Going To Illumination Night

My favorite event of the summer is Illumination Night, which this year is Wed., Aug. 17. Going to Illumination Night has always been a thrill for me, no matter what my age. My family tells me I always turn into an eight year old the moment I walk into the Campground. I agree.

I think I was two and a half the first time I went. I’m embarrassed to say that even with my annoyingly good memory, I don’t remember it. My first memory of Illumination Night involves wearing a particularly pretty dress, so I’m thinking I was around three or four.

The day of Illumination Night would usually creep along too slowly for me. Even going to the beach couldn't quell my excitement. Occasionally I'd get to help one of my mother's friends decorate her gingerbread cottage with her lanterns.  Even that honor couldn't quite quell my excitement. It came close, though.

My dad, mom, god-mother and I would have an early supper and then walk to the Campground. My dad and I would stroll around looking at all the beautifully decorated gingerbread houses, while my mother and god-mother would chat with friends and relatives.

At 8 p.m. the Vineyard Haven Band begins playing and the always fun Community Sing starts. Patriotic songs like "America The Beautiful," "Yankee Doodle" and "Battle Hymn of the Republic" are always stirring and emotional. It took me years to learn the words to all the songs, and I still get messed up on a couple of the rounds like John Brown’s Baby. The band playing the "Star Spangled Banner" and the rousing "Stars and Stripes Forever" are always crowd pleasers.

But as much fun as that was, it was only a precursor to the main event. The Tabernacle and Campground go dark . . . the crowd cheers. The lighting of the first lantern and then all the gingerbread houses are simoutaneously aglow with Japanese lanterns. Everyone "oohs" and "ahhs" and streams out of the Tabernacle to walk through the magical fairyland the Campground has become. My dad would carry me on his shoulders so I could see everything. I felt like I could touch the stars.

After seeing all there was to see, we’d head out onto Circuit Ave to either the Frosty Cottage (where Smoke 'n More Bones is) for ice cream or Darling’s (where Seasons is) for popcorn.  Always a tasty ending to a perfectly enchanting night.

I've now been able to share Illumination Night with my grandchildren. It's an event that pretty much remains the same year after year, generation after generation. It's Vineyard magic pure and simple.