It doesn’t matter what time of year it is—there is always something happening on our Atlantic island. Ready to head to sea? We have everything you need to know about 12 of the best Nantucket island events. Mark your calendars and start packing your bags, because you won’t want to miss any of the action.
For additional recommendations on what to do during your island excursion, be sure to access our exclusive Vacation Guide. Our guide easily simplifies your trip planning and best of all; it’s free!
Discover Your Favorite Nantucket Island Events This Year
It’s time to start exploring one of Nantucket’s biggest events of the year. Learn the history, meet the people, and enjoy an event that only Nantucket could host.
- Daffodil Festival of Nantucket
April 26-28
Ring in spring at the Daffodil Festival of Nantucket. Watch the parade of flower-covered antique cars drive down the cobblestone. Take a historical walking tour of Downtown Nantucket. Or sign up for a one-of-a-kind brewery excursion at Cisco Brewers. It’s the perfect way to celebrate the start of a sunny, new season.
May 13-17
From fresh-off-the-boat New England lobster to some of the finest wines in the country, the Nantucket Wine and Food Festival has impressed its guests since its 1996 debut. The festival attracts over 3000 vintners, chefs, and guests searching for an enriching, tasteful display of culinary artistry.
- Nantucket Restaurant Week
June 3-9
September 30-October 6
This biannual, foodie-loving event attracts thousands to the streets of Downtown Nantucket each year. Nantucket Restaurant Week is an opportunity for everyone to indulge in the town’s five-star cuisine. Participating restaurants offer three different five-course meals priced no higher than $50. Whether you’re grabbing an old favorite or trying something new, this is your chance to taste Nantucket’s finest.
June 13-16
Calling all novel enthusiasts! It’s time to meet your favorite author at the annual Nantucket Book Festival. Listen to the real stories that inspired the turning page stories, and be sure to bring your copy to get signed. Or, perhaps, discover your new beach read at the festival’s Page to Stage event. All literary lovers will adore this small town, big-name book fest.
- Nantucket Film Festival
June 23-29
Don’t just watch a movie—live it at the Nantucket Film Festival. Immerse yourself in the world of screenwriters and directors at one of the nation’s premier film events. Tickets and passes sell out quickly for this one, so you’ll want to get them quick!
July 4th
Come out for some wholesome family fun at the annual July 4th Celebration and firework show. There are potato sack races, tug-of-war, a downtown water fight (no water balloons, please), and a huge fireworks display over the water.
- Nantucket Garden Festival
July 15-17
Mark your calendars for Nantucket’s most beautiful festival of the year, the Nantucket Garden Festival. Build fairy gardens, tour the island’s most stunning terraces, discover the art of tablescape design, and attend the picturesque garden soirée. If you’re looking for peace and quiet in the secret garden, it’s time to plan your trip to the Garden Festival.
July 27th
This isn’t your typical plastic bucket and yellow shovel sandcastle. Sculpture and Sandcastle Day on Nantucket is a work of art, not just a day at the beach. Come out to witness some of the most fantastic sandcastle creations you’ve ever seen at the annual Sandcastle Day on Jetties Beach.
- Nantucket Race Week
August 10-18
Come out to the ultimate end-of-summer event, Nantucket Race Week. The week is full of regattas, parties, and perfect weather. Become a part of the historic sailing community at this sea-worthy event.
- Nantucket Arts Festival October 4-13
The Nantucket Arts Festival celebrates everything creative. Enjoy local and renowned artists in the fields of visual art, photography, film, music, theater, dance, and poetry. Learn about the work and the artists’ vision behind it.
October 12th
Imagine yourself, waders deep, in a cranberry bog, surrounded by nature’s majestic beauty and lending a hand in a traditional wet harvest. It’s time to get your ticket to Nantucket’s Cranberry Festival. The event is ideal fall fun and includes cranberry harvesting, live music, a kids’ section, hayrides, tractor displays, and so much more!
- Nantucket Festival of Trees
December 6-31 (Closed Christmas Day)
See the Whaling Museum like never before—blanketed in thousands of twinkling Christmas lights. Tour the museum’s collection of ornate Christmas trees crafted by downtown shops, artists, and children during Nantucket’s Festival of Trees. Snag your ticket for the preview party and start your Christmas list early!
Enjoy the Comforts of the Periwinkle Inn
Planning a trip to one of your favorite Nantucket island events? Come back to the Periwinkle Inn. Plan your stay in the Starbuck room and bask in a rice-carved, mahogany king-size bed, a luxurious claw foot tub, and views of the cobblestone-covered downtown. Rest easy in Egyptian cotton linens and Turkish, deluxe bathrobes. In addition, each morning of your stay will include a complimentary house-made continental breakfast. We can’t wait to welcome you to the Periwinkle Inn!