Island Events

Nantucket kicks off the season with Daffodil Weekend and concludes with a flurry of excitement with Stroll Weekend. The spring, summer, fall and winter seasons offer so much to do for couples, families, wedding parties and groups. So when you are not shopping, dining or relaxing on a comfy chaise, check out our Calendar of Events below. Click to view a more detailed listing of events.

Nantucket 2010 Event Calendar

Click to view events in April, May, June, July, August, Sept., Oct. Nov., Dec.

April
Daffodil Festival Weekend, April 23- 25, 2010
From early April to mid-May, over three million daffodils of every color, shape and size will bloom on Nantucket. This blossoming, and the arrival of spring itself, is the focal point of celebration during Daffodil Festival Weekend. This year the festival will take place over the weekend of April 23-25. The Festival's grand event is the Antique Car Parade, which features more than 100 antique cars, decorated with daffodils, of course! After winding through town and across the island to the charming village of Siasconset, participants join residents and visitors for the Daffodil Tailgate Picnic. This "Nantucket-Style" tailgate picnic showcases traditional New England fare ranging from gourmet meals served on fine china to boxed lunches and burgers.

Other Daffodil Festival Weekend highlights include the Nantucket Garden Club's Daffodil Show, The Annual Daffy Dog Parade, Children's Daffodil Parade, and The Daffy Hat Pageant.

May
Nantucket Wine Festival, May 19-23, 2010
Providing a perfect excuse for wine lovers to head to Nantucket, the annual island Wine Festival is a multi-faceted exploration of food and wine. For more than twelve years, Nantucket has played host to over 100 wineries of international acclaim with a weekend filled with special events, including celebrity chef cooking demonstrations, seminars, a special charity gala, and auctions.

Figawi Race Weekend, May 29-31, 2010
Recognized as a top sailing event in the Northeast, and around the World , the annual Figawai Race Weekend is considered to be the official kick off to the Nantucket summer season among the sailing community. Thousands of sailing lovers and visitors from all over the country make this event a fun weekend to enjoy Nantucket.

June
Spring Restaurant Week, June 7-13, 2010
Experience gastronomic bliss at the island's acclaimed culinary establishments during Nantucket's annual Spring Restaurant Week. With special menus and affordable price points, this event is not to be missed.

Nantucket Film Festival, June 17-20, 2010
The Nantucket Film Festival takes place over five days in June and has become a prestigious annual event within the international film community. Screening over 50 films of all genres, the Nantucket Film Festival draws 10,000 or more attendees, screenwriters, producers, agents, and movie stars each year.

July
Independence Day Fireworks, July 4, 2010
Every July Fourth, Jetties Beach on Nantucket is the place to be to view spectacular fireworks.

Nantucket Comedy Festival, July 27-31, 2010
This festive event brings great comedy to Nantucket while supporting local charities. Hosted by Kevin Flynn and other notable comedians.

Nantucket Billfish Tournament, Dates to be determined

August
Nantucket Race Week, August 7-15, 2010
Nantucket Race Week is an eight-day event that brings the entire Nantucket community together in an exciting week of regattas, award ceremonies, and parties. Perfect for all ages, this annual race provides fun and sport for all sailing levels.

Boston Pops, August 14, 2010
Every August, Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops host a concert on Nantucket's Jetties Beach for an evening of music under the stars.

Sandcastle & Sculpture Day, August 21, 2010
Held every August, for the past 36 years! at Jetties Beach, this late-summer ritual is a favorite among participants and sandcastle admirers. Each year, over 50 sculptures emerge from the sand from families and teams vying for the top honors. The rules are simple - be creative! Highlights have included everything from Nantucket Lightship Baskets to VW Bugs. A visit to Jetties Beach to watch the sculpting in action or to view the finished sculptures at sunset is well worth the trip!

Big Game Battle, August 12-15, 2010
"The Big Game Battle" is an invitational fishing tournament held in August on Nantucket. Started by a group of "weekend warriors" looking for another excuse to spend time fishing on the water and participating in Nantucket's festivities, this event is now over eight years old and guarantees fun and excitement when fishing on island.

Opera House Cup Regatta, August 15, 2010
The Opera House Cup Regatta is a cherished tradition held on the third Sunday of August on Nantucket. This Regatta was the first all-wooden, single-hulled classic boat race on the East Coast, and, as a result, it attracts some of the finest sailboats in the country.

Nantucket Arts Week, Dates to be determined
A celebration of arts on Nantucket sponsored by the Nantucket Arts Council, this week long festival brings together the best of performing, visual, and literary arts to the island.

September
Slip 14 BlueFin Tuna Blast, September 10-12, 2010
Created with the goal of giving fisherman a professional and fun tournament for anglers and guests alike, Nantucket's Bluefin Blast, is a weekend of fishing, sharing stories, and enjoying the beauty of Nantucket Island.

Nantucket Slam, Cystic Fibrosis Benefit, Dates to be determined

Fall Restaurant Week, September 27-October 3, 2010
Nantucket's annual Fall Restaurant Week offers special menus and affordable price points, making this culinary delight not to be missed.

October
Fall Festival

Family Scalloping, October 1, 2010
An iconic island activity, October 1 on Nantucket marks the start of family scallop season. Island residents and visitors alike pull out their push rakes, waders, floating baskets, snorkel masks, flippers, and wetsuits and take to the water searching for scallops.

Chowder Fest, October 14, 2010
Almost every restaurant on Nantucket has clam chowder on its menu! Amazing clam chowder - thick and creamy New England clam chowder that hits the spot on a brisk, fall day. Don't believe us? Be the judge and help vote for the "Best Chowder on Nantucket" and go home boasting you are a clam chowder connoisseur.

November
Festival of Wreaths, November 24-28, 2010
An annual Nantucket tradition, the Festival of Wreaths mark the start of the island's winter holiday season. Held on Thanksgiving weekend, the festival welcomes more than 1,600 visitors, free of charge, to enjoy more than eighty beautifully decorated wreaths in the Whaling Museum's Peter Foulger Gallery.

Nantucket Noel, November 26-December 31, 2010
Nantucket Noel kicks off a month-long celebration of sparkling lights, tree trimming, decorations, activities, and events that unite the entire Nantucket community.

Commercial Scalloping, November 2010-April, 2011
The commercial scalloping season on Nantucket begins in November and runs until April.

December
Christmas Stroll, December 3-5, 2010
Nantucket is particularly enchanting during the holiday season when New England's finest traditions come alive for the Annual Christmas Stroll weekend, which is part of Nantucket Noel a month-long celebration organized by the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce. Christmas Stroll weekend is a community holiday celebration attracting visitors from around the world. Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive on the island via a Coast Guard vessel and ride up Main Street in a horse-drawn carriage accompanied by the Town Crier. Carolers in Victorian costumes, bell ringers, student choirs, and other musicians perform on the Main Street stage as well as stroll through town performing; all the while visitors can enjoy Nantucket's unique shops and restaurants.

Festival of Trees, December 3-20, 2010
Opening Christmas Stroll weekend each year, the Festival of Trees transforms the Whaling Museum into a magical forest of about eighty beautifully decorated holiday trees. Ranging from traditional to whimsical, each tree is decorated by a member of the Nantucket community including schoolchildren, artists, merchants, and non-profits.