It’s only fitting that the Grand Illumination in Cottage City, Oak Bluffs lands just days before President Obama and his family arrive for their Martha’s Vineyard vacation. Over a century ago, this wonderful tradition was created to welcome the Governor of Massachusetts to the island.

This Wednesday night, August 19, 2009, as the sun sets in Oak Bluffs, the gingerbread cottages at the old campmeeting grounds, hundreds of colorful Chinese and Japanese lanterns are lit – effectively ‘illuminating’ the houses, the ground, the ocean-salty air. Visitors and islanders, newcomers and old friends walk around the campgrounds and sit on porches chatting, enjoying and taking in the sights.

Music can be heard from the center of Cottage City as a Community Sing and a band concert happen in the Tabernacle -the ‘physical and spiritual center of the Campground.’ Built in 1879, the Tabernacle and the community hold weekly church services and many musical events all summer. It’s a beautiful place to listen to music – especially with the glow of lanterns surrounding and adding to the music!

For more information about the Martha’s Vineyard Campmeeting Association and the Grand Illumination, visit their website.

And to book the perfect Oak Bluffs rental, contact me!

“Featherstone, the island’s only year-round non-profit arts center, celebrates 13 very fruitful years of bringing art, in a myriad of forms, to island audiences and participants. With gallery shows, workshops, art camps, evenings of music and film, and fundraising events, Featherstone has been the living beating heart of the Vineyard art scene for over a decade now.”

And it’s where I found myself for yet another magical Musical Monday night. Musical Monday’s feature great musicians and harbor an enveloping community on Featherstone‘s outdoor stage every week from 6:30-8:00 p.m. for $7!

This past week was a fantastic concert. Imagine an old fashioned, small community get together. You bring your lawn chair, blanket, dinner, family and friends. We packed a picnic dinner complete with fried chicken, slaw, pasta salad, potato salad, wine, lemonade and fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. The kids ran around and played some catch while we enjoyed Jemima James along with Willie Mason, her son, Kate Taylor (James’ sister) and her nephew, Jethro.

The setting is intimate and warm…and beautiful. We drove out of Featherstone just in time to witness a beautiful sunset over the tree line.

Here’s the Musical Mondays lineup for Summer 2009:

July 13 Tristan Israel, Nancy Jephcote & Paul Thurlow

folk, country, blues and original tunes

July 20 Johnny Hoy & The Blue Fish

July 27 Barking Daisy featuring Christine McLean, Ray Frazio & Chris Seidel:

eclectic mix of music from the 50’s to today

August 3 Kevin Keady

folk and Americana

August 10 Mike Benjamin Band

rootsy Americana music

Check it out!!!

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