This Fourth of July week is one of those summer weeks when you want to do it all and you genuinely cannot, but there’s no harm in trying! From a book signing with one of my favorite Island authors and a patriotic sing-along at a lovely church, to art opening, cooking classes, and a magical picnic, Edgartown has something going on every single day this week. Here’s what you should consider putting on your calendar:
July 3, from 2 to 4 pm: Book signing: “Such a Good Mom,” by Julia Spiro, at Edgartown Books. If you haven’t read it yet, head over and pick up a copy for you and a copy for your best mom friend. It’s a good one, written by the coolest mom I know!
July Fourth is always a fun day in town. Grab a good viewing spot and watch the Edgartown Parade, which starts at 5 pm. Filling the time between the parade and fireworks is always easy, but this year you can head over to St. Andrew’s Church for a God Bless America Fourth of July patriotic sing-along at 6:30 pm. The Vineyard Haven Band Concert at the Old Whaling Church starts at 8 pm, which is cutting it close to dusk, when the fireworks start, so you’ll make that call for yourself.
On July 5 at the Old Sculpin Gallery, check out Martha’s Vineyard Artist Association members David Joseph, Larry Glick, Anne Grandin, Harriet Bernstein, and L.A. Brown as they showcase their work. The gallery is open 9 am to 6 pm daily!
On July 6, go on “A Tour of the Cooke House: Everyday Life in the 18th Century,” from 4 to 5 pm at 51 School St.
On July 7, shop locally at the Edgartown Village Market from 10 am to 2 pm, and then attend the Voices of Independence at the Old Whaling Church, starting at 5:30pm. It’s a one-night civic program commemorating America’s 250th anniversary, and should be an interesting time!
On July 8, attend a local cooking class, “Cooking From the Island: What’s Fresh and What’s Local,” at the FARM Institute at 5:30 pm (tickets start at $64 per person). I took one of these classes last year, and it was so fun and insightful.
On July 10, join the Vineyard Preservation Trust for the Generations Picnic at the Dr. Daniel Fisher House, to celebrate community and togetherness, with an afternoon filled with magic and illusion! Tickets are still available online at vineyardtrust.org/events.
Last, but certainly not least, I want to send a huge congratulations to Bob Gardner on retiring — and a happy belated birthday! When your best friend’s dad becomes one of your biggest column supporters, you make sure to give him his applause whenever possible! And now for this week’s birthday celebrations — all for incredible, hard-working Edgartown ladies: Kate Walpole on July 3, and Aubrey Sirois and Greer Boyle Thornton on July 6. If you see them in town, make sure to say happy birthday!