On Wednesday evening at dusk, master of ceremonies Bob Cleasby led the traditional community sing in the Tabernacle while the surrounding area began to fill up with visitors.
A hush settled over the crowd as Camp Ground residents Joann and Mike Maitland were invited on stage to light the first lantern, signaling the start of the 153rd Grand Illumination celebration. The lantern was carried down the center aisle while the words of Genesis were read, detailing the biblical story of the first light.
The Tabernacle went dark for a moment, and then lanterns across the entire Camp Ground erupted, spreading warmth and color from porch to porch.
The Maitland’s cottage has been in the family since it was built in 1872, according to the couple. The porch was lined with lanterns, some homemade and others collected by the family throughout the decades.
“Coming back, I can remember my parents and Illumination Night,” said Ms. Maitland.
She added that although she didn’t have a clear memory of her grandfather, the porch boards are still worn down from his heavy army boots, so his presence remains.
“It’s semi-sweet because I think of it as the last of the summer season,” Ms. Maitland said.
For the Maitlands and other cottagers like the Cilley family, decorations have been preserved over the years. The porch of Meghan and Dan Cilley’s cottage is lined with lanterns painted by their daughter Reese.
“People are always adding to their collections, so it’s fun to see every year,” said Ms. Cilley.
Rhea Hughes, whose family lives on the Island, has been going to Illumination Night since he was a child. This year he brought both Kenny Falasha, who is new to the Vineyard, and Ben McMahon, a year-round resident, to see the lanterns for the first time.
“It sounded fun. Everybody was talking about it,” said Mr. Falasha.
Keely Wilson and her family have been enjoying Illumination Night for decades. This year, for the first time, they rented a cottage in the Camp Ground. Ms. Wilson and her 12-year-old son Rutherford stood on the porch hanging pink and red lanterns above the door before the sun began to set. Ms. Wilson said they chose the colors to honor the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and the Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, of which she and her husband are members.
A few streets away, Robbin Hamilton and Ruth Foster said they were beginning to get the hang of the event. Ms. Hamilton has been coming to Oak Bluffs for a decade and began renting a Camp Ground cottage with her husband and the Fosters three years ago. Earlier in the day, she sat on the porch getting ready by cutting patterns into brown paper bags to use as lanterns on the steps as she chatted with Ms. Foster.
Ms. Hamilton said that she will send pictures of the decorated cottage to the homeowners.
“We’re still learning this — the activity, the people,” said Ms. Foster. “We’re just enjoying the view.”
Whether seated on a porch or walking about the Camp Ground, fans of Illumination Night admired the views deep into the night, following a trail of brighly colored lanterns while the music of the Vineyard Haven Band set the pace.
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