The 47 oxen ― 23 pair and a spare ― that are participating in the 162nd Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society Livestock Show and Fair Aug. 15-18 already have their ferry reservation.
Do you?
It’s not too late for walk-on guests to catch a ferry on Cape Cod, then take public transportation from Oak Bluffs or Vineyard Haven to the fair, about 20 minutes away in West Tisbury.
Catch the Island Queen out of Woods Hole for $27 roundtrip or the Steamship Authority for $20 roundtrip out of Woods Hole or the HyLine fast ferry out of Hyannis for $70 roundtrip.
You won’t be riding with the oxen.
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“The oxen and the draft horses come over in trailers. Our society gets over 50 boat reservations for all the animals,” said Lauren Lynch, president of the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society and manager of the annual fair.
Lynch said the fair could not host pulling competitions for oxen and draft horses without the off-island talent.
A local slated to be in this year’s fair is Cicilio Rosa Neto, a Brazilian native who is known on island for his ox-drawn cart ― with friendly bovine Chilmark ― that often greets visitors at the ferry terminals.
When is the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society fair?
The fair runs Aug. 15-18 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Thursday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The exhibition hall and vendors close at 10 p.m.
.”People book (rentals) years in advance to be here for Fair Week and Grand Illumination on Wednesday, the 14th,” said Sally Rizzo, the fair’s assistant manager.
What is Illumination Night?
Illumination night starts in the Tabernacle with music from the Vineyard Haven Band and a community sing. Seats fill quickly for the 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Afterwards, thousands of visitors tour Oak Bluffs gingerbread cottages, which are decorated with hundreds of Japanese lanterns. Separate from the fair, Illumination Night is supported by a freewill offering collected at the Tabernacle at 80 Trinity Park, Oak Bluffs – at the center of the Martha’s Vineyard Camp Meeting Association campgrounds.
Originally a tent for religious revival meetings, the open-air cast-iron Tabernacle opened in 1879 for services, according to the campground website.
How many farms are there on Martha’s Vineyard?
Lynch said there are 35 farms on the island. The Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Society provides support and education year-round and the annual fair is the society’s biggest fundraiser. About 30,000 people attended last year, she said.
What happens at the fair?
The fair kicks off Thursday with cow day. Friday is horse day; Saturday is tractor and woodsman day and Sunday is the dog show. At 3 p.m. Sunday is the annual Women’s Skillet Throw in which women compete to throw a cast-iron skillet the farthest distance.
The U.S. Navy Cruisers Band will play at 7:30 p.m. Thursday for opening day. The Cruisers play oldies and contemporary hits.
“It’s a smaller version of the Navy Band, like a wedding band,” Lynch said.
A complete list of activities, from home goods displays to tractor pulls, is available online at marthasvineyardagricultualsociety.org/the-fair/.
How much does the fair cost and where do I get tickets?
Admission is $15 for age 13 and older. $10 for ages 5-12, age four and younger are free, $10 for age 62 and older or veterans. Parking on the 30-acre fairgrounds at 35 Panhandle Road in West Tisbury is $10. Buy tickets online through Eventbrite.
Cushing Amusem*nts, which runs the rides, games and some food stands, sells its tickets separately. Visit online at cushingmagicmoneyllc.com/ to buy a card used to access all of Cushing’s features. Show your receipt to pick up the card at the fair. Each credit is worth $1 with rides costing 5-7 credits each. An unlimited ride pass is available for Friday at $50.
How is Martha's Vineyard Agricultural Society Fair going green?
Fair officials are encouraging all of its food vendors to use compostable plates, cups and flatware.
“Living on an island, waste is an issue. We spend a lot of money shipping waste off-Island,” Lynch said.
This year, the fair features manned disposal stations, where volunteers will be on hand to help patrons sort their trash into the proper bins for either recycling or composting.
"We are working to make this a green fair,” Lynch said. “We encourage everyone to bring a refillable water bottle. We will have filling stations.”
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