Newport Daffodil Festival Plans Start To Sprout

Newport RI: 3/20/19 – With over one million daffodils planted the past twelve years, Newport has become the self-proclaimed Daffiest City in New England. To celebrate the bounty that will bloom forth, Festival organizers have announced initial plans for the 6th Annual Newport Daffodil Days, April 13-21, where visitors to the City by the Sea are encouraged to “plant” themselves in town and go daffy, enjoying twenty different events in nine days.

The Festival is off and running on Saturday morning, April 13 with The Newport Rhode Races marathon, half marathon and 5K through daffodil-lined streets. That afternoon, the cutting of the daffodil ribbon and the firing of muskets officially open the Festival at Bannisters and Bowen’s wharves in downtown Newport. From there, a Daffy Dressed Doggie Paw-rade marches to historic Queen Anne Square to continue the yappy, daffy time - with an After Paw-ty on the dog-friendly patio at the Hotel Viking.

On Saturday, April 20, over 100 daffodil-decorated classic cars will roll through the streets of Newport and along Ocean Drive, sponsored by the Audrain Automotive Museum. A reception, car display on Bellevue Avenue and a Daffodil Garden Party with the RI Ballet Theatre follow.

For the first time, complimentary Trolley Tours of the daffodils will take place on Sunday morning, April 14 and Easter Sunday afternoon, April 21.

Other Festival highlights scheduled (all free) include:
• A Tour de Jonquilles Bike Ride
• A Private Garden Tour at Hillside
• A daffodil tour and lecture at the Green Animals Topiary Garden
• Dabbling & Doodling the Daffys on Newport’s famed Cliff Walk

The complete schedule of activities, with more to come, can be found at NewportDaffyDays.com.

“Daffodillion, Newport’s civic beautification campaign, planted its one millionth daffodil this past fall, thanks to all who donated to purchase and plant bulbs during the past years,” said Project Director John Hirschboeck. “Their hard work in the fall yields a bounty of beauty each April. The Festival is our celebration of spring, enticing winter weary tourists and local residents to emerge from hibernation and have a daffy good time.”

For more information on Daffodillion and The Newport Daffy Days Festival, visit www.Daffodillion.com and the

Festival’s official website at www.NewportDaffyDays.com. For photos of past festivals, e mail Daffodillion@cox.net.