When the sun fades in the evening and lights from inside the Oak Bluffs Camp Ground cottages flicker on, resident Edie Lowe said that she often sees passersby subtly peering through her cottage windows. She does not mind, though, and knows that the historic colorful houses often pique people’s curiosity.

Next week, visitors intrigued about the cottages don’t have to wait until dark to catch a glimpse of their interiors. On Wednesday, August 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., six Camp Ground homes will be open to the public for touring. Tickets can be purchased online in advance or at the Tabernacle day-of for $30.

The tour is hosted by the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association (MVCMA). It began in the 1990s and took place annually until the Covid pandemic in 2020. After a four-year hiatus, the tour has returned.

Hazel Allen, co-organizer of the event, said this year’s event will also give Camp Ground residents who moved here during the pandemic a way to meet their neighbors.

“This activity in the Camp Ground probably uses more volunteers for a one-day event than anything else,” Ms. Allen said. “We try to involve people who don’t know too many neighbors. We stick them in a house with someone they don’t know, and after a couple of hours they have a new friend.”

The tour starts at the Tabernacle and travels east toward Commonwealth avenue. Ms. Lowe, who is also a co-organizer, said that there will be signs pointing people toward the open houses. Plenty of Camp Ground helpers will also be on hand to lead the way.

All six cottages on display were built in the 1860s and 1870s and still possess many features from their original construction. Guests should prepare to duck their heads as they move from room to room and watch their steps on winding staircases, said Ms. Lowe.

At the end of the tour, visitors can head to the cottage museum and gift shop to learn more about the MVCMA and Camp Ground history.

“And then we have food at [the Tabernacle],” said Ms. Allen. “We usually have three tables full of baked goods and also really good sandwiches. It’s all sourced from people in the Camp Ground. It’s a very classy potluck.”

All proceeds from the tour go toward the Tabernacle Restoration Project, a five-stage plan to upgrade the structural integrity of the widely-used pavilion.

“It started back in 1999 and we are now in phase five: the roof,” said Ms. Lowe. “The current roof is made with concrete tiles with asbestos and really needs replacing.”

Construction on the roof is scheduled to begin this fall and next week’s tour is one of the final events to raise funds for the project.

“We’re already committed, so the more support we get next week the better,” said Ms. Lowe.

For more information about the Camp Ground cottage tour and to purchase tickets, visit mvcma.org.