Jaws Fest begins as guests arrive by ferry or plane and are greeted with signage and banners welcoming them to AMITY ISLAND. Local businesses will again display their 1975 signage from the filming, and over 20 members of the original cast & crew return to Amity for a fabulous weekend celebration. See schedule of events for where and when to see cast & crew.

Jaws will be playing on the big screen in local theaters as Peter Benchley, Carl Gottlieb, Joe Alves and others oversee the ribbon cutting ceremony at 10:00am Friday morning to kick-off the 3-day event. Shortly thereafter Carl Gottlieb will sign autographs in the meeting room at Amity Town Hall and Joe Alves will present a wonderful anamatics display and discussion on how the Jaws special effects were created.

Mid-day Friday, the fans will travel to the Tabernacle in Oak Bluffs, the neighboring town, to hear Peter Benchley speak at 1:30 pm about his experiences with Jaws and the "star" of the movie--the Great White Shark.

Later that night, at the beach at Owen Park in Vineyard Haven, Mike Haydn will play the music from the opening scene of the movie while a bonfire burns on the beach. Shortly afterward, Jaws will be shown on an outdoor movie screen creating a one-of-a-kind viewing experience on Vineyard Haven Harbor.

At the West Tisbury Grange Hall, just up from Alleys General Store, the worlds largest display of authentic Jaws props, memorabilia and private photography will be open to the public, allowing fans to experience JAWS - BEHIND THE SCREAMS all weekend long. This in-depth look at the impact of Jaws, how the film was made, rare behind-the-scenes photographs, costumes and screen-used props, will be supplemented by the showing of numerous documentaries about Jaws and the impact this ground-breaking movie has had on our culture.

In Vineyard Haven, the Chamber of Commerce office will serve as a central location where fans can obtain JAWS FEST SCHEDULES OF EVENTS & AMITY ISLAND MAPS that detail where the hallmark scenes from the film occurred. Participants can sign up for Island-wide Jaws tours to visit the many filming locations and participate in a weekend long TRIVIA HUNT where they can test their Jaws knowledge and win prizes at the closing events.

JAWS-FROM THE INSIDE OUT will present a series of educational forums and discussions with cast and experts as VIP speakers. These include:

• Sharks, Great Whites & the Waters Around Amity Island: Greg Skomal & Aidan Martin, shark experts and marine biologists to speak.
• JAWS Place in Film History: Carl Gottlieb, Steven Prince, Jeff Kramer, Bill Gilmore
• A Mechanical Shark, Floating Faces and Other Special Effects: Joe Alves, Greg Nicotero, Joe Fordham
• Locals, Not Just "Extras" & More: including Jeff Voorhees (Alex Kinter), Jay Mello (Sean Brody), Bob Carroll (selectman); Jeff Kramer & more.

Additional Speakers & details for these events will be posted as VIP travel plans are finalized.

(Edgartown) AMITY TOWN HALL will be a VIP hub where fans can mingle and obtain autographs from members of the cast and crew in the back meeting room used in the film. A detailed schedule of signings will be available by May 5th. Those confirmed to date include:

• Joe Alves
• Carl Gottlieb
• Jeff Kramer
• Jay Mello
• Greg Nicotero
• Marc Gilpin
• Bill Gilmore
• Lee Fierro
• Bob Carroll
• Jonathan Searle
• Steven Searle
• Jeff Voorhees
• Kristy Kingsbury Henshaw
• Edie Blake

On Saturday night, the AMITY BALL will bring fans together at the Hot Tin Roof at the airport for a celebration that will be the highlight of the weekend. Mingle and take photos with the cast & crew, hear great live music from Entrain, enjoy great food and deserts provided by Island chefs. Special guest appearances and a silent auction are also planned for this event.

Throughout the weekend participants will have the opportunity to become part of the Jaws legacy as Jaws Fest becomes part of the filming for a new documentary-in-the-making: JAWS - THE SHARK IS STILL WORKING, by James-Michael Roddy & Erik Hollander. Pre-production screenings from this documentary, focusing on the enduring legacy of the Jaws films, as well as interviews with production personnel, fans and celebrities that were inspired by the film will be shown in a variety of venues across the Island.

Sunday morning, for those up for the challenge, THE SHARK HALF-MARATHON will take runners from the Aquinnah Cliffs (at Gay Head) to Chilmark where they will look out over Menemsha Harbor, where the Orca last rested.
Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Shark Half Marathon has been canceled. Please check back next year.

The closing event of the weekend will be the JAWS FEAST, A TRADITIONAL NEW ENGLAND CLAMBAKE including lobster, chowder, steamers, corn, chicken & more where fans can gather, share their weekend experiences, mingle with cast & crew and receive prizes for the trivia hunt. Numerous VIP''s will also be available for autograph signings at this event.