Sixteen hundred pairs of sandy Vineyard racing feet will once again be running side-by-side down Middle Road this summer after the Chilmark board of selectmen voted to approve the in-person Chilmark Road Race at their meeting Tuesday.

The race — an iconic 5K that winds through the scenic hills, overlooks and stone walls of Middle Road — has become an annual, fast-paced peak summer pilgrimage for Islanders since its inception in 1978 as a fundraiser for the Chilmark Community Center.

Held last year as a “virtual race,” with longtime participants electing to remotely run their own 5K routes across the globe due to the pandemic, the event will be back in-person for 2021, organizer Hugh Weisman said at Tuesday’s meeting.

The 2020 virtual race was the first time in 42 years that the event hadn’t occurred, rain or shine, on its normal, 3.1-mile track that begins just after Tea Lane and ends at Beetlebung Corner.

“It feels great to be back,” Mr. Weisman said over the phone on Wednesday. “I wouldn’t have wanted to do a virtual race again for a second year. It was fine for the novelty. But once is enough.”

The race is scheduled for Saturday, August 14, with registration opening at 8 a.m. on July 1. Registration will close July 15, with a maximum of 1,600 slots open for registration.

“It’s a lot of people for a little road,” Mr. Weisman noted.

At the meeting Tuesday, Mr. Weisman said that the race would be largely unchanged from prior years, with the same course and layout.

Registration will occur under a tent outside town hall on race day, according to Mr. Weisman.

“We were concerned we would have to do a staggered start and maybe even have a different course, but it’s going to be the same,” Mr. Weisman said. “We’re pretty confident with both minor precautions and the situation on the ground, being primarily an outdoor event that we’re okay.”

Runners will be provided masks with their registration to wear on shuttle buses, and most gear will be presold, online or delivered through the mail. But masks will not be required for the race portion of the event — only the bus ride.

“They can put the mask in their pocket,” Mr. Weisman said.

Selectmen approved the road closures and use of town hall unanimously at their meeting Tuesday after police chief Jonathan Klaren reviewed the plan.

“I’m happy to see it’s back on, and wish them great success,” selectman Bill Rossi said.

Selectman Jim Malkin did have one concern.

“The only question I have is: I haven’t run since the eighties. When did they start putting pockets in running shorts?”

“I think it’s a tragedy and I’ve never done it,” Mr. Weisman replied. “I’ll make a special shirt for you with pockets.”

In other business, selectmen granted Chilmark Book Festival organizer Suellen Lazarus approval to consolidate the festival to two days — Saturday and Sunday — rather than the originally approved five days.

At the meeting, Ms. Lazarus said the festival would occur on Saturday, August 7 and Sunday, August 8, with six to eight daily talks running roughly from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Ms. Lazarus also said she was now considering two tents, rather than one, with capacity at 250 and 150 people respectively.

Programming scheduled for the Thursday and Friday before the Chilmark portion of the festival would still occur at the Martha’s Vineyard Museum.

“It just relieves congestion in Chilmark and Beetlebung Corner,” Ms. Lazarus said. “So this way we would be part of the time up Island, and part of that time down Island.”

Selectmen approved the changes enthusiastically.

“It seems to me to be a good change,” selectman Warren Doty said. “Suellen has this very well organized.”

Selectmen also heard a report on Menemsha sunsets from Chief Klaren, who did not note any major congestion issues in the fishing village.

Select board meetings will be held in person, with the option for remote participation, starting July 6, selectmen decided Tuesday. The discussion prompted concern from resident Tim Rich, first on the issue of whether the meetings would have an in-person option, and later on whether a vaccine would be required for attendance.

Although Mr. Malkin said he would prefer if in-person meeting attendants were vaccinated, he said it could not be required.