What's Going On Around Nantucket?

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Wednesday, May 27th:

- Toddler Time With Miss Melanie: Your toddler will get ready for preschool in this fun, play-based class with educator Melanie Hajjar. Each week includes a new theme with circle time, hands-on activities, engaging toys to explore, and a project to create together. From 10:30-11:15 a.m. in the gallery - space is limited.

- Reader's Advisory With Annye Camara: Looking for your next great read? Join the Atheneum's Reader’s Advisory Group from 11-12 p.m. and meet with Annye Camara, who will help you discover books tailored to your interests. Whether you’re in a reading slump or eager to explore something new, come chat, share what you love, and leave with great recommendations. Free and open to all.

- Calling All Writers: Join with other writers to share written work from 2-4 p.m. We meet Wednesday afternoons online through Zoom. Read work on which you wish to have reader feedback: memoirs, poetry, travel, essay, fiction. (Due to limited space and popular demand, this program is wait list only. For more information, please contact saguiar@nantucketatheneum.org).

- Library Legos: From 3-4 p.m., join the Atheneum for some creative construction. The library will supply the LEGO bricks and you can have some fun. The program is free but space is limited.

- Teen Trivia: From 4:30-6 p.m., join the Atheneum for an evening of trivia just for teens. Bring a friend or come alone and test your knowledge. Snacks will be provided. This program is intended for ages 13 and up.

- Atheneum Game Night: From 5:30-8:30 p.m., join the Atheneum for their weekly table top game night. They have a variety of fun board games and card games and host fun Mag-ACK The Gathering groups as well as the return of their Dungeon's & Dragons drop-in sessions. Space is very limited for the Dungeon's & Dragons session and is first come, first serve. Experienced players and newbies are all welcome. Game Night free and open to adults and teens (13+).

- Language Exchange Program: From 6:00-7:30 p.m., are you interested in working on your Spanish/English in a relaxed and fun environment? Come to the Nantucket Atheneum's Language Exchange Program lead by Shannon Ross. Free Admission and this is open to the public.

- Teen Dungeons & Dragons Club: From 6-8 p.m., join the Atheneum to explore dungeons, battle monsters, and let your inner warrior out in our beginner-friendly Dungeons & Dragons club. All you need to bring is your untapped imagination and a hunger for adventure. All skill levels welcome. This event is intended for ages 13-18. Space is limited so please arrive on time. You can register by emailing shurd@nantucketatheneum.org.

- Atheneum Knitting Group: From 6:30-8:30 p.m., the Atheneum is calling all knitters. Gather your projects and supplies and go knit with them. Are you curious about learning how to knit? Their group of veterans can get you started. Are you stymied by a challenge in your project? Their group can help with that. The Atheneum Knitters Group is a fun, relaxed place to share your projects with like-minded people or learn new techniques. Free admission

- Nantucket Wine and Food Festival Welcome Night: Let the Games Begin! Join the Nantucket Wine and Food Festival for the opening night of NWF 2026 from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm! As the Luminaries arrive to the island, join the winemakers, chefs, sommeliers, and partners at the Nantucket Hotel to raise a glass with the talent and enjoy the first tastes of NWF 2026. Festival friends come together for the first of many memorable NWF experiences. Vintners pour their best, while our island & visiting chefs demonstrate why Nantucket is known as a culinary destination. From Opus One and Ca’ del Bosco to Galley Beach and Bartlett’s Farm – you will experience a little taste of what’s to come over the next four days! Must be 21+ to attend this event. Tickets are $250 and can be purchased here.

- Birding Field Trip: Birding Field Trips are free and open to all! The trip will explore Nantucket’s birding hotspots and offer participants a chance to observe birds in their natural habitats. Binoculars, spotting scopes, and field guides are available to borrow. All experience levels welcome. Pre-registration is required. Please submit a unique registration for each participant. The deadline to register for each Wednesday’s trip is Tuesday at 12 pm. Plan to meet at 7:45 AM at the LLNF office, 110 Eel Point Road, to check in and board our van. The trip will depart promptly at 8 AM. Personal transportation to and from LLNF is required to participate.

- Stargazing with the MMA: An event with the Nantucket Wine & Food Festival: Enjoy an evening of Stargazing from 8:00 pm to 9:30 pm with the Maria Mitchell Association while sipping Taylor Fladgate cocktails, rose wine, and other indulgences at the famed Loines Observatory, where the stars in the Nantucket sky take over for the night! The MMA Director of Astronomy, Dr. Jackie Milingo, will guide you through the constellations and let you peer at distant celestial bodies, and perhaps Saturn, through the antique 8″ Alvan Clark telescope and the 24″ Cassegran research telescope. Learn more about the constellations, phases of the moon, the planets, and why eclipses happen. Event cost is $100. Buy tickets here.

- Tidal Trek - Nighttime Horseshoe Crab Walk 5.27.26 Little Neck: From 9 pm to 10:30 pm, join NCF’s Education Coordinator & Ecologist Neil Foley on an exciting program at Little Neck in Madaket Harbor. Learn about our ongoing research at the height of horseshoe crab mating season and experience the ecology of Nantucket’s harbor-facing beaches at night. Get acquainted with some of the island’s nocturnal wildlife like horseshoe crabs, eels, night herons, and more! Space is limited. Water-shoes/boots required. Headlamps/flashlights recommended.

Thursday, May 28th:

- Titos Yappy Hour: Stop by the Farm during the new day/time for a Yappy Hour. There will be Tito's cocktails, coffee by Atomic Coffee Roasters, snacks from Bartlett's, and, of course, DOGS. Tito’s has long been known for their charitable vision as the Vodka for Dog People. Their mission is to better the lives of pets and their families far and wide. This annual NWF fundraiser celebrates the island’s love and support of dogs, Tito’s generosity and mission – and NiSHA’s amazing dedication to our island animals. This is an official Nantucket Wine Festival event. We want to thank them for partnering with us and for their ongoing support! Tickets are $25 each and must be 21+ to purchse/ 100% of ticket sales and donations will go to NiSHA. Tito’s Handmade Vodka will generously match all funds raised.

- The Adventures of Nancy Gardner Prince Book Talk: Located at the Whaling Museum at 5:30 pm, Dr. Karttunen will show and tell how the book was created by herself and illustrator John Walsh. The Nantucket Historical Association has published a book about the daughter of a Black Nantucket seaman who wrote her autobiography in 1850. An original first edition is one of the treasures of the Nantucket Atheneum. Full of sea travels to distant lands, it has now been adapted for young adult readers as The Adventures of Nancy Gardner Prince, Written by Herself. This event is free for the community, and you can register on the Whaling Museum website.

- Toddler Storytime: From 9:30 to 10:00 am, join the Athenum in the Gallery for some short stories, fingerplays, and songs designed to foster pre-literacy skills. Space is limited, and tickets will be available at the Weezie Desk when the library opens.

- Preschool Storytime: From 10:30 to 11:00 am, join the Athenum in the Gallery for a special 30-minute story time featuring new and classic stories, fingerplays, and songs. For children aged 3 years and older.

- ELL Beginner & Intermediate English Courses: ELL Beginner’s & Intermediate English class for those seeking to improve their English language skills and seeking to learn basic conversation used in daily activities. The Literacy Volunteers of the Atheneum (LVA) offer a drop-in beginner class every Thursday evening at the library at 6 p.m. The class is free, conducted in English and pre-registration is not required. For more information contact Cheryl at ccreighton@nantucketatheneum.org, or 508-228-1110 x113.

- Milestone Center Site Tour: From 3:00 to 4:00 pm, tour the future site of NCF’s new home, The Milestone Center, with President & CEO Cormac Collier and NCF staff. Learn about how the Center will feature a research and education facility, as well as staff housing, that will strengthen our ability to protect and steward over 9,000 acres across the island.

- Nantucket Wine and Food German Riesling Revolution: Jenna Fields, founder of The German Wine Collection (GWC), is redefining German wine in the U.S. by shifting focus from sweet stereotypes to high-quality, dry, and diverse. A 2025 Food & Wine Drink Visionary, she champions modern, sustainable, and “sexy” German wines. Join host Amanda McCrossin for a lively and interactive tasting seminar with Jenna Fields to completely dismantle every stale notion you’ve ever had about German wine. Prepare to be amazed and delighted and walk away with a whole new perspective – and newfound love for German wines. Tickets are $125 each and must be 21+ to purchase. This is located at the Nanutcket Hotel and Resort from 2:00 to 3:15 pm. Link to purchase

- Nantucket Wine and Food Bubbles and Caviar: Join the entertaining Anthony Giglio, acclaimed wine authority and big personality, for a tasting journey through northern Italy with two of Italy’s most prestigious producers – Calvisius Caviar and the iconic sparkling wines of Ca’ del Bosco. Both hail from the Lombardy region, nestled between the famed vacation destinations of Lake Como and Lake Garda. Anthony will offer thoughtful insight into the craftsmanship and character behind these celebrated pairings, while Ca’ del Bosco’s winemaker, Maurizio Zanella tells tales of the vineyards, and Chiara Carfi of Calvisius shares history and stories of the beloved Italian Caviar. The tastes will be unparalleled. This passionate presentation is not to be missed. A perfect pre-Gala experience! Tickets are $200 each and must be 21+ to purchase. The event runs from 2:30 to 4:00 pm. Link to purchase

- Nantucket Wine and Food Island Gala: Indulge in an extraordinary evening of culinary artistry, featuring 40+ curated pairings from the world’s top winemakers and award-winning chefs. This elegant, walk-around tasting soirée features a global collection of talent, boasting over 40 exclusive pairings from renowned winemakers and award-winning chefs. Vintners from prestigious regions—including California, France, Italy, Germany, and beyond—will showcase a single, elevated vintage paired with culinary masterpieces from premier chefs across the US, along with special guest chefs from France and Argentina. The Island Gala is the ultimate “Who’s Who” of the food and wine scene. GA Tickets are $400 with VIP tickets being $450, and can be purchased here. The event runs from 6:00 to 9:00 pm and is 21+ only.

- Historic Walking Tour of Nantucket: Join the 3-Time runner-up in the Nantucket Quiz Bowl on a 1/2 mile. 80-minute easy afternoon stroll along the beautiful cobblestone streets of downtown Nantucket as you hear the story of "the most important small town in American history". The tour starts at 2:00 pm at the corner of Centre St. and Main St. Admission is $25 for adults (ages 20 to 64), $20 for seniors (65 and over), $15 for teenagers, and $10 for kids aged 6 to 12. It is cash only, and no reservations are necessary.

Friday, May 29th:

- Stargazing at Loines Observatory: Join professional astronomers at the Maria Mitchell Association’s Loines Observatory for Open Night Stargazing sessions held June through November on Nantucket. Guests can explore the night sky through historic and modern telescopes while viewing the Moon, planets, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies, as well as learning about current astronomy research. The all-ages outdoor program takes place at 59 Milk Street, with tickets costing $25 for adults and $15 for youth. Pre-registration is recommended, and events are weather-dependent. Register Here!

- Nanpuppets at the Shipwreck and Lifesaving Museum: Join Lizza and her beloved cast of puppets at the beautiful museum grounds for a fun, half-hour show for all ages. Weather permitting, the show will be held on the lawn - picnic blankets encouraged. Advance registration is required for this free program. Donations to the museum are appreciated, but not required. Register online here.

- Wine and Rinds at Bartlett Farm: A relaxed, guided pairing of the farm's favorite wines and cheeses, each Friday at the Farm throughout the summer. Those 21+ can drop in to the Farm.

- Atheneum Teen Game Night: Come play games at the library in the Gallery from 6:00 to 8:00 pm! Teens and tweens are invited to play a selection of Nintendo Switch games like Just Dance and Mario Party and many more!

- Nantucket Wine and Food Festival: This weekend is packed with events as the 2026 Nantucket Wine & Food Festival continues across the island. From wine tastings and oyster experiences to lively lunches, cocktail pairings, and special dinners, something is happening throughout the day for food and wine lovers of all kinds. Popular events include SHUCKED!, “James Bond’s Bordeaux,” Grand Tastings, and chef-hosted dinners at restaurants around Nantucket. For the full lineup of Friday’s events and ticket information, click here

Saturday, May 30th:

- Nantucket Wine and Food Festival: Today brings another full day of food, wine, and island fun as the Nantucket Wine & Food Festival continues with some of its signature events. The day includes Grand Tasting sessions at Bartlett’s Farm, wine seminars, Champagne tastings, sailing-inspired events, rosé parties, caviar pairings, and special dinners hosted across Nantucket. Highlights include the 50th Anniversary “Judgment of Paris” tasting, Yacht Rocks Wine, the Rosé “Glambake,” and evening wine dinners featuring acclaimed wineries from around the world. For the complete list of Saturday events and tickets, click here.

- Pop-Up Paint with Nikoline Bohr: Lighthouse Series: From 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm, experience an evening of creativity and inspiration during this special art program at the Maria Mitchell Association Natural Science Museum. Led by artist Nikoline Bohr, participants will create a personalized work of art while learning foundational painting techniques through step-by-step instruction and live demonstrations. Whether you are picking up a paintbrush for the first time or already enjoy creating art, this relaxed and welcoming program encourages creativity, observation, and artistic expression at your own pace. Leave with a finished piece of art to take home and enjoy. Pre-registration is required and is $45 per participant. Members receive 20% off at checkout. Register Here!

- Fourth Annual MMA Seas, Skies, & Vines Winemaker Dinner: The Maria Mitchell Association will host its Fourth Annual Seas, Skies, & Vines Winemaker Dinner from 6:00 to 9:30 pm at Green Market Farm. The evening will feature wines from Napa Valley’s Moone-Tsai Winery, a locally inspired menu by EJ Harvey of The Seagrille, sunset champagne, and stargazing with MMA Director of Astronomy Dr. Jackie Milingo. Proceeds will support the future MMA Discovery Center & Aquarium project.

If you have any events you would like included in this guide, please email David Creed at davidcreed@n-magazine.com and we will add them.