Nothing says spring has arrived more than the blooming of bright, beautiful flowers. In our great state, there are many places where you and your entire family can visit to enjoy the beauty of extraordinary, colorful flowers during springtime, but one of the most popular events, if not the most popular, takes place annually, in historic Newport, RI.
Brace yourselves for an explosion of floral euphoria, as Newport gears up for the grand re-awakening of more than 1,450,000 daffodils (and growing), during the city’s 13th Annual Newport Daffodil Days, scheduled for April 6th to April 28th, 2024.
Throughout this time, all visitors are welcomed to the City by the Sea, to enjoy the beauty of over 1,465,000 daffodils throughout town. And, that’s not all! There are a plethora of additional activities taking place, from April 6th to April 28th, to amuse and satisfy all ages.
Each year, Newport hosts this event for native Rhode Islanders, as well as for tourists from all over the country.
Just some of the many events and activities that will be offered include:
OPENING DAY of Newport’s Daffodil Days will be on April 6, at Historic Clarke Cooke House on Bannister’s Wharf, with a dazzling daffy musket salute by the Artillery Company of Newport. Newport’s Mayor Xay will then crown the 2024 Daffodil Queen, who will cut the Daffodil Garland and proclaim the official start to the month’s festivities.
DAFFY DOGGY PAW-RADE
Newport Black Dog General Store
33 Bannister’s Wharf
Also on April 6, starting at 12:30 PM, you can dress your dog (and yourself!) in your daffiest duds, and join the paw-rade for a yappy good time! The paw-rade steps off from Black Dog on Bannisters, marching to historic Queen Anne Square, where the daffiest dressed dog and daffiest dressed human(s) will receive awards and prizes.
Another fun and favorite activity that will happen on April 13, are the annual NEWPORT RHODE RACES AT EASTON’S BEACH (ALSO KNOWN AS 1ST BEACH).
From 7:30 AM to 1:30 PM, join in with the City-by-the-Sea, for this full marathon, half marathon, and 5k Newport Rhode Race, as it partners with the Annual Newport Daffodil Days Festival, to give you a true spring Newport experience. The courses will pass along many of the enormous spreads of daffodils blooming around the City by the Sea. (They call it Dash Through the Daffodils!)
The Marathon will start at 7:30 AM on Saturday, April 13, at Easton’s Beach, located at 175 Memorial Blvd. The Half Marathon will start at 8:00 AM., and the 5k will follow at 8:30 AM – both starting from the same beautiful seaside spot.
DRIVING MISS DAFFODIL DECORATED CAR RALLY
…followed by Audrain’s Cars & Coffee
With the park’s over 38,000 daffodils blooming for the first time, you and your family and friends will celebrate their arrival, with an afternoon of daffy, delirious, and delicious fun, including…
-A daffy bike decorating contest and parade along Bike Newport’s new Traffic Garden, with prizes for the daffiest bikes.
-The Daffy Dust-Up! Get your free, commemorative white T-shirts, then get blasted with daffy colors, as you dash through the daffy maze.
-A daffy, yellow meringue pie slam-down.
-Strolling the yellow carpets to a perfect picture taking spot among the thousands of bright yellow daffodils – the largest field in Newport.
Music, storytelling, food trucks, and more.
An afternoon of Free Daffy Fun for age groups!
Head to the north end of Miantonomi Park off Hillside Avenue, where festivities begin at noon.
DRIVING MISS DAFFODIL
Begin gathering at Easton’s Beach at 7:15 AM. Cars leave promptly at
8 AM.
Decorate your car with bright yellow daffiness, don your daffy best, and head down to Easton’s Beach for the start of a one-of-a-kind “Driving Miss Daffodil” car rally. Mix, mingle, and gawk, before the cavalcade rolls off.
Miss Daffodil and the folks from the Audrain Automotive Museum will lead you and your daffy dolled-up wheels, as you cruise along a picturesque route to Ocean Drive and back, along historic Bellevue Avenue, ending at Second Beach in Middletown, with front row parking at the ever-popular Cars & Coffee. Prizes will be awarded to the Daffiest dressed cars (and drivers!). Proceeds benefit Newport in Bloom.
To register your vehicle, visit https://newportinbloom.org/our-activities/daffodil-days/.
Closing of Cars & Coffee – Middletown’s Second Beach at 10 AM.
Some history about Newport’s Daffodil Days…“Daffodil Days” began in 2012, inspired by many requests from local merchants, to celebrate the profusion of bright, new daffodils that were starting to explode each April. “Rhode” races, a storefront window decorating contest, bike rally, doggie parade, garden tours, music concerts, and a “Driving Miss Daffodil” classic car parade became part of the many springtime festivities that are now an annual tradition.
Newport’s Daffodil Days is an all-volunteer event, and part of Newport in Bloom, a non-profit organization that for 40 years has encouraged residents and businesses to beautify their gardens and public spaces with flowers.
If you are interested in additional details, visit https://newportinbloom.org/our-activities/daffodil-days/.
