From early April to mid-May, daffodils of every color, shape and size bloom on Nantucket…nearly three million blossoms in shades of yellow, orange, white, and even pale pink bloom along Nantucket’s roadsides and in its gardens!
Daffodils bloom for nearly five weeks, and Springtime on Nantucket brings wonderful weather for all sorts of activities: bicycling, hiking, fishing, photography, bird watching…so many opportunities to enjoy Nantucket’s beauty!
Here are some highlights of this year’s annual Daffodil Weekend, April 29 – May 1, courtesy of Nantucket’s Chamber of Commerce:
Annual Window Decorating Contest: Judging begins at 12 PM on Friday, April 29. Merchants are encouraged to beautify their store windows with an original Daffodil Festival theme. Ribbons for Most Creative & Most Traditional are awarded at 4 PM. Stop by the Chamber office at Zero Main Street, for a list of participants and winners!
Annual Antique Car Parade: The grand event, held on Saturday, April 30, features over 100 daffodil bedecked antique cars (pre-registration necessary for participation). The decorated cars are staged on Main Street beginning at 9:30 AM, where they are judged in various categories including Most Authentic, Most Traditional Decorating, Most Creative Decorating and People’s Choice. New in 2011 – Antique Motorcycles! They will be staged on the corner of Federal & Main Sts. The parade begins at 12 PM by taking a right onto Centre Street, down Broad Street, a right onto So. Water Street & back up Main Street before taking a left on Orange Street, through the Rotary, out Milestone Road to ‘Sconset. Important Reminder: Main Street will be closed to traffic from 6 AM – 1:30 PM. Cars will be towed at owner’s expense.
Annual Daffodil Children’s Parade: This event, beginning at 10 AM (10:15 start) on Saturday, April 30 at Children’s Beach, is fun for children of all ages & their families. Decorate your bicycle, wagon, skateboard, baby carriage or other self-propelled wheeled conveyance with a Daffodil theme. Cookies, lemonade & ribbons for all! Children under 10 should be accompanied by an adult & all children on bicycles must wear a helmet.
Annual Daffy Hat Pageant: Beginning at 10:45 AM, Saturday, April 30 at Children’s Beach Bandstand is the Annual Daffy Hat Pageant! Show off your creativity! Festively decorate a daffodil-themed hat – from elegant to goofy – & come join the pageant! Open to men, women & children! Ribbons awarded in Adult & Children’s categories.
Annual Daffy Dog Parade: Is your dog in the daffodil spirit? Enter your decorated pup in this fun pageant on Main Street following the Antique Car Parade on Saturday, April 30 at 12:30 PM. Prizes and ribbons will be awarded to the Best Daffodil-themed dogs in 1st, 2nd and 3rd place. All dogs must be leashed and play well with others. Pre-registration required on the corner of Federal and Main sts the morning of April 30 from 10 AM – 12 PM.
Annual Daffodil Tailgate Picnic: Bring along your picnics & blankets from 1 – 3 PM on Saturday, April 30 and check out the antique cars on Main Street in ‘Sconset! Those attending are encourged to bike or carpool. The public may picnic on the north side of Main Street only. For the first time in many years, non-antique car Daffodil Festival picnic attendees will be given an opportunity to enter the picnic contest. The contest is open to AMATEURS ONLY (no professional chefs or catered food). For information on how to enter, please call the Chamber at 508-228-1700. Important Reminder: The public is reminded that the Tailgate Picnic in Sconset is held on public property and that, by law, open containers and consumption of alcohol is prohibited on a public way. Due to emergency vehicle concerns, parking will only be allowed on one designated side of certain streets and will be strictly enforced. Main Street ‘Sconset will be closed to traffic from 7 AM – 3 PM on Saturday, April 30.
37th Annual Daffodil Flower Show: Free admission! Enjoy show entries in horticulture, arrangement & photography at a new location – Bartlett’s Oceanview Farm on Saturday from 2 – 5 PM and Sunday from 10 AM – 4:30 PM (Shuttle service from town on Saturday only.) Sponsored and organized by the Nantucket Garden Club & American Daffodil Society.
