Nantucket Current's 2024 Daffodil Weekend Event Guide
David Creed •
The 48th Annual Daffodil Festival is this weekend from Friday, April 26 through Sunday, April 28. The Nantucket Current has gathered all of the scheduled events and put them in one place for our reader's convenience. If a Daffodil-related event is not listed in this guide that you would like added, please email David Creed at davidcreed@n-magazine.com. Thanks to Yesterday's Island and The Insider's Guide To Nantucket for allowing us to use several photos!
Daffodil Festival Bazaar
On Friday, April 26 from 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., head to St. Paul's Church at 20 Fair Street for a special shopping opportunity. Enjoy a diverse market of fabulous items from professional photography to unique jewelry. You don’t want to miss it. This is a Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce signature event.
Daffodil Festival Salvage Mercantile Showcase
On Friday, April 26 from 12-4 p.m., discover the past and future of salvage on Nantucket in Sherburne Hall (11 Centre Street). Learn about incorporating salvage & reuse in design, and shop for sustainable repurposed wares at a pop-up shop. This is a Nantucket Preservation Trust event. You can learn more here.
Live Music At Cisco Brewers: Buckle & Shake
Looking to unwind? Head to Cisco Brewery on Friday, April 26 from 4-7 p.m. to listen to Buckle & Shake.
Daffodil Weekend Wine Tasting
On Friday, April 26 from 4-6 p.m., join Current Vintage & Nantucket Wine and Food Festival at 4 Easy Street for their annual Daffodil Tasting. They will be pouring this year’s Wine Festival favorite sips & serving up some delicious cheese and charcuterie from the CV pantry. Enjoy exclusive access to discounted tickets for Nantucket Wine Festival events, including 25% off tickets to the Wine Festival’s Thursday evening Harbor Gala (May 16), as well as select Wine Fest Grand Tasting Sessions on Saturday and Sunday (May 18 & 19).
Nantucket Salvage Showcase
The Flower Power Party
On Friday, April 26 from 6-8 p.m., launch into Daffodil Festival Weekend with the Nantucket Historical Association’s Flower Power Party, in partnership with N Magazine & the Nantucket Chamber. Heavy hors d’oeuvres, festive libations, a photo booth, and a prize for the best “blooming” outfit! The party is at the Whaling Museum (13 Broad Street). While the event is sold out, you can email ask@nha.org to be added to the ticket waitlist.
“It Might As Well Be Spring” Concert
On Friday, April 26 beginning at 7 p.m., St. Paul’s Church Music Director Joe Hammer is joined by other gifted local musicians presenting a selection of music that celebrates the joys of springtime. Bubbles and bites will be served: $20 at the door and the concert will be at St. Paul’s Church (20 Fair Street).
Clean Team Daffy Clean Up
On Saturday, April 27 beginning at 8 a.m., help clean up various parts of Nantucket. The Clean Team is a group of over four hundred Nantucketers that is dedicated to keeping our Island’s beaches, dunes, roadsides, and bike paths free of litter. Anyone interested is asked to meet at the Handlebar Cafe (15 Washington Street).
A Safe Place’s 25th Annual Clothes Line Project
On Saturday, April 27 from 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m., join A Safe Place for their 25th annual clothesline project. The Clothesline Project is an emotionally moving art display consisting of t-shirts decorated by local survivors of domestic & sexual violence to honor survivors, help with the healing process, & raise awareness to the issues of domestic & sexual violence.
Free materials will be available for participants to make their own t-shirts to add to the display if so moved to do so.
Nantucket Community Music Center's Kazoo Marching Band
48th Nantucket Daffodil Festival Weekend Antique Car Parade & Tailgate Picnic
Head into town on Saturday, April 27 in the morning to view the bedecked vintage cars line up on Main Street. (Drivers are often garbed in themed 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 a.m. The car parade begins at noon following this route: right on Centre Street, right on Broad Street, right on South Water Street, and back up Main Street. Cars continue left on Orange Street and head out of town, around the Rotary and out Milestone Road to ‘Sconset. Cars park along the right. All picnics are eligible to win ribbons. This is a Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce signature event.
Daffy Saturday Goodies
On Saturday, April 27 beginning at 9:30 a.m., visit the ACK 4170 Daffy Shop at 7 Easy Street (Victoria Greenhood Jewelry shop) for all your Daffy goodies. This will be ongoing until they sell out (and they will).
Daffodil Festival Hat Pageant
On Saturday, April 27 from 10-11 a.m. at the Children's Beach Band Stand, show off your creativity with a festively decorated, Daffodil-themed hat (elegant or goofy) and join the pageant. Open to men, women, & children. Ribbons awarded in adult & children’s categories. This is a Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce signature event.
Book Signing With Nancy Thayer
On Saturday, April 27 from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m., join Nancy Thayer signing copies of her newest Nantucket novel The Summer We Started Over at Mitchell’s Book Corner before the Daffodil Parade at Mitchell’s Book Corner (54 Main Street).
Mellow Yellow - Fine Contemporary Art Glass
On Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28 from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Nantucket’s Gallery at 4 India Street is celebrating Daffodil Weekend with an exhibition of Fine Contemporary Art Glass. Yellow Daffodil Vases, hand-blown and etched by Cynthia Myers, Hand-blown, sandblasted, and carved bowl by Dick Hess; water goblets, hand-blown in Tutti Frutti caned glass by Robert Dane; and a masterpiece sculpture in yellow cut crystal by Tom Marosz are just some of the exquisite art objects available in The Gallery.
Refreshments will be served from 12-3 p.m. This event will take place on the second floor of the gallery.
Daffodil Festival Children’s Bike Parade
On Saturday, April 27 from 10:35-11 a.m., the children's bike parade is 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 are 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 a.m. at the Children’s Beach Bandstand. This is a Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce signature event.
11th Annual Daffy Dog Parade
On Saturday, April 27 from 12:30-1 p.m., all friendly, leashed pooches are welcome to participate in the 11th annual daffy dog parade (Daffy costumes & decorations are strongly encouraged.) 1st, 2nd, & 3rd place prizes will be awarded and dogs must be registered to win. Register ahead of time from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Federal & Main Street corner table. Proceeds benefit Nantucket Island Safe Harbor for Animals (NiSHA). The parade will be held at Children’s Beach. This is a Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce signature event.
Annual Community Daffodil Flower Show
On Saturday, April 27 from 2-5 p.m., don’t miss the Nantucket Garden Club's Annual Daffodil Flower Show with daffodil flower entries, floral arrangements, and photography entries. Complimentary bus service from Washington Street near Wave bus terminal (Saturday only) starting at 2 p.m. Admission is free with donations accepted for the Nantucket Garden Club’s Island Daffodil Planting Fund. The show will also be Sunday, April 28 from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Cisco Brewers Post-Parade Party On Saturday
NCMC And NCS Present the Boston String Academy
The Nantucket Community Music Center and Nantucket Community School are pleased to present the Boston String Academy in a FREE performance for Nantucket students and their families at 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 27 at the NIS Gym. This is a great opportunity for Nantucket kids to be inspired by these talented young musicians. Plus, there will be free ice cream for all attendees, graciously provided by Island Kitchen.
Live Music At Cisco Brewers: Steve Rondo
On Saturday, April 27 and Sunday, April 28 from 4-7 p.m., Cisco Brewers will have live music featuring Steve Rondo.
Concert: Meg, Cathy, & Linda
On Saturday, April 27 from 5:30-7 p.m., islanders and sisters Meg Hunter and Cathy Morris Aguiar join Linda Atherton to perform a concert of original music at the Nantucket Atheneum.
These singers, musicians, and songwriters combine their talents in mixed musical genres. Their first three albums were folk-influenced. The 4th album was country-ish, and their latest, just released album is called Bluesey. They often sing, play, and record together and are delighted to share their musical works with the Island Community at the Atheneum. Meg comes from Nantucket and now lives just across the pond on the Cape. Cathy is a native Nantucketer and lives on-island. Linda is originally from Arkansas and currently lives in Portland. All three have been singing and performing for as long as they can remember.
From Carnegie Hall To St. Paul’s, The NCMC Presents The Boston String Academy
The NCMC is proud to sponsor the Boston String Academy (BSA), a non-profit organization providing rigorous string instrument instruction to children in under-served communities. These inspiring young musicians performed earlier in April at Carnegie Hall – now you can see them on Nantucket.
Join the NCMC at St. Paul’s this Saturday, April 27 at 7 p.m. for this extraordinary show. The FREE program will feature Palladio by Jenkins, Somewhere by Bernstein, Bach Concerto for two Violins in D Minor, Piazzolla fuga y misterio, Piazzola Libertango, and Meldelssohn’s Quartet Op 80 first movement.
The Daffy Party 2024
On Saturday, April 27 from 7-10 p.m. at the Nantucket Dreamland, after another year of sold-out parties for Halloween and Christmas Stroll in 2023, The Dreamland is continuing another annual tradition: The Daffy Party utilizing the full second floor of The Dreamland and featuring live music by one of Nantucket’s favorite bands. Light, complimentary hors d’ oeuvres and OPEN bars will be available with a special holiday cocktail! Wear your Daffy Best. This event always sells out, so don’t delay in getting your tickets today. This event is 21+, and ID’s will be verified at entry. You can purchase tickets while they are available here.
Daffy 5K & Cold Water Plunge
A full list of all the Chamber of Commerce's approved Daffodil Festival events is below!
