Tisbury town picnic capped off holiday weekend

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Tisbury's annual Memorial Day picnic was the picture of relaxation. — Photo by Ralph Stewart

An overcast sky gave way to brilliant sunshine during the Memorial Day picnic on the grounds of the Tisbury Water Works on Monday The timing was perfect. Just as the temperature began to rise, the town picnic committee started to serve up the free ice cream it provided.

Over the course of four hours, several hundred people from all over the Island enjoyed the traditional gathering that is hosted and expertly run, as usual, by the picnic committee.

The festive event offered something for everyone — games for children, pony rides for the young, and rowboat rides for the young at heart. Volunteers from the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School sailing team helped with the rowboat operation.

Music by the Flying Elbows, who were performing at their 31st town picnic, got toes tapping and feet dancing. Tisbury selectman Tristan Israel also crooned a few tunes, including one inspired by knotweed, an invasive species that is at the top of his list of pet peeves.

An open house at the Tashmoo Spring Building gave picnic-goers an opportunity to view the newly renovated pumping station, built at the head of Lake Tashmoo in 1887. Inside an exhibit featured descriptions of projects by Tisbury Waterways Inc., a non-profit group that strives to improve and maintain water quality in Lagoon Pond, Lake Tashmoo and Vineyard Haven Harbor.

Stop & Shop provided watermelons, Cronig’s donated hot dogs and rolls, and Cash and Carry supplied a portable freezer. Seaside Celebrations provided a tent to keep the volunteer crew covered while they cooked over a hot grill.