Although the first day of Fall is technically on September 22, to me, November 1 feels like a much bigger shift in the season. Within the hospitality industry, the big wedding and events season has come to a close, most seasonal eateries have shut their doors, and those who serve us year round have felt that notable deceleration in business. Our last Grapevine was sent on the heels of a literal whirlwind in the form of a late-September Nor’easter, which served as a testament to supporting local business in all industries, but specifically events, because us Vineyard vendors knew how to pivot quickly and execute miracles. It also served as my annual reminder to get in touch with whoever planned for wedding season and hurricane season to occur at the same time here, because I’d love to kick them out of the planning biz altogether.
October granted us a reprieve with sunshine and an all together dreamy end to a wildly busy season. And the Island gave us plenty of reasons to enjoy it, from the Vineyard Artisans Fall Festival and the Film Society’s eighth annual Women in Film Festival; to the Agricultural Society’s Harvest Festival, complete with pumpkin carving, local food, live music, and a little friendly competition. These gatherings are part of what I love about this stretch of the year: after months of helping other people celebrate, those of us in hospitality finally have a little room to join in ourselves. There’s something especially lovely about catching up with a familiar face when the conversation doesn’t involve a timeline or delivery window.
November has plenty in store, beginning with a chance to enjoy the Island at a slower pace, just before the holiday season picks that pace right back up again.
On November 1, the Land Bank kicks off its winter guided walks at Squibnocket Pond Reservation North in Aquinnah at 10 am., while the West Tisbury Library hosts Music Street’s “The Night Has a Thousand Eyes” concert at 4 p.m. A walk and a little live music sounds like a pretty lovely way to welcome the month.
Our libraries continue to give us reasons to gather, with the Jeremy Berlin–Eric Johnson Duo bringing jazz to the Vineyard Haven Library on November 3, and an opening reception for Sarah Moore’s “Farm and Sea” paintings at the West Tisbury Library on November 6. November 7 brings the Toe Jam Puppet Band to Vineyard Haven, an Elaine Weintraub book talk to Oak Bluffs, and a screening of “Anne Packard: An Artist’s Resolve” at the Film Center. For those of us finally finding a little free time, the hardest part might be deciding where to spend it.
That same Saturday, November 7, the Agricultural Society celebrates the community effort that built the Ag Hall in 1994. Barn Raisers Day invites all ages to build miniature versions of the hall from 1 to 2:30 pm., followed by the annual Barn Raisers Ball that evening, from 7:30 to 10 pm. Johnny Hoy and the Bluefish will provide the music, guests are invited to bring something for the dessert potluck, and a $10 donation is suggested at the door. Dancing and dessert in celebration of neighbors building something together feels like a particularly good use of a November evening. The Barn Raisers Ball always ends up being one of my favorite events of the year, an unofficial reunion after the busy season, and a celebration of the Island settling back into the hands of those who call it home year-round.
November 7 also marks the opening of Featherstone’s annual Holiday Gift Show, running through December 16, with shopping from noon to 4 pm. daily, except Veterans Day and Thanksgiving. Handmade pottery, jewelry, paintings, knitwear, and other creations offer an opportunity to get ahead on holiday gifts while supporting Island artists. Over in Vineyard Haven, the Playhouse’s “Harvest” group exhibition is listed for November 5-28, helping to keep the season’s bounty in view a little longer.
For those whose preferred outing involves something tangy and delicious, the Martha’s Vineyard Museum hosts “Friends in Ferment” on November 13. Morgen “the Fairy Cheesemother” Schroeder and research librarian Bow Van Riper will pair beer and artisan cheeses with stories about the Island’s brewing and dairying history. With only 15 seats available, this is one evening worth planning ahead for.
The middle of the month also brings a workshop production of “DOG PARK! The Musical” to the Playhouse November 13 through 15, followed by an encore screening of the Metropolitan Opera’s “Carmen” at the Film Center on November 14. On November 18, the museum hosts a discussion about the Coast Guard’s 1999 search for John F. Kennedy Jr.’s plane, while Arnie’s Poetry Café gathers at the Playhouse that evening. The Vineyard Haven Library’s open mic follows on November 19, offering another opportunity to enjoy or contribute to the Island’s talent.
If a little fresh air is more your speed, Felix Neck’s Full Moon Owl Prowl on November 24 offers an evening wildlife walk before the holiday bustle begins. Thanksgiving morning brings the Oak Bluffs Turkey Trot, a 5K run benefiting the Oak Bluffs School eighth grade. For the runners among us, a festive start to the day; for the rest of us, a very good reason to cheer.
The celebrations continue Friday, November 27, with Felix Neck’s Fall Festival, a free gathering from 10 am to 2 pm, featuring hayrides, live music, wildlife demonstrations, wreath making, and crafts. The Vineyard Artisans Thanksgiving Weekend Festival also returns to the Ag Hall November 27 and 28, from 10 am to 4 pm both days, making it easy to turn a holiday outing into a little local shopping.
With Small Business Saturday on November 28, there is another invitation to spend some time in our shops and put our holiday dollars to work close to home. After a season spent welcoming so many people to the Island, November gives us a little more room to enjoy it ourselves, and plenty of opportunities to show up for one another. And although I started this piece saying it feels like Fall has only just begun, by the time the next Grapevine lands in your inbox on December 1, the holiday season will be in full swing–a fact I can hardly wrap my head around. That said, my beach chair usually leaves the car once it’s time to make room for Christmas in Edgartown shopping bags, so perhaps I’m not the most reliable judge of the season. So whether you’re gleefully pulling your beanies out of storage or holding out for one more dip in the ocean, enjoy November, and we’ll catch up here just in time for the most wonderful time of the year!
This article is published as a part of The Grapevine — a monthly email newsletter dedicated to our local events and culinary scene by Jenna Sylvia with culinary contribution by Marnely Murray. Click here to subscribe to the newsletter.
Sylvia and Murray also work in the Island’s hospitality and business community. Sylvia is co-founder and owner of Coastal Events MV, a local event coordination and production company. Murray owns Shored Up Digital, a local digital marketing agency. For transparency, further information about their businesses is available at coastaleventsmv.com and shoredupdigital.com. These professional roles inform their firsthand perspectives on the industry. Their contributions to the Grapevine are exclusively editorial and are subject to The MV Times’ oversight.
