The best of the Vineyard is waiting for you this August. It’s time for the Fair, the fireworks and the beach. Come enjoy the island in all its beauty. Here are a few of the multitude of events this month on MV!

• Moonrise Kayak Tours - August 1st from 6:30pm to 8:30pm - See Sengekontacket Pond in a new light - moonlight - as we celebrate each month's full moon. With a guide, kayak on the pond as the sun sets, stars twinkle, and the moon rises. Ages 14+ only.
• An Evening with David Sedaris - August 1st at 8:00pm - The Martha's Vineyard Concert Series welcomes the humorist and NYT best-selling author David Sedaris back to Martha's Vineyard. Mr. Sedaris is a master of satire and one of today's most observant writers, beloved for his personal essays and short stories. 
• Chilmark Volunteer Firefighters Backyard Bash - August 2nd from 5:00pm to 8:00pm - The Chilmark Volunteer Firefighter's Association, the nonprofit side of the Chilmark Volunteer Fire Department, will host its annual fundraising event known as the Backyard Bash. The bash is an annual event to primarily raise money for the firefighter’s benevolent fund which helps injured and sick firefighters. Secondary functions include our high school scholarship fund and to support our annual childre's Halloween and Christmas parties. This event includes live music by Missis Biskis band!
• Documentary Week - August 1st - 4th at the Martha's Vineyard Film Center - Extraordinary artists, innovators and audiences - a winning combination. Come meet the filmmakers and spark the discussion.
• Meet the Fleet - August 3rd from 3:00pm to 7:00pm - Come celebrate and support our commercial fishermen and working waterfronts at our annual Meet the Fleet festival.? Activities include: Tours on the historic fishing vessel, Roann; tours on environmental and Coast Guard vessels and helicopter rescue demo; net mending and sea scallop shucking competitions; live music; crab races and fish printing; silent auction, raw bar, and more!
• Twelfth Night - August 3rd - 5th at 6:00pm - Disguises, love triangles, and yellow stockings. Twelfth Night is a favorite in the Shakespearean canon. Come romp in the woods with our company of players in a hilarious, fast-paced comedy chock full of music, mayhem, and mistaken identities! Perfect for the whole family.
• MV Book Festival Opening Event with Kara Swisher and Seth Meyers - August 4 at 6:00pm- The kickoff of the MV Book Festival 2023 features the brilliant minds of Kara Swisher and Seth Meyers in conversation. Renowned tech journalist Kara Swisher and beloved late-night host Seth Meyers discuss the state of journalism, the latest tech trends, AI, media, the art of interviewing and much more - all with their signature wisdom, wit and humor.
• STEM to the Stars! Meet ASTRONAUTS & tour a SPACE CAPSULE - August 4th - 5th from 11:00am to 4:00pm - Discover the endless potential of STEM at the most anticipated summer event, "From STEM to the Stars," on August 4 and 5!
• First Friday - August 4th from 4:00pm to 11:00pm - First Friday is an outdoor event in Vineyard Haven, Martha's Vineyard. We have music, art, and food, so stop by and check it out on the First Friday of each month June-October.
• Martha's Vineyard African American Film Festival – August 4^th through 12^th - This nine-day event showcases the works of independent and established African-American filmmakers. A week filled to the brim with panels, celebratory events and opportunities to make connections and celebrate films and the community. 
• Vineyard Haven Band Summer Concerts at Owen Park- August 6th & 20th from 7:30pm to 8:30pm - Join the Vineyard Haven Band for its much-loved tradition of outdoor summer concerts! All are free and open to the public.  Established in 1868, the Vineyard Haven Band is the oldest continuous, nonprofit cultural organization on Martha's Vineyard. The band carries on the 19th-century "band in the park" tradition with a repertory of American classics: military marches, patriotic tunes, traditional songs, and contemporary and popular fare.
• Exclusive Interview at Misty Meadows: Emily Blunt & Geraldine Brooks - August 7th from 5:00pm to 7:00pm - Enjoy a unique evening supporting our mission! Meet our horses, enjoy live music, cocktail hour, and Farm Table grazing stations on the lawn at beautiful Misty Meadows Equine Learning Center. August 7th is going to be an evening to remember at Misty Meadows! During the first hour, guests will enjoy beverages, appetizer grazing stations, and the opportunity to interact with our horses and learn more about our mission. Geraldine Brooks will interview Emily Blunt and discuss how horses have impacted their lives. This event helps us to keep our year-round therapeutic programs affordable and accessible for all!
• 23rd Annual MVCMA Gingerbread Cottage Tour - August 9th from 10:00am to 3:00pm - Tour six distinctive gingerbread cottages located in the historic Martha's Vineyard Camp Meeting Association. This is the only day each year that six privately-owned cottages are open to the public. Tickets are $30, and include entrance to the Cottage Museum and delightful refreshments at the Tabernacle.
• 12th Annual Martha's Vineyard Comedy Fest - August 1st - 18th from 8:00om to 10:00pm - Martha’s Vineyard island, known to be a summer retreat for the Obamas, the Clintons and Spike, reminiscent of lobster rolls and beach parties… add laughter to the list of vacation memories.Every August the annual Martha’s Vineyard Comedy Fest takes center stage. This year the Fest will showcase Damon Williams, Marlon Mitchell, Big Sean Larkins, JJ Williamson, Hope Flood, George Willborn, Roy Wood Jr, Dominique, Leon Rogers and Drew Thomas. Save the Date! 
• Built on Stilts Festival - August 10th - 21st at 8:00pm - The island's community dance festival celebrates its 27th season. Built on Stilts exemplifies the shared language of dance through a beautifully egalitarian and inspiring five night festival. This season features the work of performers from the Vineyard and beyond with an amalgam of professionals, amateurs, young and old, representing a wide array of dance styles. Free and family-friendly!
• Martha's Vineyard Soulfest Concert featuring Dwele, Avery*Sunshine & Tia Fuller - August 14th - 19th - Join us for a sensational concert experience showcasing the remarkable talents of Dwele, Avery*Sunshine, and Tia Fuller. Prepare to be captivated by an evening filled with soulful melodies, infectious energy, and extraordinary musical artistry.
• Grand Illumination Night - August 16th at 7:30pm - An annual tradition, the gingerbread cottages in the Camp Ground are festooned with colorful lanterns that are illuminated all at once after sunset. Dating from the turn of the 19th century, Grand Illumination is a crowd pleasing event that attracts visitors from all over. Festivities under the Tabernacle begin at 7:30 p.m. The ceremonial first lantern will be lit at around 8:25; the band plays until 10 p.m.
• 161st Annual Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Fair and Livestock Show - Nothing says August on the Island quite like the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society Livestock Show & Fair - August 17th - 20th - The fair has grown into a four day island institution. From humble origins as a single day exhibition showcasing livestock and the enterprise of everyday life, the Fair has grown into an Island institution. The token final hurrah of summer, it is the place where islanders of all ages gather to meet—and eat—in the heat.  
• Oak Bluffs Fireworks - August 18th at 9:00pm - The annual Oak Bluffs Fireworks display will light up the sky at Ocean Park at approximately 9 p.m. Join us for the band concert before the fireworks, too. Paid parking will be available in Washington and Waban Parks.
• Beach Road Weekend - August 25th - 27th from 10:00am to 8:00pm - Beach Road Weekend is produced by the Martha’s Vineyard Concert Series with support from Innovation Arts & Entertainment. Three days of music, food and fun! Performers include Mumford & Sons, Bon Iver, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Regina Spektor, Leon Bridges and others. 
• Tuesday Nights at MVM - Tuesdays in August from 5:00pm to 8:00pm - Discover the magic of the Museum after hours at our Tuesday Nights series. Join us from  5 to 8 p.m. for pay-what-you-wish admission, lively music, curator-led tours of our exhibits, and breathtaking views of the sunset. Each week will feature something new and exciting for a truly memorable Island experience.
• Dock Dance - Tuesdays in August from 7:00pm to 9:00pm - The Dock Dance Band plays every Tuesday over the summer at Memorial Wharf in Edgartown. Bring your friends and family to a free sunset rock-and-roll dance party on the dock right next to the Chappy Ferry.