Illumination Night Lights the Way in Oak Bluffs

Both newcomers and longtime attendees reveled in Illumination Night Wednesday. The annual tradition dates back more than 150 years when the event was first held to welcome the governor of Massachusetts to the Island.

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Lanterns and Quiet Beauty Lead the Way

Irene Murdoch at 99 years old lit the first lantern Wednesday evening at the 151st Grand Illumination Night in the Oak Bluffs Camp Ground.

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Grand Illumination Scales Back

Illumination Night will held as planned on August 18, but festivities have been modified and scaled back due to Covid concerns.

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Grand Illumination Night Returns

Once again lanterns will be hung by the porches with care as Grand Illumination night returns this summer on August 18.

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Amid the Darkness a Few Lanterns Glow
Aaron Wilson

Skunks outnumbered pedestrians in the Oak Bluffs Campground Wednesday evening on what would have been Illumination night.

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Signature August Events Canceled in Oak Bluffs

The Oak Bluffs fireworks will be cancelled this year due to the pandemic, the town firemen’s civic association said late Wednesday.

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All Aglow in the Camp Ground for 150 Years
Caroline Kaplan

On Wednesday evening the Grand Illumination started the same way it has for 150 years — with a community sing.

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Illumination, Fair, Fireworks: Vineyard Hits High Notes of Summer

With Illumination Night, the Agricultural Fair and Oak Bluffs fireworks all on the docket, this week marks the high point of traditional summer events on Martha’s Vineyard. It all begins at sundown tonight, with the 150th Grand Illumination.

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Grand Illumination Night

Grand Illumination Night has been a summer staple on Martha's Vineyard since 1869, when the first event was held in honor of the visiting governor of Massachusetts. After sundown on the third Wednesday in August, lanterns of all kinds cast a magical glow over the charming gingerbread cottages at the Martha's Vineyard Camp Ground.

For 2022, Grand Illumination will take place on Wednesday, Aug. 17. The event begins at 8 p.m. at the Tabernacle with an introduction and the Vineyard Haven Band. 

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Keeping the Lights of Tradition Glowing at Grand Illumination
Katherine Gianni

The Martha’s Vineyard Camp Ground celebrated its 49th annual Grand Illumination Night on Wednesday.

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