Summer Cruising – Oak Bluffs’ Illumination Night

Time to catch up on our summer cruising because I am woefully behind on blog posts. Having too much fun??

Our plan was to begin our longer cruising in early August starting around our anniversary. Plans are meant to be flexible and and changeable, right? The weather did not cooperate and we had to delay for a week.

But we still went to the boat to celebrate 30 years together!

Limerick arrived at SYC on Sunday, August 11^th so we were both ready to head east on Monday morning. The goal was to reach Oak Bluffs on the Vineyard. We agreed on a 6:00 am departure. I never need an alarm and Al always sets his to a minimal time period, too short for me! The alarm went off at 5:45 leaving us only 15 minutes to get up, dressed, prep the boat and be out at our mooring by 6:00 to meet Don and Cindy. Yikes!! Much to our surprise and Don and Cindy’s when they heard this, we were ready and out of the slip in time. After 30 years together, we know each other’s rhythms and have the boating dance down pretty well. 

We have been to Oak Bluffs a few times with three blog posts about our visits to this harbor. (2017, 2019, 2022)

Oak Bluffs is a small tight harbor that really packs the boats in, even on a Monday. We headed into the harbor to look for an opening mooring while Limerick waited outside. We carefully moved among the boats, many rafted (OB not only allows rafting, they ask that you do it even with strangers, up to FOUR boats. You cannot refuse a raft request. I cannot imagine what it would be like if there 4 boats on each of those moorings.) We were dejectedly leaving when Al noticed a small day boat, with powerful engines, first on the channel. He slowed and asked the guy in the cockpit if he might be leaving soon and not staying overnight. Reluctantly, the guy said yes, in about 15 minutes. We rafted to him and waited for his passengers to return by launch. Then gave the all clear sign and “come on in” call to Limerick. 

On our previous visits to Oak Bluffs, we have never stopped in to see the famous “flying carrousel”. It was a good day to try something new.

I whispered to Cindy – “Will you ride on this carrousel with me?? At $4 per ride, it was an easy decision to satisfy this childhood urge. 

Why did we have to be in Oak Bluffs at this time?? We planned the beginning of our cruising around Illumination Night. We experienced this special evening in 2017 (more history and photos there) and it was unforgettable. It’s a magical night when thousands of colorful Japanese lanterns decorate charming Victorian “gingerbread cottages” (Oak Bluffs Camp Ground) light up the night. Festivities began at the Tabernacle with the Vineyard Haven Band and a community sing. The first event was held in honor of the visiting governor of Massachusetts in 1869. 

Illumination Night is so special that I will post the photos for this year even though there are photos in the 2017 blog post. We were happy to have another opportunity to experience this and share it with Don and Cindy.

First, we strolled through the campground before the sun set. Could it be possible that everything seems brighter and more festive than five years ago?

Before the dark descended we found seats in the tabernacle for a small piano concert, the Vineyard Haven band and the community sing-along. Sometimes it is a little hokey and old-fashioned but that is exactly what makes it charming, warming and worth every moment.

Then the magic really begins. Walking around the MV campground with only the light from these paper lanterns is something you never forget.

There were festive parties on most of the porches. Cottage owners with family and friends enjoying this night of lights and celebration.

What a fine beginning to our late summer cruising! Even though Oak Bluffs was quite crowded, and a bit crazy at times, it was definitely worth it.