The Ceilidh on Vineyard Avenue

In Scottish, it’s called a ceilidh (pronounced kay-lee), which literally translates as a visit or gathering where friends and family share songs, stories and dance.

On Saturday, August 1, the Scottish Society of Martha’s Vineyard is bringing this tradition to the Vineyard. This first in a series of Island ceilidh will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. at the Portuguese-American Club on Vineyard avenue in Oak Bluffs. The evening will highlight the talents of West Tisbury singer-songwriter Sofi Thanhauser.

The series, dubbed the Old Ways Ceilidh, will be held on dates that fall close to the old Celtic calendar’s festival days: the solstices, equinoxes and cross-quarter days, which fall midway between the solstices and equinoxes. The ceilidhs will benefit the society’s high school scholarship fund.

Each ceilidh features a singer, musician, storyteller or dancer who will perform throughout the evening, in between performers who sign up in advance or at the doors for the open mike sessions. All genres of entertainment are welcome.

Suggested donation is $15. For details, call 508-955-9024.