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Posted by Carol Ward, guest blogger of www.mvol.com

By the look of the events taking place on Martha’s Vineyard in the month of October, one might well think that all we do around here in the almost-off-season is eat, drink and make merry.
From the onset of October until Halloween ghosts and goblins roam, the Island will host six culinary events that pretty much leave no weekend free of some event that is just about guaranteed to expand your food knowledge and waistband.
Sheep by Celine Segel

Photo: Harvest time on Martha’s Vineyard by Celine Segel

The month’s festivities begin on Saturday, October 4th, with the Living Local Harvest Fest, 2014, which takes place annually at the Martha’s Vineyard Agricultural Hall in West Tisbury. The day-long event features all sorts of green, farm-focused activities for all ages, including pumpkin carving, hay rides, beer tastings and music. A series of workshops exploring agricultural and locavore lore will also be available. As the night moves on, the music starts and a Community Pig Roast fires up. There is a $15/per person charge for dinner, and this is a BYOB and BYO place-setting event.
The very next week brings the 11th Annual Art of Chocolate Festival at Featherstone Center for the Arts on both Saturday and Sunday, October 11 and 12, from noon to 4 p.m. Inside, two tastes of the tempting chocolates, candies, cakes, and cookies are $5, and five tastes run $10.
Grapes by M Rosenthal

Photo: Fresh grapes by M Rosenthal

Recover from your chocolate-induced daze the next day, on October 13, at the Local Wild Food Challenge. The event is part of an international series that encourages the culinary use of local, wild foods. In addition to the MV Challenge, Maui, Hawaii; Punkaharju, Finland; Savoie, France; and Eastbourne and Glenorchy in New Zealand hold challenges of their own. Stop by to see what this year’s entrants have created in their quest to create the best dish with at least one wild ingredient.
With your interest in things culinary piqued, the next weekend (October 16-19) brings about Martha’s Vineyard’s 7th Annual MV Food & Wine Festival. As in years past, this event offers a combination of culinary experiences, dinners and tastings. Some of the most popular events of the Festival are the Grand Tasting and the wine dinners, and you can view a complete list and description of the event on their website. A number of Island hotels and inns, including Edgartown’s Harbor View Hotel and Hob Knob, are offering special packages around this event.
Next on the menu is Farm.Field.Sea, billed as ‘An Island Culinary Adventure,’ and for good reason! This multifaceted event includes full- and half-day options, during which participants explore the farms, fields and surrounding seas, learning how local farmers, fishermen and chefs combine and complement each other’s talents to create Martha’s Vineyard’s vibrant, farm-and-sea-centric food scene. There is also a locally sourced dinner with wine pairings created by chef Chris Fischer on offer at The Beach Plum Restaurant in Chilmark.
Harbor

Photo: Looking out over the harbor by Celine Segel

The feast of food-related events concludes on Friday, October 31, with Swine & Dine at the Harbor View Hotel. There, you’ll find live country music, local beer, and all-you-can-eat Pulled Pork Sandwiches, slow-smoked for an entire day from locally raised pigs and then served with a selection of BBQ sauces created by Island chefs.
If you’ve got an appetite for some fun and food this fall … Martha’s Vineyard’s table is set and ready.
Carol Ward is content editor at MVOL providing current information about the Island at www.mvol.com & www.mvolmobile.com. An Island resident for 30 years, Carol was formerly publications editor for MV Chamber of Commerce. She can be reached at [email protected].

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