Martha’s Vineyard Live Music is right at home at the island’s largest Fair
“This time each year in our hometown
The county fair comes our way
Where the folks gather round
to be happy and spend their day.”
~ The Beach Boys
Summers on Martha’s Vineyard are a chock-full of fun activities, music and entertainment.
But no MV summer would be complete without an event that has taken place here – rain or shine – for a century and a half. We are talking, of course, about the Agricultural Fair, which this year will be held from August 15 to 18 in its usual location, the fairgrounds in West Tisbury.
As any Fair worthy of its name, this one has plenty of activities for kids and adults alike: rides, games, live music, craft demonstrations, food, shopping, and art show, among other amusements. But since this is, as its name suggests, an agricultural event, there will also be livestock competitions, a dog show, and lots of homegrown produce, flowers, and other goodies.
Let the fun begin!
A historic perspective
The Fair has been organized by The Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society (MVAS), a venerable island institution which promotes agriculture, land conservation, animal welfare, youth activities, mechanic and domestic arts, as well as the sale of locally-grown produce and flowers at local farmers’ markets.
According to historic accounts, when the first fair was held in 1858, “1,800 people made their way to the Grange Hall in West Tisbury by horseback, in wagons or on foot.” Times have sure changed, haven’t they?
In those days, Martha’s Vineyard – as indeed the rest of the country – relied on agriculture for food. What we now call “farmers’ markets” – places where local farmers sell their fruits, vegetables, eggs, milk, artisan cheeses, baked goods, etc. – used to be the norm in the mid-19th century.
At that time nobody could predict (and probably no one would have believed) that in the future, crops would be grown with the help of synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and chemical fertilizers, and that they would then be transported in refrigerated trucks over thousands of miles.
The world has changed, but the Agricultural Fair has been an MV fixture for over 150 years, which only goes to prove that the more things change, the more they remain the same!
All creatures great and small
Even though the animals are no longer walked one by one on a dirt road to reach the Fair, as they used to be years ago, they remain a huge attraction. And while mooing, bleating, oinking, or barking does not fall under the category of “live music,” (fortunately, there are human bands and musicians performing throughout the event), the animal sounds are an integral part of the Fair.
Here’s a quick look at the Fair events featuring the animals:
- Judging of goats, cattle, pigs, miniature horses, sheep, lamas, alpacas, rabbits, and poultry
- Ox display
- Dog show
- Draft horse pulling contest
… and much more!
Something for everybody
While animals are certainly a great attraction, there are many more fun activities for the whole family to enjoy. As mentioned above, there are rides, games, contests, competitions, craft demonstrations, an art show, and, of course plenty of food, drinks, and entertainment.
We at Martha’s Vineyard Live Music love the Agricultural Fair, not only because it is such an important part of the island’s history, but also for all the wholesome activities it offers. And, let’s face it, a summer wouldn’t be the same without this traditional gathering.
So mark your calendars: the Fair’s opening hours from August 15 to 18 are: Thursday, Friday, and Saturday from 10am until 11pm; Sunday 10am until 7pm.
Meet you at the Fair!
