Someone asked me last week, “Why do you always book the First Friday V.H. fire dancer for the hottest day of the year?” I don’t know if it’s just coincidence, or if Miss Molly Dazzle brings the heat along with her, but last Friday was absolutely steaming all day long. Thank you to everyone who came out in the heat anyway, especially to all of our performers, vendors, and volunteers. From puppies and pops to performances and a new passport activity, we can now check off our biggest First Friday V.H. of the year.
Also behind us is the Featherstone Center for the Arts “Anonymous Art Show and Fundraiser” last Sunday. I planned to submit for the first time this year, but with August being August, I will be finishing late and saving it for 2027. This is such a fun fundraising event; it brings professional and amateur artists submitting small art side by side, with attendees not knowing who made which piece until after securing their newest artwork for themselves.
The 164th M.V. Agricultural Fair is upon us this week, running August 13 to 16! Shout-out to Sydney Smith for the beautiful fair poster, and good luck to everyone entering for those sweet bragging rights and ribbons.
Built on Stilts continues for its second (and final) weekend, August 14 to 16, at Union Chapel in Oak Bluffs.
In breaking Tisbury news: The mini golf course has reopened! Newly purchased by Jesse Steere III (whom you may recognize from Shirley’s Hardware next door), the course has been remade and renamed: Steere the Course Mini Golf & Grille.
For you Wordlers out there, you may be interested in the upcoming event “Puzzle Mania: Clues to Why We’re Hooked on Word Games from the Creators Themselves” on August 13 at the M.V. Hebrew Center.
If you haven’t made it over to see Colin Ruel’s exhibit, “The Light Is Returning” at the M.V. Museum, now is the time! Join Colin for a closing conversation on August 16 from 5 to 6 pm, “Island Life Then and Now,” sharing the personal stories, family history, and Island realities that shaped his exhibition.
Saturday, August 15, head over to Oak Bluffs’ Waban Park for this year’s M.V. Vibe Fest, 11 am to 8 pm for great music, food, local vendors, and of course amazing vibes.
And if you haven’t seen them yet, enjoy an evening in Owen Park with the Vineyard Haven Band, starting at 7:30 pm on August 16. (Pro tip: Bring your own chairs, blankets, food, and whatever else will make you most comfortable while you enjoy the music past sunset.)
Ninety-nine bunches of birthday balloons to Leigh Smith for such a milestone celebration on August 15. Also birthday wishes to Carrie Peckar and Cecilia Minnehan on August 12, and my favorite local cheese expert, Morgen Schroder, on August 14.
Reminder: Do you have an upcoming birthday, event, or just something you want shared in a future Tisbury column? Email me at tisburycolumnist@gmail.com with your own stories of our town, or upcoming events you’d like to see spotlighted here.
