Though the official first day of summer was a few days away, on Thursday evening in downtown Edgartown, the annual Taste of the Vineyard stroll to benefit the Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust was a way to mark the true start of the season.

This weekend was one of fine dining, high fashion and philanthropy in Edgartown. The Taste of the Vineyard, an event many say marks the beginning of the social season on the Vineyard, celebrated its 29th successful year.

The annual Taste of the Vineyard dinner and auction Saturday night turned into a tribute to artist Ray Ellis, who has raised more than $1 million for Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust over more than two decades.

For many, it was the season opener, a chance to reconnect with friends and “taste” all the flavors of the Island. The Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust, an organization that cares for historic Island buildings, hosted 850 guests and 90 vendors Thursday night at the 28th annual Taste of Martha’s Vineyard gourmet stroll.

The Martha's Vineyard Preservation Trust set a new record this week when it tallied up the results of its celebrated fundraiser, A Taste of the Vineyard. The private, nonprofit organization's executive director, Christopher W. Scott, announced yesterday morning that the 17th annual Taste, which now includes two separate but related events, a gourmet stroll and patron's dinner, raised $180,000 for the preservation trust.

The Martha's Vineyard Shellfish Group will be offering treats from Island waters at the Martha's Vineyard Preservation Trust's Taste of the Vineyard gourmet stroll this Thursday night. They'll have a booth featuring their flavorful Island-cultured oysters. This year, strollers will be able to compare oysters cultured in Menemsha Pond and oysters raised in Katama Bay.

The misting rain and chilly temperatures didn't keep people away from the Taste of the Vineyard Gourmet Stroll Thursday night. Men fixing the windsor knots in their ties and women still ripping tags from newly purchased clothes filled the tents on the Dr. Daniel Fisher House lawn to indulge in the food and drink of the Vineyard.

One Chilmark resident who made the trek down-Island for the Taste of the Vineyard festivities this weekend may have put it best.

“I haven’t come to Edgartown for years,” said the guest of the Saturday evening patrons’ dinner and gala auction. “You people have really come a long way.”

Martha’s Vineyard Preservation Trust executive director Chris Scott stood in his usual spot onstage with auctioneer Trip Barnes Saturday night, as Mr. Barnes kicked off the Taste of the Vineyard gala auction. With only five items up for bid, it was a light year for the trust. Bidders generally have some two dozen items to choose from.