This past weekend, my family and I experienced our first Daffodil Festival, or “Daffy,” as the locals call it. One of the greatest perks of island homeownership is the ease of traveling here year-round, and after a brutal Northeast winter, we were eager to get back up for the “shoulder season” magic.
We love the island in the fall and during the holidays, but the official kickoff weekend of spring was a first for us. We truly lucked out; with blue skies and mild weather, the conditions were perfect for a festival that lives entirely outdoors. I can certainly see how a cold, wet April weekend (a high probability in New England!) could put a damper on the experience, especially with a “young crew” in tow.
The Crew & Vibe
We traveled with our family of four and another family of four. Totaling four little girls ranging from ages 4 to 8. One of the things I love most about Nantucket is the community’s ability to create such unique and fun experiences. In a refreshing contrast to the often “sceney” summer crowds, the energy of Daffy is incredibly down-to-earth. Whether they are year-rounders, homeowners, or multi-generational visitors, people here don’t take themselves too seriously and I LOVE that vibe!
There is something so joyful about seeing grown-ups dressed as potted plants and bumblebees, and pups on parade in their yellow finest hanging out of the back of Jeeps. It’s the antithesis of the “flash” you often find in beautiful destination coastal towns - it’s quirky, authentic, and I absolutely love it.
Our Itinerary
Given the ages of our girls, we made the strategic decision to skip the ‘Sconset tailgate this year (we’ll save that for the future!). Instead, we focused on Town. We headed into Town early to check out the vintage cars and the fun costumes. Our doodle, George, stayed home, but he absolutely will come next year because the pups were some of the best-dressed!
We watched the procession leave Town, which was a total highlight for the kids and grabbed lunch before heading back home. We spent about four hours in Town total, which seemed to be the sweet spot for keeping the energy high and the meltdowns low.
The Great Debate: Stroll vs. Daffy
I love Christmas, so I wasn’t surprised to love Stroll (the island’s annual December event). However, I was shocked to find that Daffy might actually be its rival. Dare I say... I liked it more?!
Compared to Stroll, the Daffy crowds felt much more tame and family-friendly - which is our vibe. The streets were full but not chaotic. We were actually able to do a walk-in lunch as a party of eight - meanwhile, securing a reservation weeks in advance during Stroll can feel like a high-stakes sport.
My friend made a perfect observation: At Thanksgiving or Stroll, you have the long winter ahead of you. At Daffy, you have the fast-approaching summer to look forward to…so true! If you love the island but have never made the trip for the yellow-hued festivities of Daffy, I highly recommend adding it to your bucket list.
Looks like a wonderful time! So interesting that it was much more tame than stroll. That sounds like my kind of vibes!💛