Looking to celebrate spring in Nantucket? Then there’s no reason to miss the annual Daffodil Festival. Every year during the last weekend of April, the island comes together to enjoy picnics, art shows, and outdoor events.
Having started out simple in the 1970s with just an antique car parade followed by a community tailgate party, it’s grown into one of Cape Cod’s biggest attractions. The whole island gets in on the fun, from the 5K Race throughout the island, to local breweries offering special tastings, to many, many parades.
The premier event, of course, is the Community Annual Daffodil Show. Thousands of bold, cheery yellow blossoms easily chase away the remains of the dreary winter, with elaborate bouquets and arrangements competing for prizes. Amateur gardeners can learn tips on how to raise beautiful daffodils, while casual flower-lovers can enjoy the stunning blooms and sweet scent wafting through the air. Best of all, the show is free, though donations to the Garden Club’s Daffodil Planting Fund are encouraged.
Picnics are another huge part of the festivities. Despite over four decades passing since the first Daffodil Festival, the antique car parade and the following tailgate party in Siasconset has remained a constant favorite, especially for the locals. People put together both elaborate and simple picnics, inviting friends and neighbors to bring their own dishes to share.
Throughout the festival, Children’s Beach is the hot spot for family-friendly activities. Pack a lunch and let the kids play and enjoy the phenomenal Nanpuppets show. The Weekend Hat Pageant is a great way to feel fancy; open to men, women, and children, strut around the beach wearing fun, beautiful, and outrageous daffodil hats of your own design.
Got a creative streak? Like the Hat Pageant, there are tons of events geared towards anyone who likes to show off their skills. Kids can decorate their bikes, wagons, skateboards, and scooters and take part in the Children’s Parade, so long as they wear a helmet. Even the dog can get in on the action with the Daffy Dog Parade where they can dress up and win prizes.
All this and more makes Nantucket’s Daffodil Festival an event that no one should miss.
-By Ettractions Digital Content Editor, ALLISON BENNETT
Massachusetts: Boston
Other States: Connecticut Maine Massachusetts New Hampshire Rhode Island
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