Nantucket Official Guide | Page 36

42nd Daffodil Festival Weekend, April 29-30, May 1, 2016
It’s all about that bulb (no tulips)!

©Cary Hazlegrove

From early April to mid-May, a profusion (over three million!) of daffodils of every hue, shape
and size burst forth across the island, adorning roadsides, gardens, window boxes and more.
Now in its 42nd year, the Chamber-sponsored Daffodil Festival is a rollicking celebration of
spring’s arrival, featuring an Antique Car Parade & Tailgate Picnic, Family Picnic, as well as
Daffy Hat, Dog and Children’s Parades.

Islanders and visitors alike rejoice in
the advent of the sun’s warm rays and
proliferation of the bright, cheery “signature”
island bulb. Don your daffiest “chapeau”,
adorn your pampered pet in Daffy-themed
garb, bedeck your vintage Packard in brilliant
buttery yellow, and join us in paying homage
to this most festive festival flower.
The Antique Car Parade (the Festival’s
central event) showcases over 100
handsomely decorated vintage automobiles
and motorcycles. Staging begins on Main
Street at 9:30 AM (take a “selfie” with your
favorites and vote in the categories of Most
Authentic, Best Decorated, People’s Choice
& Best in Show) and at noon, the venerable
vehicles wind through Town and perambulate
out to the charming village of ‘Sconset for the
Taligate Picnic. Pack a brimming basket of
sustenance, bask in the sun and enjoy an al
fresco lunch!
The Family Picnic holds court downtown
from 1-3 PM. Bring your blanket and picnic
lunch, and enjoy a FREE concert. It’s a mini-

34 • 2016 Official Guide to Nantucket

festival in itself, with face painting, balloon
animals, storytelling, and FREE rides in the
Nantucket Hotel’s antique fire truck! Do stop
to admire the splendidly “spruced” windows
of participating Chamber member businesses
vying for “Best Decorated” ribbons and the
“bragging rights” affiliated with that honor.
The annual Nantucket Garden Club
Daffodil Show always attracts a crowd.
There’s even a Daffodil 5K Race and a Used
Book Sale hosted by the Atheneum. Satisfy
your inner sleuth (and vie for prizes!) by
gathering a team and participating in the
weekend-long Scavenger Hunt, with clues
cleverly hidden throughout the Downtown.
And don’t forget to stop by the Chamber
office at 0 Main Street to pick up our Official
Daffodil Calendar of Events and peruse our
limited edition Daffy merchandise.
As Nantucket native – and winner of the
2016 Grammy Award for “Best New Artist” –
Meghan Trainor would heartily agree: It IS
all about THAT bulb (the daffodil, of course)!
Congratulations, Meghan!