The Island — and region — tilted toward Edgartown over the weekend, as thousands flocked to revel in the town’s yuletide festivities, marching in its parade, marveling at its luminous lighthouse and joining together in a collective spirit of giving.
The Christmas in Edgartown weekend began on Friday as crowds gathered on Memorial Wharf in eager anticipation of the annual lighting of Edgartown Lighthouse. Fleece-bundled throngs were joined by vendors and carolers, as well as hot chocolate and cookies supporting the Martha’s Vineyard Boys and Girls Club.
All of the proceeds from the night went towards the club’s upcoming food pantry, called the Blue Door Project, chef and food security officer Jenny Devivo explained. She said all of the ingredients had been sourced using a low-waste model.
“What we’re doing is we’re trying to really combat food insecurity by making sure everything is a full-circle moment,” Ms. Devivo said.
When the time came to light up the lighthouse, Edgartown board of trade executive director Erin Ready led the excited crowd in a countdown. And just as the lighthouse glowed on the horizon, a full moon — huge, golden and resplendent — illuminated the harbor, spotlighting the beacon for all to see.
On Saturday, festivities moved from the harbor to Main street as families and visitors in reindeer antlers, Santa hats and elf garb lined the cold downtown sidewalks for the Christmas in Edgartown parade.
But a warmth filled the air when an Edgartown police cruiser took the first left turn from Summer street onto Main, signaling the start of the procession.
Dozens of floats, ranging from tractors to trucks and classic cars, made their way through downtown Edgartown in a slow roll. Children threw candy from a Farm Institute trailer as festive music blared from speakers — only drowned out by the chatter of an excited crowd and the carolers that followed.
Alex Tamargo, who manages the restaurant company that owns Town Bar and Grill on Upper Main street in Edgartown, said that even in the cold, he and his family enjoyed traveling down from Woburn for the parade every year.
“It was great, the kids loved it — always a wonderful time,” he said.
For some already on the Island, the parade was a reason to get out of the house and introduce new members of the family to Island life.
“It was good. It was really good,” said Jarrett Campbell, with his young toddler propped up on his hip. “And it’s his first time getting to really see it.”
Closing out the parade, a line of antique fire trucks blared their horns as firemen waved to the crowd. Inside The Port Hunter, the Edgartown fire department set up shop, selling T-shirts to parade attendees.
“I’m just glad we’re kind of getting back to normal,” said Edgartown assistant fire chief Josh Baker. “It’s good to see the kids out — a lot of people are bringing their kids by.”
Hot cocoa was a big seller for street-vending fundraisers, but no stand was quite as busy on Saturday as the Girls Scouts with their cookies.
Although the weather was too cold for Edgartown’s signature sweet treat, ice cream, Mad Martha’s was still abuzz with enthusiastic children excited to see Felix Neck Wildlife Sanctuary’s pop-up nature museum. Off to one side, Sydney Pigott introduced young visitors to Boxy the box turtle and Corny the corn snake.
“They’ve been such good sports today,” Ms. Pigott said. She felt that both animals were strong with Christmas cheer, though Corny perhaps a bit more so. “She’s been feeling very festive,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Edgartown fire and police departments capped off either end of the last leg of Main street to create Candy Cane Lane. Zach Townes, Jake Sylvia and Will Bishop all kept warm at the front of the lane, collecting toy donations for the Red Stocking Fund. Mr. Sylvia said it was a successful year, with the departments gathering an abundance of bikes - the most requested item.
Visitors to the Thomas Cooke House at Cooke and School streets got a glimpse of early American Christmases as they toured the 18th-century dwelling, where placards described the holiday’s evolution from Puritan suppression in the 1600s to the Gilded Age heyday of Santa, songs and gift-giving that became the model for today’s celebrations.
Down the road at Morning Glory Farm, wood fires and holiday treats warmed the chilly, where the farmstand stove glowed inside and children in parkas toasted marshmallows at the end of long sticks over the outdoor fire pit, the soundtrack of Christmas music playing the background
Along with make your own s’mores, holiday visitors found cups of fresh cider and eggnog, platters of gingerbread cookies, crackers and cheeses, and even sliced kohlrabi, a winter vegetable from the Morning Glory fields that’s kin to broccoli and cabbage.
A lighted bough at checkout held a number of purple Christmas balls that grew with every donation of soup for Community Groceries, which distributes food to hungry Islanders.
As festivities came to a close, it was clear Christmas in Edgartown’s spirit of giving had extended far beyond Main street.
Brooke Kushwaha, Thomas Humphrey and Louisa Hufstader contributed reporting.
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