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 for Grand Illumination Night.

Both newcomers and longtime attendees reveled in Illumination Night Wednesday. The annual tradition dates back more than 150 years when the event was first held to welcome the governor of Massachusetts to the Island.

Irene Murdoch at 99 years old lit the first lantern Wednesday evening at the 151st Grand Illumination Night in the Oak Bluffs Camp Ground.

Once again lanterns will be hung by the porches with care as Grand Illumination night returns this summer on August 18.

Skunks outnumbered pedestrians in the Oak Bluffs Campground Wednesday evening on what would have been Illumination night.

The Oak Bluffs fireworks will be cancelled this year due to the pandemic, the town firemen’s civic association said late Wednesday.

On Wednesday evening the Grand Illumination started the same way it has for 150 years — with a community sing.

With Illumination Night, the Agricultural Fair and Oak Bluffs fireworks all on the docket, this week marks the high point of traditional summer events on Martha’s Vineyard. It all begins at sundown tonight, with the 150th Grand Illumination.