One of the most popular and fun ways to celebrate spring in New England is by attending the Nantucket Daffodil Festival, and if this event is on your radar, you’ve come to the right place! Having attended the festival personally, I’m excited to share the inside scoop on everything to expect, including what’s open, the best events, and more spring time fun to be had during your visit to this beautiful island.
Ready to get started? Let’s go!
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So, What Is Nantucket’s Daffodil Festival?
First thing’s first – you gotta know what the festival is all about, right? In a nutshell, this festival is the island’s way of celebrating everything spring, including community, flowers, local commerce, and gardening.
The very first Nantucket Daffodil weekend took place in 1975, and began as a simple Daffodil Show, but even still, included over 250 entries. It was also approved and recognized by the American Daffodil Society! During its first year, it was officially declared as Nantucket Daffodil Week.
As the years went on, it evolved into what it is today. The antique car parade and Sconset tailgate was added in 1978, and that same year, the Nantucket Garden Club planted one million daffodil bulbs around the island. Now, it’s said that at least two million daffodils bloom around Nantucket.
And now, of course, there are many more events to enjoy during the festival, which I’ll get into later in the post 😉
When Does The Nantucket Daffodil Festival Take Place?
This festival happens during the last weekend of April each year, which typically corresponds with the end of peak daffodil bloom season on the island.
Where To Stay On Nantucket For The Daffodil Festival
I highly recommend that you stay at a hotel that’s located in the downtown area, which is the heart of the island. This is where the ferries dock, and where you’ll find the majority of the island’s shops and restaurants. Most of your time will be spent downtown during Daffy Weekend.
Here are my suggestions on where to stay for the Daffodil Festival:
White Elephant: This luxury resort is where we stayed during our most recent Daffy Weekend experience, and it was worth every penny! It’s very close to Brant Point Lighthouse, and a short walk to the center of town. We stayed in a garden cottage, which is its own little residence, and it was so adorable and lovely. But, they have standard hotel rooms, and bigger cottages you can check out, too.
They also offer complimentary bikes that you can use during your stay, a courtesy car shuttle that’s free to use within 1 mile of the hotel, free Wave passes, free pick-up and drop-off at the ferry terminal, and a program that offers BMW cars for guests to use to explore the island (this amenity is done via a raffle system, and they only have two cars, and two time slots throughout the day, but still a fun perk that we were fortunate to take advantage of!).
→ Click here to check rates & availability at the White Elephant
Greydon House: Once a sea captain’s house, this historic property has been lovingly renovated into a modern but cozy New England-style inn. It’s also located in the heart of downtown, so you can walk to everything!
→ Click here to check rates & availability at the Greydon House
Union Street Inn: Named as the No. 1 small hotel in the U.S. by TripAdvisor, the Union Street Inn is an amazing choice for Daffy Weekend! They offer a complimentary homemade breakfast with your stay, super cozy rooms, and the inn is located in the heart of downtown, but set on a quiet street away from the hustle and bustle.
→ Click here to check rates & availability at the Union Street Inn
Fun Official Daffy Events To Check Out During The Festival
The Nantucket Garden Club’s Daffodil Show
The event that started it all! If you’re a flower lover (or are just in the daffy spirit!), the Nantucket Garden Club’s flower show at Bartlett’s Farm is a really fun event to attend. Gardeners submit not only their singular daffodil blooms into the show for judging, but also arrangements, so you’ll see a pretty big variety of flowers.
Bartlett’s Farm is also a really great place on the island to visit, and you’ll find specialty foods and locally-made products here. So come prepared to buy some things, too.
Pro Tip: The flower show is typically held on Saturday and Sunday during the festival weekend. On Saturdays only, there’s a free shuttle that runs from downtown to the show, making it easy (and cheap!) to experience it all.
Antique Car Parade & Sconset Tailgate
The main event of the weekend, as mentioned, is definitely the Antique Car Parade and the Sconset Tailgate, which is always held on the Saturday of the festival.
The best part of the car show is seeing them all lined up on Main Street before they head out to Sconset. This allows you to see them all decorated close-up and get some great photos! You’ll want to get to Main Street around 11a before all the cars leave at noon.
Pro Tip: Main Street between 10a-12p is when you’ll experience the biggest crowds downtown during the festival weekend, so come prepared! But the atmosphere is pretty fun, so it’s definitely worth it. Just know it’s as busy as it’ll get around this time.
Once the cars leave downtown, they all drive to Sconset for the big tailgate party. This part of the event is usually attended by island locals, and those that know people on the island, as you need to set-up your tailgate and picnic area someone. However, the event is open to the public if you’re able to plan ahead and join everyone out there.
The Daffodil Flower Crown Party
If you plan to really make a long weekend of the festival and arrive on the island on Thursday, you may want to consider attending the Daffodil Flower Crown Party, which usually takes place in the evening. This is also the perfect event to attend if you’re looking for something very fun to wear around town on Saturday (which a lot of people do!).
During this event, you’ll have a variety of silk spring florals to choose form, and learn how to form them into a personalized crown to wear during the festival.
Pro Tip: This is a paid event, and there are different prices based on whether or not you’re a member of the Nantucket Chamber. However, not only do they provide the supplies to make the crown, they also provide drinks and light snacks.
Children’s Events
There are lots of fun events for the kids, so if you’re planning to attend with the little ones, you’ll want to have some of these on your radar.
All of them usually take place at Children’s Beach, which is right by the White Elephant hotel, and there are puppet shows, a bike parade, and cute character meet-and-greets. The event schedule may differ from year to year, but there are always cute events going on at Children’s Beach for the kiddos.
Dog Costume Parade
Speaking of cute events, the best one (in my opinion 😉) that takes place at Children’s Beach is the Dog Costume Parade! This was such a delight to experience, and everyone was loving all the cute pups in their spring-inspired costumes.
Attendees dress up their doggies in their daffiest, Nantucket best, and strut around for the judges and crowd to vote on who wore it best (spoiler alert, it’s all of them!). This event is open to the public, and everyone can come by to watch. It usually takes place right after the cars leave Main Street, making it a perfect segue event in the afternoon.
Hat Decorating Contest
Both kids and adults are encouraged to join in on the very fun Hat Decorating Contest, which is open to everyone, and a lot of fun! Once you arrive on the island, you’ll see that pretty much everyone is wearing some kind of daffy-related attire, whether it’s all yellow, a costume, or a special hat. And a lot of people go all out by creating special and elaborate hats to wear all weekend long.
If you’re feeling especially daffy, you’ll want to come to the island with your own creation. Remember, have fun with it, and go all out! And be sure to enter the contest, because you could be the winner 😉
The Daffy Flower Power Party
Typically held the Friday night of the Nantucket Daffodil Festival, the Flower Power Party is the official big kick-off event that’s held at the Whaling Museum. Enjoy drinks, food, music, and a contest for the best daffy costume.
Cisco Brewers Post Parade Party
After the car show and tailgate out in Sconset, head to Cisco Brewers on the island to keep the festivities going! Usually starting at 3pm on the Saturday during the festival weekend, this very cool space has live music, and all the vibes.
On the grounds at Cisco Brewing, you can try all their drinks, including their own craft beers, canned cocktails, spirits, and wines. Most of it is outdoors with first-come, first-served picnic tables, and the atmosphere is always great.
Pro Tip: Cisco is located just under 3 miles from downtown, so you’ll need a way to get out there. Uber is usually the best option.
Important Note: While many of the same events during the festival happen each year, it’s good to check the official festival program by clicking here to get up-to-date information on what this year will hold. Many past events that are likely to stick around are the make-your-own daffodil cuff bracelet workshop, chocolate-making masterclass, historic ghost walking tours, wine tastings, scavenger hunts, and lots more. Plus, new events are typically added each year to expand on the festivities!
More Fun Things To Do On The Island During Daffy Weekend
Look For Daffodils All Over The Island
As mentioned, it’s estimated that there are over 2 million daffodils around Nantucket, and they all bloom throughout April. There are some impressive fields to scout out, as well as the opportunity to just enjoy clusters of them scattered around downtown.
The two prettiest daffodil fields that I found during my visit were at Goose Pond, which is walkable from downtown, and the greenway out in Sconset at the New Street and Main Street intersection.
When visiting the daffodil field at Goose Pond, keep in mind that the property is private, so you don’t want to cross through any barriers that are roped off, and be respectful of any signs asking you not to trespass. However, it’s very easy to admire the beautiful field from the road, and also grab some nice photos! The field is located at the Orange Street and Union intersection, and is only about a 15-minute walk from the center of downtown.
Next is the field at the greenway along Main Street in Sconset. This is along a main road (as the name suggests!), so you really want to be respectful and aware of your surroundings while driving by. Don’t stop in the middle of the road to take a picture. Instead, as you approach the greenway coming from downtown, you can easily find designated parking along the shoulder of the road where you can safely pull over and use the crosswalks to go right over to the field and enjoy it 😊
There are more fields of daffys all over the island, so part of the fun is hunting them down, and finding your own piece of Nantucket daffy magic in the spring season.
Enjoy The Spring Trees
In addition to the daffys, the cherry blossoms and other spring trees are usually in bloom during the festival weekend! You can easily spot these while walking around downtown, so keep an eye out.
Some of my favorite spots to spot spring trees downtown were by the Whaling Museum, India Street, and along South Water Street.
Head Out To Sconset: The Bluff Walk & Sankaty Head Lighthouse
Just after passing by the greenway field of daffys, you’ll find yourself in the heart of Sconset, which is one of the prettiest places on the island to see any time of the year. There are two big attractions here that are very worth your time, which are Sankaty Head Lighthouse, and the Bluff Walk.
In years past, Sankaty Head would have tons of daffys in bloom in the field around the lighthouse, but during my most recent visit, many of the flowers weren’t blooming, and they were more scarce. My thought is that many people have been walking on them over the years, and they’re getting damaged before they can store up energy to re-bloom the following year. However, it’s still more than worth it to see the lighthouse! It’s such a wonderful spot on the island, and makes for great photos.
Next, you’ll want to head over to the Bluff Walk, which is a gorgeous coastal walk that, quite literally, takes you through the back yards of the houses along the bluff, offering wonderful views of the ocean. This path is rather short at just under a mile one-way, however, it’s good to know that it’s pretty narrow, and not stroller or wheelchair friendly. Other than that, it’s flat and easy, making for a lovely stroll.
Along the Bluff Walk, you’ll also see groups of daffodil blooms, so this is the perfect excursion on a nice spring day on the island!
Also in Sconset is the beautiful footbridge just behind the Sconset Market, which is pretty much where the Bluff Walk starts – so be sure to check that out, too.
Enjoy The Decorations Around Town
One of the things I love most about Daffy Weekend on the island are all the beautiful decorations around town. You can tell that the residents and shop-owners enjoy showing off their daffy pride for the festival, and the window boxes and shop windows are just gorgeous.
All of downtown just seems like the set set of a spring Hallmark movie, so you’ll definitely want to spend some time enjoying it all.
Snap Your Photo With Brant Point Lighthouse
Of course, the most famous decoration for Daffy Weekend is the daffodil wreath on Brant Point Lighthouse. This lighthouse is the one you see as you approach the harbor on the ferry just before docking at the island, and the beach surrounding the lighthouse is open to the public.
The best time to take pictures here is at sunrise or at sunset, to avoid as many people as possible, and for the best lighting. It’s a popular photo spot, so if you come midday, you’ll want to anticipate waiting your turn to take a photo 😉
Celebrate The Juice Bar’s Opening Weekend
The town’s beloved ice cream shop, Juice Bar, usually opens for the season during Daffy Weekend (or close to it), so this is a great time to grab your first ice cream of the year! In fact, this is probably my all-time favorite ice cream place in New England, so know that the lines that form here are worth it.
The Juice Bar is right downtown, so it’s easy to walk to from anywhere in this area. They usually have a special flavor for Daffy Weekend, too, so be sure to check the board and see what unique options they’re offering.
I highly suggest getting one of their homemade waffle cones, too! They’re just so good, and you can usually smell them baking from the street 😊
Do Some Serious Shopping
Nantucket is known for having incredible shopping downtown, so if this is something you’re interested in, you’ll want to plan some time for this (and maybe also leave some extra room in your suitcase for your purchases!).
Most stores in the downtown area of the island were open for the festival weekend, and I didn’t run into too many seasonal closures. You’ll find everything here from souvenir and island-branded apparel shops, to high-end clothing and jewelry boutiques, and pretty much everything in between. Also, almost all the stores are independent boutiques, with just a few franchises like Vineyard Vines.
Some of my favorite places to shop at while on the island are:
→ Erica Wilson
→ Blue Beetle
→ Mitchell’s Book Store
→ Nantucket Looms
→ It’s A Shore Thing
→ Nantucket Clothing Company
→ Four Winds
Walk On The Beach
Depending on the weather the year you visit, you may want to head to a beach because the island has some of the most beautiful ones in New England. Parking at the beaches is also free for everyone, making them easy to experience.
Of course, the water will be way too cold for swimming in April, but a long walk on the shore on a nice day is worth it if you have the time!
I especially love visiting Madaket Beach for a gorgeous sunset. But Surfside and Sconset are also more of my favorites. But honestly, all the beaches on the island are so pretty. If you’re looking for an easy one to visit while staying downtown, Steps Beach is walkable from town (although a bit of an uphill hike, so you’ve been warned!). But the view from the top of the stairs leading down to the shoreline at this beach is postcard-worthy.
You may also want to consider renting a Jeep, and heading out to Great Point Lighthouse within the Coskata-Coatue Wildlife Reserve. If the weather is nice, and you have more time to explore the island during your trip, this is one of my all-time favorite things to do on Nantucket.
There are some things to know to get out there, so you’ll want to check out my post on visiting Nantucket’s Lighthouses to learn more 😉
Restaurants That Are Open During The Festival
Most restaurants on the island will begin to open up for the season during Daffy Weekend, but it’s good to know that some will remain closed until May. Here’s a list of restaurants I noticed were open during the festival:
My personal favorites:
→ The Seagrille (dinner)
→ Brotherhood of Thieves (lunch or dinner)
→ Charlie Noble (lunch or dinner, and great cocktails!)
→ Lemon Press (breakfast or lunch)
→ Something Natural (awesome sandwiches for lunch!)
→ Born & Bread (breakfast, sandwiches, and desserts)
→ Something Natural (breakfast or lunch – awesome sandwiches!)
→ Black Eyed Susan’s (breakfast)
→ Handlebar (coffee, tea, and pastries)
→ The Hub (coffee, tea, and pastries)
→ Breeze at the Nantucket Hotel & Resort (lunch or dinner)
More dining options open during Daffy Weekend:
→ Brant Point Grille at the White Elephant (lunch or dinner)
→ Lola 41 (dinner)
→ The Nautilus (dinner)
→ Sophie T’s (easy pizza delivery with online ordering!)
→ The Proprietors Bar & Table
→ Rose & Crown
→ Dune (dinner)
→ Walter’s Deli (on-the-go take out)
→ Sister Ship (dinner)
→ NanTaco (lunch or dinner)
→ Stubby’s (on-the-go takeout for breakfast, lunch, or dinner)
For a full list of restaurants open during the festival, you can click here to access the official Nantucket restaurant listings page, which notes the dates that they’re open.
More Nantucket Daffodil Festival FAQs
Can You Visit Nantucket For A Day During The Festival?
Absolutely! Since most of the official events take place on the Saturday during the festival, it can easily be done as a day trip. Ferries to Nantucket dock right in the heart of town, which also makes it easy to visit any time of the year for a day trip, including Daffy Weekend. Be sure to book your round-trip tickets well in advance to get the best ferry options!
What To Wear For Nantucket’s Daffodil Weekend
Weather in New England in April is notoriously moody, and Nantucket is no exception. When planning in advance, it’s a good idea to be in the mindset of expecting anything, including a light snowfall, cold weather, warm days, high winds, or rain. Then, once it gets closer to your trip, check the forecast a few days before leaving to see what it’s looking like. From there, you can typically plan accordingly.
I always recommend that you bring flat, comfortable shoes to Nantucket whenever you visit, regardless of the time of year. Nantucket’s streets are uneven, many of which are cobblestone and brick, so this is not a place for heels. I usually just pack sneakers for a spring visit.
You’ll also want to pack layers to stay warm, including a jacket (waterproof rain jacket is even better!), light sweaters, pants, and dresses and skirts that can be worn with a sweater. During my most recent visit in April, I got very lucky with weather, and had one day that was sunny and in the low 60s, so I was able to wear a linen, short-sleeved dress, and just threw on a sweater with it in the morning and evening.
The most important thing is to just be comfortable, so don’t overthink what to wear. Most people are in jeans and sweatshirts/sweaters, with some colorful hats and such to celebrate the festival.
Lastly, if you’re planning any nice dinners out, you can pack either a cute spring dress, or nice pants, top, and a blazer/jacket. This depends on how upscale the restaurant is, but generally, you don’t have to go super fancy – business casual is about as fancy as you’ll need to go. But of course, this won’t be necessary if you’re planning to dine out at casual places on the island. Even at Seagrille, most people were in jeans and sweaters.
How To Get To Nantucket For Daffy Weekend
The ferry from Hyannis on Cape Cod is the best and most popular option, and there are two companies that fun ferries from Hyannis – Hyline Cruises & Steamship Authority. Both offer a 1-hour ferry service to the island, and both are great options. They’re also located pretty close to each other un Hyannis.
I do have a slight preference for Hyline, because if you book well in advance and choose to pay extra for the on-site parking, I think it’s worth it. Hyline lets you do this online when you reserve your ferry tickets. There are a limited number of on-site parking spots at both ferry terminals, though, and most people need to park in the off-site overflow lots, and take the free shuttle to the ferry terminal.
Steamship Authority does not allow you to book your parking in advance online or otherwise, which is why I slightly prefer Hyline. However, both options are great.
It’s recommended to allow at least 1 hour before your departure time to get to the ferry, park, and queue up. Especially during a festival weekend, it will be busy, and most ferries are sold out through the weekend.
Pro Tip: One thing to note about parking is that the off-site Steamship Authority lot may sell out completely, and you’ll need a back-up plan for parking. This happened to us during one trip to the island for the festival. Thankfully, we stayed overnight the night before our ferry at the Harbor Hotel, which is right across the street from the Hyline ferry terminal. We explained what happened, and they allowed us to park at the hotel for the weekend (for an added charge). Phew! So definitely have a back-up plan for parking if taking Steamship.
Getting Around During Daffy Weekend – Do You Need A Car?
Definitely do not bring your car to Nantucket – this is a good rule of thumb to follow for a visit any time of the year! It’s very expensive to bring your car on the ferry, and parking downtown during a festival weekend will be very challenging, and not worth the stress.
I recommend booking a hotel that’s in the downtown area, so you can walk to shopping and dining, and then using The Wave island bus, or Uber, to get around to other parts, if needed. If it’s a nice day out, you can even rent bikes to get to places like Sconset.
Many hotels offer free Wave tickets, so be sure to ask when you make your reservation. There’s a line that runs directly to Sconset, too, making it easy to visit without a day. Alternatively, if the weather is a nice, the bike path out to Sconset is flat and easy. There are a few places right in town that offer bike and moped rentals.
How Many Days To Stay On The Island For The Festival?
Well, this really depends on how much time you have! I stayed for two nights, and arrived around noon on Friday, and departed around noon on Sunday. I dropped off my bags at the hotel once I arrived, and went out to explore the island’s decorations and grab a quick lunch while I waited for my room to be ready. This felt like plenty of time, but I’ve also been to Nantucket many, many times before 😉
If you’re looking to expand your trip by a day or two, I’d recommend arriving on the island on Thursday, and departing on Sunday or Monday. This would allow you to tack on some extra festival events, like the Flower Crown Party, and also have a day to explore more sites around the island while still soaking in all the Daffy Weekend festivities.
Is There A Fee To Attend The Festival?
No, the general festival is free for everyone to attend. There are some specific events that require an added cost, like the Flower Crown Party, Daffy Party, etc., however, the antique car show and tailgate, flower show, dog parade, and children’s events are all free.
Your main costs will be your ferry tickets, hotel, and dining while on the island. And, of course, any shopping you do while there 😉
Is The Festival Crowded?
Yes, a lot of people visit the island to attend this festival, so you’ll want to expect crowds. I didn’t think it was quite as crowded at the Christmas Stroll weekend, but it was definitely pretty busy. I will say, Main Street on Saturday morning before all the antique cars head to Sconset is when you can expect the most crowds.
Once all the cars left downtown and went to Sconset, things felt pretty calm and not too busy. So, this really depends! But generally, it’ll be more crowded than a typical April day on the island.
Finally, Is The Nantucket Daffodil Festival Worth It?
I think so, yes! Between all the fun events, decorations around town, overall cheerful atmosphere, and of course, the natural beauty of the island itself, the Nantucket Daffodil Festival remains one of my top-rated spring activities in the region! The island really embraces everything that’s wonderful about spring, and you can feel the excitement while you’re there.
Of course, I think a lot of this is weather-dependent, too. Many of the most fun activities are outdoors, so if it rains a lot, that could put a damper on things. I had amazing weather during my most recent Nantucket Daffy Weekend getaway – I had hardly any rain, and from what I understand, it was one of the best years for weather in a while. So, that definitely adds to having a great weekend getaway.
That said, even during a rainy weekend, the Daffodil Festival has so many fun things to do that I think it’s worth the effort to get there rain or shine. The parties and such are all indoors, and there’s plenty of wonderful shopping, dining, and decorations to enjoy. Plus, if you book a nice hotel to cozy up in, it makes for a fun place to relax while you wait out the rain.
My Top Tips For Planning Your Nantucket Daffodil Festival Trip
→ Plan in advance, especially if you need to book a hotel or ferry (and even more especially if you’re coming for the day on the Saturday ferry!). Ferries to the island tend to book up a few months in advance, so book as soon as you can! This also goes for hotels. I found that it wasn’t quite as crazy as booking things for Christmas Stroll, but I was definitely seeing ferries and hotels sell out for the weekend as the event got closer, so keep this in mind.
→ Map out what events you want to attend, and see if any of them require additional tickets. Some of the events only offer a certain number of available tickets, so if you have your heart set on something, you’ll want to plan ahead for this, too.
→ Make dining reservations! I noticed it was very hard to get into places for lunch, and wait times were up to an hour at peak lunch time. And for dinner, many places booked out completely for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
→ Check with your hotel to see what services they offer before arriving to the island. Some of the fancier ones offer free pick-up and drop-off at the ferry terminal. Some also offer free Wave bus passes, can make dining reservations for you, etc. If it’s your first trip to the island, these things are very helpful.
More of my Nantucket guides you may find helpful:
- Ultimate Nantucket Day Trip Guide
- Nantucket vs. Cape Cod For Your Vacation
- A Guide To The Nantucket Christmas Stroll
- Nantucket In The Winter: Is It A Good Time To Visit?
- Nantucket vs. Martha’s Vineyard For A Day Trip
More of my spring guides you may enjoy:
- Fun Things To Do In Spring In Massachusetts
- Best Places To See Cherry Blossoms & Magnolias In Boston
- A Guide To New England In The Spring
That’s A Wrap On My Guide To The Nantucket Daffodil Festival
And there you have it! You now have the inside scoop on what to expect when you attend the Nantucket Daffodil Festival, and hopefully, you’re ready to plan the perfect weekend away, or day trip during this special time of the year on the island. Happy spring!
