Nantucket Daffodil Festival Kicks Off the 2025 Season
Almost all of the restaurants, shops and hotels on Nantucket, the Massachusetts island near Cape Cod, close for the winter. I visited in the fall as everything was winding down. It was a great time to explore Nantucket because the weather was still pleasant and all of the summer crowds had left.
It felt like I had the place to myself.
You can read about my stay, including the fun shoulder season things to do, on SheBuysTravel.
The island bookends its opening and closing with two festivals. The Nantucket Christmas Stroll, held in early December, features a visit from Santa, live entertainment and craft shows.
A Bloomin’ Good Time
The unofficial kickoff for the new season is the island’s 49th annual Daffodil Festival. The 2025 dates are April 24-27 and events include:
- a daffodil flower show
- antique car parade
- tailgate picnic at ‘Sconset Beach
Expect sunny dresses, imaginative hats and flower power. For inspiration, check out photos of past festivals.
Nantucket’s Shoulder Season
As I mentioned, the shoulder season (before Memorial Day, after Labor Day) is a great time to visit Nantucket. The hotel where I stayed last fall, 76 Main Ink Press Hotel, and its sister property, 21 Broad, are offering Daffodil Packages to celebrate their seasonal reopening.
Guests staying two nights or more between April 24-27 receive:
- A bottle of rosé
- Two Nantucket Daffodil Festival wine glasses
- A Nantucket souvenir tote bag
- A selection of artisan chocolates
Both boutique hotels are located in the heart of downtown. It’s easy to walk to the local restaurants and shops along charming cobblestone streets. The rest of the island is easily reached by ride-share or the free Wave buses (some routes are seasonal only).
