Stormy weather from Hurricane Erin offshore postpones two beloved Island traditions - Grand Illumination Night and the Oak Bluffs Fireworks.
The annual Oak Bluffs tradition will now be held on Thursday, and traditional candles will not be allowed.
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.
Illumination Night will held as planned on August 18, but festivities have been modified and scaled back due to Covid concerns.