Emily Gajda
Beginning with the arrival of the Amistad into Vineyard Haven harbor Thursday through a gospel brunch in Edgartown on Monday, the Vineyard celebrated Juneteenth with joy and reverence.
Several whales and other marine animals were seen off the Vineyard shores this week, a sign that summer is approaching.
Weekend Juneteenth events continue, including tours of the Amistad, a replica of the historic vessel that was the setting of a slave revolt in 1839. The cultural festival, originally scheduled for Saturday in the Tabernacle is now at Union Chapel, beginning at 3 p.m.
A decomposing humpback whale was seen beached but still in the surf on South Beach Monday, and a second humpback was found on East Beach on Chappaquiddick Tuesday morning.
An aerial survey team of scientists from the New England Aquarium saw a pod of four orcas swimming approximately 40 miles south of Nantucket during an aerial survey on Sunday.
People on South Beach Sunday were treated to the sight of whales slapping the water close to shore.