Summer is in full swing on Martha's Vineyard with an action-packed calendar of activities. As the season peaks, the island buzzes with live music, delicious food, and endless entertainment. Here are our top picks for July!
Farm Tour with Meadow Wagon Ride- 10:00am to 11:00am throughout July, check the website - Explore the FARM in this family-friendly guided tour. Ever wondered how many eggs a chicken lays a day? Or what the cows at the farm like to eat? This program is perfect for curious minds wanting to learn more and get up close with the animals on the farm! Participants will also explore our Friendship Garden to see what's growing and end the tour with a wagon ride out to see the animals grazing in the fields. Tour includes a thirty-minute walking tour around Katama Barn and Friendship Garden, followed by a wagon ride to see the Katama plains–and their ruminant inhabitants–from a whole new angle. Pre-registration is encouraged as wagon space is limited. Children one and under are free with a paying participant. This is a weather-dependent program and will not run in inclement weather. You will be notified by 8AM the day of the event by e-mail if this program will not run.
Farmers’ Market Storytime - Wednesdays in July from 10:30am to 11:00am - Join Children's Librarian, Hannah, at the West Tisbury Farmer's Market for a storytime featuring fun picture books and silly songs. All ages welcome! Free and open to all!
Wednesday Night Karaoke at Indigo - Wednesdays in July from 8:00pm to 10:00pm at Indigo - Hosted by your friends from Brew Brother's Trivia, Ryan & Douglas — who will bring their unique musical abilities and usual shenanigans to weekly karaoke at the Vineyard's only Indian Restaurant. App specials! Prizes! Come show off your singing chops!
Seven Spools of Thread the Musical - Thursday, July 2nd & 3rd from 2:00pm to 4:00pm - The Strand Theatre will present two performances of Seven Spools of Thread the Musical. The play is a Broadway-style adaption of an African folktale about seven Ashanti brothers who must put their differences aside to save their deceased father's inheritance. In doing so, the brothers learn the value of unity and are able to make their village plentiful. This is a family-friendly event featuring the Trumpet Chics, talented high school actors/ musicians who are part of the PACE Program, Preparing Artists for College Entrance, at the Camden Repertory Theater. This performance is appealing to all audiences, especially for kids ages 5 years and up. You don't want to miss these talented and energetic performers in the Seven Spools of Thread!
Family Fishing -- OB Fishing Pier - Friday, July 3rd from - For kids, teens and their adults. Join Librarian Jonathan on the OB fishing pier. Equipment and supplies provided.
Bubble Fest - Friday, July 3rd from 10:00am to 11:00am - Come celebrate July 4th weekend with this intergenerational event. Kids, teens, and their adults all love to make large bubbles. Rain date for Bubble Fest- Wed July 8 from 3-4pm
Drive-In Movie: Jaws - Friday, July 3rd at 8:30pm - Experience this classic film like you never have before...at the Vineyard’s Drive-In! Winner of three Oscars (including one for John Williams’ thrilling score), the epic tale of man vs. shark was shot on the Island in 1974. See if you can spot your favorite beaches and local talent.
Misty Meadows Saturday Pony Rides - Saturdays in July from 10:00am to 12:00pm - Enjoy a 15 minute Pony Ride on our beautiful property! Each child must be booked into a separate time slot for a ride, and our weight limit is 150lbs. Please specify which Martha's Vineyard school your child attends when using the Island Rate.
The 25th Annual Aquinnah 4th of July Parade - Saturday, July 4th from 10:00am to 3:00pm - Our 25th annual Aquinnah 4th of July Parade invites participants and spectators alike. Decorate your vehicle and line up behind our town Police and Fire trucks starting from 10 am. A trophy is awarded to the best decorated float then at 11 am the procession up and around the Aquinnah circle starts. Kids games and awards, music and BBQ to follow at the Vanderhoop homestead.
4th of July in Edgartown - Enjoy concerts @ Old Whaling Church around 2pm and 6:30 pm. Head over to lawn of the Dr. Daniel Fisher house on Main Street for burgers and hot dogs at the MV Preservation Trust’s annual BBQ 4 PM - 8 PM. Grab delicious St. Elizabeth’s Church lobster rolls from 12 PM- 5 PM. Fireworks show starts at dusk at approximately 9 PM on the harbor.
Livingston Taylor Live in Concert - Sunday, July 5th at 7:30pm - We are thrilled to welcome Livingston Taylor back to the Film Center stage for two new shows summer! 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. Livingston Taylor picked up his first guitar at the age of 13, which began a 50-year career that has encompassed performance, songwriting, and teaching. Born in Boston and raised in North Carolina, Livingston is the fourth child in a very musical family that includes Alex, James, Kate, and Hugh. Livingston recorded his first record at the age of 18 and has continued to create well crafted, introspective, and original songs that have earned him listeners worldwide.
Musical Mondays at Featherstone - Mondays in July at 6:30pm - Darby Patterson & Friends, Stan Strickland and Joel Harrison group, featuring Chico Huff, Robby Ammen, Wes Nagy, and Taurus Biskus, Sarah Shaw Dawson & Friends, The Jeremy Berlin Trio & Theresa Thomason
Arts Icon Award Gala Honoring Brooke Adams and Tony Shalhoub - Tuesday, July 7th at 5:00pm - The evening will celebrate the impact of arts and culture on Martha’s Vineyard, bringing together community members, supporters, and artists for a special night of live performances, music, dinner and an auction. The event will also recognize individuals whose longstanding support has helped strengthen and sustain the Island’s vibrant arts community.
Lenny Clarke and Jimmie JJ Walker Comedy Show - Wednesday, July 8th 7:30pm - Lenny Clarke and Jimmie JJ Walker. Back By Popular Demand! Live Stand Up Comedy on the Film Center stage!
26th Annual Gingerbread Cottage Tour - Thursday, July 9th from 10:00am to 3:00pm - The only day each year that several privately owned campground cottages are open to the public! Visit the interiors of 6 distinctive cottages. Tickets on sale now — 100% of ticket sales will support the MVCMA's robust calendar of religious, cultural and community programs, and our ongoing commitment to preserve and protect the grounds and historic structures of this National Historic Landmark.
The Variety Show for Island Elderly Housing - Saturday, July 11th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm - Join Island Elderly Housing for their annual musical benefit and Variety Show, happening this year at Featherstone Center for the Arts on Saturday, July 11th from 6 to 8 pm. Proceeds go to support Island Elderly Housing and their Power to Care Generator campaign. The show will feature Johnny Hoy, Willy Mason, Delanie Pickering, Jessie Pinnick, Lexie Roth, Caroline Sky, Kate Taylor, Isaac Taylor, Nina Violet, Jemima James, and other special guests.
Merrily We Roll Along with James Lapine - Sunday, July 12th at 4:00pm - Followed by a Q&A with playwright/director James Lapine. Spanning three decades, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG charts the turbulent relationship between composer Franklin Shepard and his two lifelong friends — writer Mary and lyricist and playwright Charley. Originally produced on Broadway in 1981, then becoming an inventive cult classic ahead of its time, the musical features some of Stephen Sondheim’s most celebrated and personal songs. The 2023-2024 Broadway production, directed by Maria Friedman, redefined the show for a new era, bringing Stephen Sondheim’s intricate score and George Furth’s book to vivid life with extraordinary depth and clarity. MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG shattered the Hudson Theatre’s house record on Broadway, solidifying its place as a landmark event in Broadway history. The critically acclaimed production won the 2024 Tony Awards for Best Revival of a Musical, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical and Best Orchestrations. Additionally, in London, MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG garnered the most five-star reviews in West-End history.
Nomans Night Artisans Market - Tuesday, July 14th from 4:00pm to 8:00pm - Nomans Night Artisan Market + Live Music = your plans on July 14th - Inspired by the magic of our local artisans, we've created a space here you can meet the makers, shop local, and stay for the live music. Cottage City Oysters available on the patio in the Raw Bar Trailer.
Kid's Crabbing - Wednesday, July 15th from 3:30pm to 4:30pm - Meet Harbormaster Michael and Shellfish Constable Danielle. Learn about local crabs and how to catch them. All materials provided, but bring a net & bucket if you have one!
As You Like It - Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturdays from July 15th - July 29th, at 6:00pm - With themes that examine acceptance, love, gender and the powers of art and human kindness in the face of tyranny, this more-than-420-year-old play feels strikingly timely. Set in a world where people are forced to flee their conflict-torn home, reinvent themselves while in exile, and explore what it truly means to see the world through another’s eyes, As You Like It reminds us, beautifully and urgently, of what it means to choose harmony, joy, and forgiveness even when it feels futile to do so. Join us in our very own “Forest of Arden” for this very special run of one of Shakespeare’s most beloved comedies.
Chilmark Flea Market - Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9:00am to 2:00pm - All summer long!
West Tisbury Farmers’ Market - Wednesdays and Saturdays from 9:00am to 12:00pm - All summer long!