Martha’s Vineyard Celebrating ‘Jaws’ 50th With Multi-Day Festivities

"It's a once-in-a-generation celebration honoring the film," according to Erica Ashton, Executive Director of the Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce.

Truer words have never been spoken as the island gets ready to celebrate a major movie milestone: 50 years of Jaws.

"We've been working with all the key stakeholders throughout the island to really make sure that there's something for everyone in terms of the fans and/or the people that are still alive that were extras or were part of the movie 50 years ago when it came out," Ashton said.

READ MORE: New Bedford's Connection to the Film Jaws

There's a slew of events this summer, from the parties to the screenings, book signings and special speakers, you can find it all on the Vineyard.

Friday, June 20

Festivities kick off Friday, June 20 (the anniversary of Jaws) with a premiere of the National Geographic documentary Jaws @ 50: The Definitive Inside Story.

Free tickets will be available on the Martha's Vineyard Chamber of Commerce website. It's highly recommended that you reserve a spot as the MV Performing Arts Center can only hold a select number of people.

Following the premiere, JAWS: The Afterparty will be held at the Roxy Pool Bar & Great Lawn at the Harbor View Hotel. Tickets are available via Ticket Leap.

Enjoy shark-themed cocktails, performances from the Aqualillies and more.

READ MORE: Narragansett Beer Celebrates 50 Years of Jaws With Throwback Cans

Saturday, June 21

See JAWS: In Concert on the lawn of the Winnetu in Edgartown. "We're bringing over the Cape Symphony for, you know, an outdoor screening under the stars," Ashton said.

Tickets for that event are also available via Ticket Leap.

Martha's Vineyard Museum

The celebrations continue at the museum with a new exhibit, Jaws at 50: A Deeper Dive.

The exhibit runs through September 7, giving summer visitors plenty of time to experience the artifacts and reignite their love of the film.

A love that, quite frankly, hasn't gone away over the past five decades.

"You can feel the energy in the island," Deputy Director Alessandra Hagerty said. "Everybody getting involved really feels like a very community-driven event here which is interesting because when they came here to film, it was very similar effect where it was a whole community effort."

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The town is preserved in time in a way. It hasn't changed much, still maintaining that quaint, seaside town that you know and love from the film. That frozen-in-time feeling is a huge draw for visitors.

"The Vineyard has remained so authentic," Hagerty said.

Experience the nostalgia, the sights, the sounds, the fun of the celebration this summer.

"We hope that people take a little bit of the movie magic back with them and they decide to return with their families for generations to come," Ashton said.