Events in Martha's Vineyard, MA

Explore how Islanders took to the high seas during the American Revolution with MVM research librarian Bow Van Riper. Inspired by John Paul Jones’s call for a fast ship and a willingness to sail in harm’s way, the program highlights how that mindset shaped the early Navy and how Vineyarders embodied it even before the Navy’s founding. Hear about local militia efforts, including the use of armed whaleboats, and discover the risks and resolve that defined Martha’s Vineyard’s wartime experience at sea.

Explore the stories etched in stone during a guided walk through the Old Westside Graveyard. Vineyard historian Elizabeth Villard leads a thoughtful tour that highlights how gravestones reveal the lives of those who shaped Edgartown and how the imagery carved into them reflects the religious beliefs of the people buried there. The walk begins at the corner of Cooke Street and Pease Point Way and offers an insightful look at local history through its cemetery art and symbolism.

Celebrate the debut of Mary Ellen Heitl’s artwork at a welcoming reception at Oak Bluffs Library. Raised in rural Wisconsin and a year-round Martha’s Vineyard resident since 1976, she spent 45 years in nursing, including decades at Martha’s Vineyard Hospital, and taught CNA classes through Martha’s Vineyard Community Services. A lifelong sketcher who paused her creative pursuits while raising a family and serving her community, she returned to art in 2024, embracing acrylic painting as a fresh outlet for joy and expression. This first showing highlights her new body of work and offers a heartfelt reminder that it is never too late to rekindle a passion or start a new chapter.

A documentary portrait of Frances Haugen, a young Facebook engineer who partners with Wall Street Journal reporter Jeff Horwitz to expose closely held internal information about the social network. The film traces her decision to come forward, the collaboration that brought hidden practices to light, and the stakes involved in revealing those guarded secrets.

This community acupuncture clinic offers one-sided sessions in a quiet, open treatment space similar to traditional Chinese clinics. Treatments are provided while fully clothed. Participants can choose a focus such as pain relief, support for anxiety and stress, better sleep, improved digestion, immune support, and general wellness. Site specific injury management is also available. No pin options are always offered. The session cost is $55.

Fire & Song Fundraiser Concert brings an evening of music, history, and cultural connection to benefit the Martha's Vineyard Diversity Coalition and the MVDC Living Legends Project. The program features internationally acclaimed pianist and composer Joel A. Martin, following his recent Carnegie Hall performance, alongside celebrated vocalist Theresa Thomason. Attendees can expect a powerful experience that invites reflection and connection through stirring performances and shared stories.

Experience an intimate performance with award-winning composer and performer Matt Nakoa, a musical polymath praised by The Boston Globe as a hot-handed phenom who can shift from Chopin to beer-soaked honky-tonk in a single set. Raised on a small goat farm in central New York, he trained as a concert pianist before earning a vocal scholarship to Berklee College of Music, where he honed a dramatic songwriting voice with his band The Fens. After moving to New York City, late nights in Manhattan’s piano bars sharpened his ability to captivate any crowd. A winner of the 2014 Grassy Hill New Folk Song Competition in Kerrville, Texas, he went on to build a vibrant touring career and spent a decade as sidekick to folk legend Tom Rush. During the 2020 lockdown he returned to rigorous classical study and composition, with concert works performed internationally and highlighted by Disney and The New York Times. Beyond his original songs, he fronts the nationally touring classic rock group The Brit Pack and presents recitals of classical repertoire. He is currently developing a new musical inspired by Oscar Hijuelos’s Pulitzer Prize-winning The Mambo Kings Play Songs of Love.

Discover a hands-on introduction to printmaking with studio classes that welcome both beginners and those looking to refresh dormant skills. Work with processes including linoleum block printing, dry-point etching, monotype, and mixed-media approaches, with guidance tailored to individual interests and goals. The studio is equipped with several press beds to support a range of experience levels. Participants may take multiple sessions over several days to build a broader understanding of the techniques. Please bring an image you would like to develop, such as a copy of a print or a picture you want to reproduce. Monotype involves transferring an inked or painted image from a Plexiglas plate to paper by pressure or press, sometimes yielding a lighter second impression known as a ghost. Relief block printing focuses on carving drawings or designs into soft linoleum and pulling a proof. Dry-point etching uses a metal scribe to draw into Plexiglas sheets, which are then inked and printed, and can be combined with methods like chine collé or drawing to create layered results.

Peter Halperin presents a solo guitar performance at the West Tisbury Library that reflects a new chapter in a lifelong musical journey. With experience reaching back to the late 1960s and countless shows behind him, this appearance marks his debut as a solo guitarist. The program features chord-melody interpretations of jazz standards alongside original pieces, highlighting a fresh phase of creative expression built on decades of songwriting and musicianship. Admission is free and open to all.

Learn about acupuncture and moxibustion, a special heat therapy treatment, while sipping a specialty drink and hearing how these practices can positively impact your life. The program features a 20 minute talk with optional demonstrations, then transitions to a community acupuncture clinic offering a general 10 point treatment in an open group space. The session lasts about 30 minutes, and receiving treatment is optional so everyone is welcome. This free event requests registration to reserve a spot and is hosted by the Vineyard Complementary Acupuncture team.

Halloween fun continues in Edgartown as young ghosts and goblins visit one business after another for trick-or-treating. The event takes place rain or shine.

A community acupuncture clinic features the National Acupuncture Detox Association's five point protocol, which can aid with stress and anxiety relief, detoxification from alcohol, drugs, sugar, and tobacco, and pain reduction, among other needs. Treatment is provided in a shared setting. For comfort during treatment, patients should bring their own warm clothing or a personal blanket, as VCM does not supply blankets. Payment is $20 by cash or check at the door, or $25 if paying with a credit card. Due to high demand and limited capacity, reservations are required to reserve a place. Credit cards are not charged unless that payment option is selected.