Vineyard Haven Band Celebrates 150 Years of Island Concerts
Late in the afternoon, people begin gathering in Ocean Park for the Sunday band concerts.
Late in the afternoon, people begin gathering in Ocean Park for the Sunday band concerts.
Jim Athearn mans the trombone.
Jim Athearn mans the trombone.
Julie Schilling conducts the band through the Great Waldo Pepper March.
Julie Schilling conducts the band through the Great Waldo Pepper March.
A summer tradition for young and old alike.
A summer tradition for young and old alike.
Vineyard Haven Band has been performing on Island for 150 years.
Vineyard Haven Band has been performing on Island for 150 years.
Many musicians picked up instruments after not playing for awhile.
Many musicians picked up instruments after not playing for awhile.
Night falls on Ocean Park.
Night falls on Ocean Park.
Marching around the bandstand to the tunes of the Vineyard Haven Band has passed down through generations.
Marching around the bandstand to the tunes of the Vineyard Haven Band has passed down through generations.
Founded in 1868 by 18 Civil War veterans from both the Union and Confederate armies, the Vineyard Haven Band is the Island’s oldest. It is also one of the three oldest bands in the United States that have performed regularly since they were founded. Sunday evenings in either Ocean Park or Owen Park's bandstands, they are a summer staple whose tradition goes back generations. This year is the Vineyard Haven Band's 150th birthday. To that, we raise our trombone and toot a salute.