The Nantucket Daffodil Festival: A Celebration of Spring and Community
5:30 – 7:30 PM
Flower Crown Party at the Dreamland Theater Harborview Room
Thursday April 27th, 5:30pm – 7:30pm, at The Dreamland Theatre and make your own lush flower crown with Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce!
FRIDAY, APRIL 28, 2023
The Flower Power Party
Launch into Daffodil Festival Weekend with the Nantucket Historical Association’s Flower Power Party, in partner with N Magazine & the Nantucket Chamber. Tickets available at nha.org. Whaling Museum, 13 Broad Street.
SATURDAY, APRIL 29, 2023
9:30 AM – 3:00 PM
47th Nantucket Daffodil Festival Weekend Antique Car Parade & Tailgate Picnic
Visit town early to view the beauteously bedecked vintage cars line up on Main Street, people usually wear fun costumes. Vote on your favorites. “People’s Choice” ballots are available outside the Chamber office at Zero Main Street. Car staging begins at 9:30 AM. Parade starts at 12:00 PM and heads out to Sconset for picnic time!
10:30 AM – 11:00 AM
47th Nantucket Daffodil Festival Hat Pageant
Show off your creativity with a festively decorated, Daffodil-themed hat (elegant or goofy… it’s all fabulous fun!) and join the Pageant! Open to men, women, & children. Ribbons. Children’s Beach bandstand, Harbor View Way. A Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce signature event.
11:00 AM – 11:30 AM
Visit with Barnaby Bear at Children’s Beach
Meet Barnaby Bear this Daffodil Weekend! Join author Wendy Rouillard and her best pal, Barnaby Bear, as they meet and greet families at Children’s Beach. Surprise giveaways will be available.
11:30 AM – 12:00 PM
NanPuppets at Children’s Beach
Grab your picnic lunches and head to Children’s Beach for an original performance of Lizza Obremski’s phenomenal Nanpuppets to delight all ages.
12:00 PM – 12:30 PM
47th Nantucket Daffodil Festival Children’s Bike Parade
Fun for children of all ages and their families! Decorate your bicycle, wagon, skateboard, baby carriage or other self-propelled vehicles with a Daffodil theme, or simply come decked out in your best Daffy gear! Ribbons awarded to all participants. Children under 10 should be accompanied by an adult, and all children on bicycles MUST wear a helmet. Staging begins at 10:30 AM at Children’s Beach bandstand, Harbor View Way. A Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce signature event.
12:30 PM – 1:00 PM
10th Annual Daffy Dog Parade
All friendly, leashed pooches are welcome to participate! (Daffy costumes & decorations are strongly encouraged.) 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place prizes awarded; must be registered to win. Register ahead of time from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM at the Federal & Main Street corner table. Proceeds benefit Nantucket Island Safe Harbor for Animals (NiSHA). Parade will be held at Children’s Beach. A Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce signature event.
SUNDAY, APRIL 30, 2023
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Daffodil Festival Bazaar on the Tavern Patio
The Daffodil Festival fun doesn’t have to end with the Saturday festivities. Enjoy a diverse market of artisanal fares, from photography to unique jewelry. You don’t want to miss it! A Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce signature event.
Every year, as the last vestiges of winter give way to the bright colors of spring, the island of Nantucket comes alive with a spectacular display of daffodils. This annual event, known as the Nantucket Daffodil Festival, is a beloved tradition that celebrates both the beauty of the island and the strong sense of community that thrives there.
The Nantucket Daffodil Festival began in the 1970s, when a group of island residents decided to plant daffodil bulbs along the roadsides to brighten up the island after a long winter. The idea caught on, and soon the daffodils were everywhere, turning the island into a sea of yellow and white blossoms. In 1974, the first official Daffodil Festival was held, featuring a parade of antique cars decked out in daffodil decorations.
Today, the Nantucket Daffodil Festival is a weekend-long celebration that draws visitors from all over the world. The festival kicks off on Friday evening with the “Daffy Hat Pageant,” a whimsical competition where contestants don elaborate hats decorated with daffodils and other springtime motifs. On Saturday, the main event is the Antique Car Parade, which features hundreds of vintage cars decorated with daffodils and other springtime decorations. The parade winds its way through the streets of downtown Nantucket, with crowds of onlookers cheering and snapping photos.
In addition to the parade, there are many other events and activities taking place throughout the weekend, including a flower show, a children’s parade, a dog parade, and live music performances. The festival also features a “Daffy Dog Parade,” where dogs of all shapes and sizes are decked out in daffodil-themed costumes and strut their stuff down the streets of Nantucket.
But the Nantucket Daffodil Festival is about more than just flowers and parades. It’s a celebration of the island’s strong sense of community and the spirit of volunteerism that makes the festival possible. Many of the events and activities are organized and staffed by local volunteers, who give their time and energy to ensure that the festival is a success year after year.
The Nantucket Daffodil Festival is a true celebration of spring and community, and it’s an event that everyone should experience at least once in their lifetime. Whether you’re a lifelong island resident or a first-time visitor, there’s something magical about seeing the streets of Nantucket transformed into a sea of yellow and white blossoms, and feeling the sense of community and camaraderie that pervades the festival. If you’re looking for a way to welcome the arrival of spring and celebrate the beauty of nature and the strength of community, the Nantucket Daffodil Festival is an event that should not be missed.
