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Outdoors in RI: Newport Daffodil Days
Throughout April, Daffodil Days will be celebrated in Newport, the City by the Sea. 1,350,000 daffodils, to be precise!
It all begins with opening ceremonies at the historic Clarke Cooke House on Bannister’s Wharf from noon to 1pm on Sunday April 2nd, where a dazzling daffy musket salute by the Artillery Company of Newport will signal the beginning of Newport’s Daffodil Days. Newport’s Mayor and the 2023 Daffodil Queen and family will then cut the Daffodil Garland and proclaim the official start to this month’s festivities.
Daffy music and fun activities with treats for young and old alike will be shared. Look for the big waving Daffodil that will greet attendees at this free event.
Castle Hill has over 40,000 daffodils on their over the past few years. This spring, the Relais & Chateaux inn will feature the beauty of the daffodils. Visit while enjoying the Inn’s award winning cuisine. During your meal or beverage, you’ll be invited to guess the number of daffodils in bloom during the month of April. Closest to the actual number will receive a complimentary lunch for two at the Inn!
Pose with the Daffodils! Have your picture taken with the DAFFODILS on April 2th, 8th or 16th. Your photoshoot for you, family, or friends among the thousands of daffodils in bloom in Newport with professional photographer William Peresta. A percentage of every shooting session goes to purchase more bulbs for fall planting. For details on how to arrange your session, go to
https://peresta.squarespace.com/daffodils/
Annual Daffy Dog Paw-rade – April 2nd, noon – Gather up your pooch and….brought to you by Bannister’s Wharf, The Black Dog and Lucky Dog Resort…
- Dress her/him in daffy yellow attire (then have Fido dress you!)
- Head to Bannisters Wharf for the Daffodil Days Opening Ceremonies at noon.
- At 12:15 pm, line-up for the “Paw-rade” at the Black Dog store on Bannister’s Wharf and Paw-rade to historic Queen Anne Square where the daffiest dressed dog, dog and owner and daffiest dressed human (our “wild flower” award) will all receive prizes.
- Afterwards, stop at The Black Dog Newport Thames St. store on the corner for fun apparel for you and your dog!
Annual Daffodil Ride – April 8th – Decorate your bike, don your yellow jersey and join other daffy riders for an easy 4-mile ride to view beds of many of the 1,300,000 daffodils throughout Newport, ending at Ballard Park where over 20,000 bright yellow blooms will greet us. Prize for the best decorated bike and daffiest outfit! It’s our own “Tour de Jonquilles.” For more information, click here
Daffy Deals – Newport Restaurant Week – starts on April 14th and goes through the 22nd at restaurants around Newport – View a list of participating restaurants here
Green Animals Topiary Garden – April 25 & 27 – Overlooking Narragansett Bay, this grand estate and gardens feature daffodils galore, plus a collection of topiaries including teddy bears, a camel, a giraffe, an ostrich, and an elephant! At 2pm, join the chief horticulturist for a special tour as he describes the over 22,000 daffodils in bloom, featuring 70 different varieties representing all 13 official Daffodil divisions! 380 Cory’s Lane, Portsmouth, RI. Tour included with regular paid admission.
Attendance limited. RSVP to daffodillion@ron-st-pierre.
There will be other events throughout the month. Sites to check out:
https://newportinbloom.org/our-activities/daffodil-days/
Please plan to NOT pick the flowers, but photos are encouraged.
Newport’s Daffodil Days is an all-volunteer event in support of Newport In Bloom, a non-profit, all volunteer organization that for 40 years has encouraged residents and businesses to beautify their gardens and public spaces with flowers. Newport in Bloom…
- Places and maintains the many beautiful hanging baskets along Bellevue Avenue and Touro Street.
- Conducts both spring and fall garden competitions.
- Holds a plant sale each spring.
- Donates and gives away over 30,000 daffodil bulbs each fall to the City of Newport, Aquidneck Island residents and non-profit organizations.
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