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2025 Spring & Summer Nantucket Events

Robin Slick
Mar 17 min read


Spring 49th Daffodil Festival Weekend April 24-27 | https://daffodilfestival.com/

The Daffodil Festival on Nantucket includes art shows, a pet show, tours, exhibitions, contests, lectures, and, of course, the Garden Club’s annual Nantucket Daffodil Flower Show. There are activities for all ages, and faithful festival-goers dress up for the occasion and participate enthusiastically.  In addition to the Antique Car Parade, window decorating contest, and the famous ‘Sconset Tailgate Picnic, the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce organizes a Daffy Hat Contest, a Children’s Parade featuring decorated bikes, strollers, wagons, and other self-propelled vehicles, and a family picnic at Children’s Beach.

 

Wine & Food Festival Weekend May 14-18 | https://nantucketwinefestival.com/

With the help of island purveyors, restaurants and retailers, founder Denis Toner created what would become one of the most prestigious events of its kind. The festival now draws over 4000 attendees to the island for this annual spring fête and boasts a continually growing family of vintners, wineries, renowned chefs and restaurants.


54th Figawi Race Weekend May 23-26 | https://www.figawi.com/figawi-race-weekend

Figawi’s primary mission is to support the sport of sailing, especially our Youth Sailing Initiative. Figawi creates amazing events that deliver serious fun and promote camaraderie. Through these events, we make a difference by giving proceeds to a variety of causes including veterans, first responders, and youth organizations.


Restaurant Week | June 2025

The annual culinary experience celebrates the island’s restaurant community, with participating restaurants across the island offering specials such as a free dessert with purchase, discounts and curated menus for the week. Reservations may be required, depending on the location.

 

Artists Association of Nantucket (AAN) is pleased to host the annual Plein Air Nantucket. This week long event is free and open to all artists at any skill level or age who wish to paint outdoors and enjoy the camaraderie of painting with peers. Freshly painted works from this event come in and hang daily in the Big Gallery, and they are available for purchase. Frank Swift Chase Awards for excellence are presented on the last day.


Nantucket Book Festival | June 12-15 https://www.nantucketbookfestival.org/

The Nantucket Book Festival is an annual celebration of the literary arts that brings together authors, book lovers, and storytellers. The weekend features a captivating lineup of author readings, panel discussions, writing workshops, and book signings. Whether you're a die-hard bibliophile or simply someone who appreciates the artistry of the written word, the Nantucket Book Festival offers something for everyone. Plus, almost all Festival events are FREE and open to the public, ensuring that literary enjoyment is accessible to all.


30th Annual Nantucket Film Festival | June 25-30 https://nantucketfilmfestival.org/

The NFF was founded in 1996 by siblings Jill and Jonathan Burkhart. The Burkharts lived on the island year-round and knew it was the perfect place to begin a festival that combined with their love of film and community. These days, NFF has become one of the premier destination film festivals in the world. Visitors flock from all over to experience our preview screenings, Signature Programs, and stand out hospitality on a magical island rich with history, a friendly atmosphere, and beautiful sandy beaches.

 

This event support the Nantucket Conservation Foundation which owns, protects, and stewards over 9,000 acres of land and coastal shoreline, conserves Nantucket’s rare and significant natural resources, and engages in ecological research to inform resource management and further our knowledge of Nantucket’s unique ecosystems and species.

 

Independence Day Events | July 4 https://www.nantucketchamber.org/summer-events/

 

Nantucket Garden Festival | July 8-10 https://www.ackgardenfestival.org/

The Nantucket Garden Festival highlights the unique and beautiful garden ecosystems on Nantucket and focuses on the importance of sustainability, conservation and gardening ethics for the long-term health of the island. NGF celebrates gardening through creative lectures and workshops, exquisite garden tours, and children’s activities. 


Nantucket Dance Festival | July 8-13 https://www.nantucketdancefestival.org/

The Nantucket Dance Festival is week-long celebration of dance with fundraising events that bring renowned dance and music artists from around the world to Nantucket for performance, education and cultural events. Our fundraising efforts directly support year-round dance as part of Nantucket Dance Theater's annual programming, with classes at the Boys and Girls Club of Nantucket, residencies and performances that inspire cultural appreciation in young people. The Festival includes programming that emphasizes diverse styles of dance to bring together professionals and students while creating unexpected collaborations with musicians and visual artists.


Nantucket Comedy Festival | July 10-12 https://nantucketcomedy.com/

Co-founded in 2007 by Kevin Flynn and Bonnie Levison, the Nantucket Comedy Festival is an annual summer event that brings top comedic talent to Nantucket Island as the major fundraiser for Stand Up & Learn™, an island-based, year-round comedy education program serving Nantucket’s children. The Nantucket Comedy Festival envisions Nantucket as a community connected by laughter.

 

Nantucket by Design is an annual celebration of art, design, and history hosted by the Nantucket Historical Association. The event brings together world-renowned designers, artisans, and skilled craftspeople to showcase the timeless elegance of Nantucket’s design heritage. Through panels, keynotes, master classes, social events, and more, participants experience how modern style is interwoven with Nantucket’s iconic history. The event benefits the NHA, supporting its mission to preserve, interpret, and share the diverse stories of Nantucket with all audiences through its collections, properties, programs, and research.

 

Artist Assoc. Annual Art Auction & Gala | July 19 https://www.nantucketarts.org/events/gala

The Artists Association of Nantucket’s Gala is a treasured tradition on island. Nantucket’s most prominent art collectors and dedicated donors will gather for a very special auction at the Great Harbor Yacht Club to celebrate the arts. We are pleased to announce that Michael Gaillard will be our 2025 Honoree Artist.


14th Annual Farm Fresh Feast for Sustainable Nantucket | July https://sustainable-nantucket.org/

Sustainable Nantucket (SN) is a community-driven, island-based non-profit that has been dedicated to creating a more self-sufficient and locally rooted food system since 2000. Through education, advocacy, training, and partnerships with like-minded nonprofits, farmers, fishermen, local food producers, schools, restaurants, and other community members, we’re working together to build a resilient food network on Nantucket. Through our work, we raise awareness about the value of local food, connect consumers with nearby food sources, and advocate for increased local food production.


Maria Mitchell Stargazer Gala | July 24 https://www.mariamitchell.org/the-stargazer-gala

Established in 2002, the Stargazer Gala is the biggest fundraising event the MMA! The gala helps support their Summer Internship Program, having allowed them to host 850+ interns since it began in 1914. These interns continue the legacy of Maria Mitchell and her unwavering passion for creating opportunities for all to develop a life-long passion for science through education, research, and first-hand exploration of the sky, land, and sea of Nantucket Island. Join us at the MMA Ranch and embark on a Wild West adventure—Nantucket style! Savor a fireside feast crafted by Island Kitchen, and quench your thirst with ranch water, rosé, and bourbon cocktails. Come kick up your heels and cowboy boots to live country music at our honky-tonk. Yeehaw!


Dragonfly was created to inspire change with mental illness. Started after founder, Kate Kling, lost her sister, Christine McGugan, a mother of three girls, to suicide. Kate channeled her grief into Dragonfly, and to date, Dragonfly has donated $800,000 to mental health organizations on Nantucket.


NiSHA - The Great Catsby Gala | August 1 https://www.nishanimals.org/events

Co-Chairs Justina Juvonen Dodge and Nancy King would like you to join them under the tent at Bartlett's Farm for the glitz and glam of the Roarrring 20's. Come gather at our speakeasy for swanky Muttinis, lively tunes, adoptable puppies, and the spiffiest lineup of Dapper Dogs on the island. Be ready to vote for your favorite! Dress is cocktail casual, but flapper-style would be the Cat's Meow! Don't miss your chance to be a part of this fantastic evening to raise crucial funds for animals in need.


69th Annual House & Garden Tour | August https://nantucketgardenclub.org/annual-house-and-garden-tour/

The Nantucket Garden Club's House and Garden Tour provides a glimpse into historic and new homes and gardens on the island. Each year a different neighborhood is selected from Sconset to Monomoy to Brant Point. The Garden Club members provide exquisite flower arrangements to complement the rooms in the homes. The revenue supports the local community in conservation projects , awards local scholarships and provides club educational programs and conference expenses.


Nantucket Preservation Trust’s August Fete | August 7 https://www.nantucketpreservation.org/events/august-fete/

The August Fête is a celebration of the architectural heritage they work preserve, and our incredible supporters who help make that work possible. It is a elevated block party held in a different historic neighborhood each year. Tour inside beautifully preserved historic homes not normally open to the public, then enjoy cocktails and hearty hors d’oeuvres from Nantucket Catering Company, a raw bar by LegaSea Nantucket, and live music, all in a beautiful tented reception. The Fête also features our annual Sense of Place Auction, with items from Nantucket artists and artisans, as well as one of a kind experiences.

 

Nantucket Cottage Hospital’s Boston Pops | August 9 https://nantuckethospital.org/ways-to-get-involved/events/boston-pops/

Since 1997, the Boston Pops on Nantucket, presented by White Elephant Resorts, Jill and Stephen Karp, and sponsored by Fidelity Investments, continues to be the island’s most beloved summer event, bringing together thousands of community members for a night of unparalleled entertainment on Jettie's Beach in support of Nantucket Cottage Hospital.


Join us at the Nantucket Boys & Girls Club for an unforgettable evening in support of our island’s youth. The night kicks off with a cocktail hour on the lawn, followed by a gourmet seated dinner by Island Kitchen. Enjoy an exciting live auction, a heartwarming performance by NBGC members, and a night of dancing to the renowned Walton Stout Orchestra. Every dollar raised directly supports the programs and services of the NBGC empowering over 1,300 children ages 2-18.


The Opera House Cup Regatta was the first all-wooden, single-hulled classic boat regatta on the East Coast, and attracts some of the finest wooden sailboats in the world. The Opera House Cup encourages the appreciation, understanding, restoration and use of classic wooden boats by amateur sailors. The Opera House Cup Regatta is part of the CYOA Classic Yacht Series, and is the grand finale of Nantucket Race Week. Opera House Cup Sunday begins with the beloved Rainbow Parade around Brant Point, and the Parade of Wooden Boats leaving Nantucket Harbor as they head out to the race course. The day culminates with the OHC Awards Party, held under the tents on Jetties Beach on Sunday evening. Camaraderie, good food, raw bar, drinks, photos of the race, presentation of the awards and a band keep the party jumping into the evening. The OHC Awards Party islimited to OHC participants and sponsors.

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