages and abilities. This will be an evening of delicious seafood, live music, and fantastic company on the shore of Vineyard Haven Harbor.
• Lenny Clarke and Jimmie JJ Walker Comedy Show - Wednesday, July 9th from 7:30pm to 9:30pm - Live Stand Up Comedy on stage at the Martha's Vineyard Film Center!
• Meals in the Meadow - Saturday, July 12th from 5:00pm to 10:00pm - Get ready for a night of fun on the farm! Join us at The FARM Institute for an unforgettable evening celebrating farming, food, and community. Savor a delicious farm-to-table dinner and support the farm’s education programs by bidding on unique experiences in the silent auction. Enjoy live music from The Sultans, and don’t miss out on this spectacular annual fundraiser. Proceeds from the event support The FARM Institute’s programming such as summer camp and cooking classes, in addition to offering scholarships and free field trips for Island students. We look forward to gathering with you to celebrate the importance of local food and the land that sustains us.
• An Evening with David Sedaris - Monday, July 14th at 7:30pm - Enjoy this unique opportunity to see the best-selling humorist in an intimate setting at the Tabernacle. 
• The Tempest at the Tisbury Amphitheater - July 16th - August 9th at 7:00pm - In Shakespeare's final play, The Tempest, Prospero, a powerful magician and the rightful Duke of Milan, lives in exile on a remote island with his daughter Miranda. Other residents of the island include Ariel and Caliban. A powerful storm shipwrecks Prospero's usurping brother and other nobles on their island, and in the ensuing hours themes of revenge, magic, love and forgiveness are played
• Berry Festival - Saturday, July 19th from 12:00pm to 4:00pm - Join us for the Berry Festival at the First Congregational Church in the center of West Tisbury on July 19 from 12 to 4 p.m., rain or shine. Enjoy delicious berry shortcakes, smoothies, parfaits, and a pie sale (come early since they sell out fast). Relax on the lawn with berry treats and lemonade. And don’t forget to buy your raffle tickets for some very special items!
• Featherstone Annual Summer Gala - Saturday, July 19th at 5:30pm - Enjoy Featherstone's largest fundraiser of the year on the campus outside the Art Barn! Guests enjoy cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and dinner along with a silent auction and golden ticket giveaway to win one of five unique experiences! Proceeds from this event support year-round programming and community outreach. Event sponsorship offers individuals and businesses the opportunity to demonstrate support for creative expression on Martha's Vineyard.
• Possible Dreams - Sunday, July 20th from 3:00pm to 6:00pm - Possible Dreams is Martha’s Vineyard Community Services’ largest annual fundraiser, hosted by Seth Meyers, featuring exclusive live and online auctions that support essential programs across the Island. Held at the scenic Allen Farm, the event brings the community together for an unforgettable celebration of generosity, impact, and Island spirit.
• 28th Annual Water Tasting by the Sea - Thursday, July 24th from 5:30pm to 8:00pm - Join us for a spectacular evening to benefit Vineyard House at one of the Island’s most iconic properties. Our generous hosts, Michael and Karen Clemmey, invite us past the beautiful lawns and grazing llamas for a private event at the water’s edge. Island raw bar and gourmet hors d’oeuvres and buffet. Live music, silent auction and raffles.
• MV Documentary Week - Begins Monday, July 28th from 7:30pm to 10:00pm - Documentary films have become the conscience of the nation, providing a deeper study of contemporary, and often unnoticed, social issues. By using the unique medium of film, Documentarians are able to cultivate a more compelling and fruitful discussion by mixing strongly-driven narratives with vivid imagery.  In recognition of the rising importance of documentaries to public dialogue, the Martha’s Vineyard Film Society is proud to announce its eleventh annual Documentary Week from July 28 to August 1, 2025.
• The Shark Is Broken - July 5th - 17th - Check website for specific dates and times - This Olivier Award-nominated new comedic play celebrates movie history and ventures into the choppy waters surrounding Hollywood’s first blockbuster, Jaws. Co-written by Ian Shaw, son of legendary British actor Robert Shaw, who played Quint, it brings us aboard the Orca and behind the scenes on the 1974 film set. Thursday, July 10 and Thursday, July 17 also include a 2 pm performance.
• Monday Night Market at Nomans - Mondays from 4:00pm to 8:00pm - Shop local island-made goods, catch some live music, and grab tasty eats & drinks while you’re at it--talk about multi-tasking kings + queens! Good vibes, good finds, and all the reason you need to get out on a Monday night.
• Chilmark Flea Market - Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9:00am to 2:00pm The oldest outdoor flea market venue on the Island! The "Flea" has evolved into a market like no other. High quality handmade items from Vineyard artists and craftsmen, antiques, imports and vintage finds including jewelry, clothing, art, food items and more. Free parking and admission.
• Farmer for a day - Family Groups of all ages or Drop-off for Ages 6+ - Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays, 1–3PM - To register for single or multiple sessions of Farmer for a Day, visit The Trustees Things to Do in late spring
• Friday Nights with Johnny Hoy and The Bluefish - Fridays in July from 6:30pm to 8:00pm - Join us and Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish this summer for Friday night musical performances on our outdoor stage under the trees! Enjoy music on our lawn while supporting musical artists and our nonprofit art center. Tickets are $20 per person with 50% of proceeds from each performance going to the musicians. ?Tickets for each week's performance will go on sale to the public at 12 p.m. (noon) a week prior.
• Circuit Arts Drive-In Movies at the YMCA - Fridays and Saturdays in July from 8:00pm - Check the website for the schedule - movies include - The Neverending Story, Best in Show, The Princess Bride, Jaws and more!
• Visit the Aquinnah Cultural Center's Wampanoag History - Open Wednesday-Sunday from 11:00am - 4:00pm - Come visit the Aquinnah Cultural Center’s Wampanoag History Museum, located at the historic Vanderhoop Homestead in Aquinnah. Set on our ancestral homelands, the museum shares the long and ongoing story of the Wampanoag people on Nôepe (Martha’s Vineyard). Through exhibits and interactive displays, visitors can connect with over 12,000 years of Wampanoag history, culture, and continued presence on this Island.
• Friends of the West Tisbury Library Annual Book Sale - Thursday, July 31st - August 3rd from 9am to 3pm - Come to the 65th annual Friends of the West Tisbury Library Book Sale! Held at the West Tisbury School, we’ll again be in the beautiful white tent in the parking lot. We have many genres and are featuring an extensive children’s book selection, many Martha’s Vineyard books and authors, and rare treasures.