the vineyard blog

Stargazing Evening hosted by Sheriff’s Meadow Foundation . Join them at Wallen, Preston & Shands Preserve in Aquinnah on March 20 at 7:30 pm to celebrate the first night of spring with an evening of guided stargazing led by Mark Lovewell. Meet at the Aquinnah Cultural Center. 

Edgartown’s Pink and Green Weekend, this is Edgartown’s 8th Annual Celebration of Spring & Mother’s Day that takes place May 10-12, 2019. Kick off spring in Edgartown during the annual celebration of the season and Mother’s Day on Martha’s Vineyard. Enjoy the Pink & Green Dog Show, sales and shopping specials, Fairyville at Donaroma’s, the Pink & Green 5K and more! 

Vineyard Conservation Society’s Earth Day Beach Cleanup, Protect Wildlife, Beautify Your Island, Celebrate Earth Day, and Kick-Off Spring on April 20th — All in One Great Family-Friendly Event. It's easy to go green this Earth Day: join your friends and neighbors in the Earth Day Beach Clean-Up! Just head out to your favorite beach at 10:00 am volunteers will be there with everything you need. Afterward, join VCS at the Oak Bluffs Sailing Camp for great food, a free raffle, and to compare your treasure hunting stories. From 12:00 to 2 pm relax over lunch with other beach cleaners. This year we are making sure there is enough food for even the late-comers. No hardworking beach-cleaner should go without some refreshments! This is a ZERO WASTE event, if you have a reusable water bottle, please bring it with you!

Spectrum Film Festival, The Martha’s Vineyard Film Society hosts this festival and it will be the 3rd Annual Spectrum Film Festival. Spectrum is a four-day film festival that presents a world perspective on LGBTQ+ stories, people, and issues through a variety of films and includes guest speakers, discussions,  and a special event for LGBTQ+ youth. The 2019 SPECTRUM Film Festival will be held at the Martha’s Vineyard Film Center in Vineyard Haven from Thursday, April 25th, 2018 through Sunday, April 28th, 2019.

​Ride the Vineyard MS Cycle Race, on May 4th, is a Multiple Sclerosis fundraiser on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts. With the quaint charm and beautiful ocean views of our island, choose from 15, 30, and 60 mile routes and enjoy the cliffs of Gay Head, the beaches of Katama, and the scenic views of East Chop! 

Big Chili Contest, this will be the  33rd year of this amazing charity event and will take place on May 11th at the Portuguese American Club. Enjoy a day of chili, live music & good times in the name of charity. Local and off island restaurants, chefs, caterers, and more cook up giant pots of chili for your delight and the live music from bands and DJs keep the fun going!

​Easter Brunches and egg hunts take place all over the island, check out our social media platforms for updates closer to the date (April 21st). 

And for all spring events, visit mvy.com/events 

​Martha’s Vineyard is a golfing paradise, with three public golf courses and two private course on island. Whether you’re a novice golfer, just getting into the swing of things, or an expert on greens, the golf courses on Martha’s Vineyard work for all types of golfers! If you’re planning a trip to the Vineyard, you can plan on adding your golf clubs to the list (or not and rent them from the golf course itself!)
 
Mink Meadows Golf Club
“A traditional seaside golf club nestled in the West Chop area of Martha’s Vineyard. This hidden gem features expansive fairways, beautifully manicured greens, and ocean views.”  
 
Designed by golf architects Wayne Stiles and John Van Kleek, who originally proposed a 27-hole layout, but ultimately was reduced to its current 9-hole design. Rentals are available and the golf club is located in Vineyard Haven. You can apply for membership, but the club is also open to non-members with certain stipulations.
 
Farm Neck Golf Club
“As you play, you will find yourself traversing a striking variation of topography and vegetation — everything from woodlands, to open meadows, to salt marshes, to stunning overlooks and intimate brushes with the water's edge. Along with its intrinsic beauty, Farm Neck enjoys a widespread reputation for championship caliber golf.”
 
Located in Oak Bluffs, Farm Neck Golf Club has continually earned a 4 ½ out of 5 star rating in Golf Digest's “Best Places to Play,” and is considered by many to be one of the premiere golfing experiences in the Northeast — and beyond. Designed in 1979 by Geffrey Cornish, Bill Robinson, and Patrick Mulligan, this 18-hole course is sure to delight any golfer.
 
If you can’t ship your golf clubs, you can rent Callaway Clubs (prices range between $45-65 depending on tee time).
 
Royal and Ancient Chappaquiddick Links
A toss between private and public, you can become a member for $600 but you may also  play without purchasing a membership or making advance arrangements (although we recommend making arrangements as you don’t want to make it all the way to Chappy and not be able to play.  The weekday rate is of $50 per person ($25 for kids) and the weekend rate is of $75.
 
The course history dates back to over a century ago and For the past 30 years, Brad Woodger has tried to maintain and perpetuate the Links while maintaining its unique character and integrity. Golfing at RACL is an outing all on its own, and they are available for events and private parties.
 
Vineyard Golf Club (private)
Vineyard Golf Club opened in 2002 and was the first new golf course built on island in 30 years. Just two miles outside of historic Edgartown and close to the rural village of West Tisbury, the course is private and one of the few organic golf courses in America. Designed by British architects Donald Steel and Tom Mackenzie, the course has replaced traditional pesticides with bio-stimulants and composted fertilizers that help protect the island’s single-source aquifer, per Links Magazine.
 
“Designed as a walking course, the holes flow seamlessly from green to tee and the experience is enhanced by a caddie program that is among the very best in the Northeast. The course has many classic design elements that present varied and fun challenges to both seasoned and novice players. These qualities and characteristics are the work of noted golf course architects Gil Hanse and his design partner, Jim Wagner. A new front nine debuted in 2013 and a completely redesigned back nine followed in 2015. In recognition of their work, GOLF Magazine named Vineyard Golf Club the “Best New Private Course” of 2015.”
 
Edgartown Golf Club (private)
The Edgartown Golf Club, was founded in 1926 and is a private golf club located in Edgartown. “Known for breathtaking views of the Vineyard Sound and its historic and charming clubhouse, the Edgartown Golf Club is open to its members and their guests year round, weather permitting.” During the summer season it hosts a junior golf program as well as many annual benefit golf tournaments that are open to all.

St. Patrick’s Day observes the death of Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, so how did this commemoration of a saint’s death evolve into a celebration of Irish culture, delicious foods, fun music and dancing, drinking to your heart’s content, and everything became green? We’re here to tell you - and also list off a few ways we love to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Martha’s Vineyard.
 
Celebrated annually on March 17th, it falls during the Christian season of Lent. Irish families would traditionally attending church in the morning and celebrate the holiday in the afternoon. It’s interesting to note that Lent prohibitions included consumption of meat, but during St. Patrick’s Day,  these were waived and people would dance, drink, and feast on traditional meals of corned beef, sausages, and more!
 
Parades have become a staple of the holiday, but the first St. Patrick’s Day parade was not held in Ireland, but in New York City, NY. On March 17, 1762, Irish soldiers serving in the English military marched through the city playing traditional Irish music, helping them reconnect with their Irish roots.
 
St. Patrick’s Day Facts (sourced from History Channel)

• Corned beef and cabbage is a traditional dish. In 2009, roughly 26.1 billion pounds of beef and 2.3 billion pounds of cabbage were made in the US.
• More than 100 St. Patrick’s Day parades are held across the United States. New York and Boston are home to the largest celebrations. 

At The Newes from America Pub, there’s a full weekend of  fun! Friday night there will be live music, Celtic dancers, and Fisherman’s Stew is the dinner special; Saturday is the ever so popular “Pint Sized Parade” at 11am, continuing with Celtic dancers, bagpipers, and live Irish music. You can feast on Corned Beef & Cabbage during lunch and dinner both Saturday and Sunday!  

​At Offshore Ale Company on Sunday the 17th, there will be a St. Patrick’s Day Celebration with music and delicious eats. 

At the Aquinnah  Library on Saturday the 16th at 11am, there is a Kid’s Craft to create a lucky clover with your hand print!

At the First Baptist Church in Vineyard Haven on march 16th from 5:30pm to 6:30pm there is a Corned Beef & Cabbage Dinner, adults $15 and children $7. Call for reservations at 508-693-1539

At the Portuguese American Club in Oak Bluffs, there’s a Spring Fling on Saturday March 16th from 6pm until 11:30pm, described as a Fabulously Fun St. Patrick’s Day weekend event featuring Jellybone Rivers and the Maniacs of the Heart along with the Space Invaders. Opportunity to bid on tons of great silent auction items. All to benefit the MV Public Charter School. $15 per person, use the hashtag #CharterSpringFling on social media! 

For a full list of all happenings, visit mvy.com/events.

As the thin layer of white topping Martha's Vineyard's clay cliffs slowly disappears under the early spring light the island emerges from winter with a variety of events for both locals and visitors.

Newly painted storefronts and a bustling energy across the island are a sure sign that Spring is upon the Island. Welcomed are a number of new businesses as well as our long-time favorites, some sporting an entirely different look. From Aquinnah to Edgartown, there is no shortage of Spring happenings and many of our inns offer special rates, making this a perfect time for an Island getaway.

​Here's a sampling of some great events happening this spring on Martha's Vineyard!
​

March 21-24, The Martha’s Vineyard Film Festival 
A singular meet and mingle with filmmakers, actors and movie-lovers. 
 

 April 27, Island Alpaca 10th Annual Shearing Day Celebration  
Tis the season for these photogenic and  people-loving  alpaca. 
​

May 3, First Friday in Vineyard Haven 
An open house for island artists and artisans featuring food and music- free and open to all. 

May 4, Ride the Vineyard MS Cycling Race  
This island-wide bike ride is one of the largest fund-raising events of the year, attracting a world-wide group of bikers and their families. Enjoy the spring beauty of Martha's Vineyard's while cheering on or perhaps even joining this dedicated group of bikers.
​

May 10-12,  Pink & Green Weekend  
Kentucky Derby parties, a Main Street parade, an open house for retailers and an old-fashioned maypole dance are some of the highlights of this annual tradition that glows in a sea of pink and green.