An island tradition for the last five decades, the annual Nantucket Daffodil Festival returns to the town of Nantucket on Friday, April 24.
The festival spans three days, running through Sunday, April 26.
History of the Nantucket Daffodil Festival
The festival began in 1975 as a way to welcome springtime on the island. Held on the last weekend of April, the festival began with flowers and slowly added more events like the tailgate and antique car show.
The first festival counted about 30,000 daffodils, but after purchasing 8 tons of bulbs and planting them around the island, Nantucket boasts millions of blooms.
Antique car parade and more
Three years into the parade’s inception, an antique car parade became a daffy weekend main event. Over 100 decorated antique cars line up on Main Street and loop downtown. In addition to the car parade, the island boasts millions of blooms and plenty of floral fun each day! This year, these are the events in the festival’s lineup:
- 50th Annual Daffodil Show
- Daffy Hat Pageant
- Children’s Beach Bike Parade
- Antique Car Parade on Main Street, Nantucket
- Tailgate Picnic in Siasconset
- NiSHA Daffy Dog Parade
- Daffodil Festival Bazaar
- Family Events at Children’s Beach
The day-by-day schedule of events is listed on the Nantucket Chamber of Commerce website.
How to travel to Nantucket from Boston
There are three ways to travel to Nantucket from Boston, via plane or via a car or train to the ferry terminal. JetBlue and Cape Air offer direct flights from Logan to Nantucket Airport.
You can also travel to Hyannis via car or bus from South Station and take the Hy-Line ferry or Steamship Authority ferry. Additionally you can take the Fall River/New Bedford Commuter Rail from South Station to New Bedford and board the Seastreak ferry to the island.
Where to stay on the island
If you travel early enough, you can spend the day on island and travel back in the same day. However, as one of New England’s most coveted stays, spending the night on the island is absolutely magical. There’s no better place to enjoy Daffy weekend than The Brant! The Brant is a stunning Michelin Key hotel just minutes from Jetties Beach, Downtown, and all of the Daffodil wekend festivities!
