The History of the Daffodil Festival and Nantucket Noel

The History of Island Daffodils

In 1974 Jean MacAusland, a member of the Nantucket Garden Club and seasonal resident, wanted to beautify the Island in the Spring. She chose Daffodils since Nantucket’s sandy soil is ideal for growing Daffodils and our many deer and rabbits don’t eat them. Jean’s early goal was to plant one million bulbs starting on Milestone Road leading to Sconset. She was able to create the first daffodil flower show under the guidance and approval of the American Daffodil Society, which continues annually. Visit Nantucket in the spring and see how the original plantings have naturalized and increased over time. Today the tradition of planting daffodils has been carried forward by the Nantucket Garden Club and many other organizations, individuals, and residents to insure continued daffodils in the spring for all to enjoy.

Jean MacAusland, a member of the Nantucket Garden Club and seasonal resident also with a small committee created the first parade in 1978. She owned an antique car and since she and her husband were the founders of Gourmet Magazine, the parade eventually ended with a picnic in Sconset. Thus the beginnings of the Annual Daffodil Festival which now adds Flower Crown Party, Hat Pageant, Children’s Bike Parade, Dog Parade, and Daffodil Bazaar.

—Mary D. Malavase, Member of the Nantucket Garden Club

The History of Nantucket Noel and Christmas Stroll

Since 1973, Nantucketers have come together to celebrate the Annual Christmas Stroll held in the Downtown Historic District. The founders of Stroll initially created this event as a means of motivating Islanders to shop locally throughout the holidays. The inaugural Stroll lasted three hours and was a great success. Shopkeepers and ‘strollers’ were entertained with lights, music, food, and an abundance of holiday sales. Thrilled with the success of the first stroll and wanting to continue to promote the support of local businesses, Nantucket decided to make Christmas Stroll an annual event; growing it from a mere three-hour event to a threeday celebration to ring in the Holiday season on the first weekend of December.

Just one year later in 1974, the annual tradition of the Lighting of the Christmas Tree kicked off Stroll weekend and marked the beginning of the Nantucket Noel Season. To truly get the island into the holiday spirit, in 1984 the Annual Red Ticket Drawing was introduced. The Red Ticket Drawing occurs on Christmas Eve, giving participants an opportunity to win great prizes. The Nantucket Chamber announces five lucky Red Ticket winners of one thousand dollars and a grand prize winner of five thousand dollars.

Now, more than four decades later, Nantucket’s Christmas Stroll has become the biggest island tradition and has expanded over the years to include events such as Tree Decorating, Storefront Decorating, and the Ugly Sweater contest. It also now includes the well-anticipated welcoming of Santa to the island. Arriving on Straight Wharf from the USCG Brant Point Station Santa greets scores of families as he makes his way down the dock. He then climbs into an antique fire truck and rides up Main Street — spreading holiday cheer — to his final destination where children can share their Christmas wishes.