Nantucket Cranberry Festival

Come out to the Festival grounds and watch the berries being harvested, learn about the history of cranberry farming on Nantucket, participate in the family activities or just kick back and enjoy the music and the spectacular autumn scenery of one of the most unique and beautiful places on our Island.  

Cranberry Farming on Nantucket

The Nantucket Conservation Foundation owns and operates the last two remaining commercial cranberry bogs on the island. Cranberries have been grown on Nantucket since 1857 and were an important part of the Island’s economy until just prior to World War II.  Visitors, summer residents, and even long time islanders are often surprised when they learn that the Foundation’s Milestone Bog is one of the oldest, continually operated farms on the Island. There are currently 195 acres under cultivation at the Milestone Bog with an additional 37 acres in production at the Windswept Bog on the Polpis Road. The Windswept Bog is also notable because of its status as one of the few certified organic cranberry bogs in the country. Together, the Foundation’s cranberry bogs produce nearly 2 million pounds of cranberries a year!

FUN

Cranberry harvesting – several bogs near the Festival grounds will be harvested throughout the day
Live music provided by Four Easy Payments
Kid’s Events – sack races, face painting, tug of wars and much more
Hay rides
Grand Prize Raffle - win a 2018 Over Sand Vehicle permit, NCF fleece vest and Festival hat – a $200 value!
Barnaby the Bear  will be on hand to meet kids and sign copies of his book Barnaby & Wood Lily
Berry Bouncing Machine demonstration
Antique tractor displays
Petting zoo with goats, ducks and other farm animals

FOOD


B-ACK YARD BBQ -  Back by popular demand, Nantucket’s own Back Yard BBQ will be at the Festival this year serving up their famous pulled pork sandwiches, BBQ chicken, brisket and other delights! After the Festival, be sure to visit their restaurant on Straight Wharf for their complete menu of barbecued deliciousness.
Sweet Inspirations – Chocolate covered cranberries and other confectionery delights in the main tent.
Something Natural - Freshly made sandwiches, cranberry bread, drinks and cranberry cookies.
ACK Fresh – Freshly-pressed, raw, organic juices made from local fruits, vegetables and Nantucket Cranberries.
Catering by Laura – Hot Dogs, home-made clam chowda, cookies and drinks.  And , of course……
CRANBERRIES! – Fresh from the bogs! Both Genuine Nantucket Cranberries and Windswept organic cranberries will be available.

FACTS


Self – Guided Tour – follow the signs around the Festival grounds out to the bogs to learn more about cranberries and their historic role in Nantucket agriculture.  The tour is about ¼ mile in length and takes about 20 minutes to complete.

Guides – Two cranberry experts will be on hand at different locations along the bogs to welcome visitors, answer questions and point out interesting facts about cranberry farming.

Free admission – parking is $15.00 a car.

GETTING TO THE MILESTONE CRANBERRY BOG FOR THE FESTIVAL


Driving directions:  From Town: At the Rotary head east on Milestone Road toward ‘Sconset. At 4.2 miles from the Rotary there will be a brown rock on the left hand side of the road with the number “220″ on it. Continue on Milestone Road for another 100 yards and turn left.

From the Hy-Line Ferry Dock
TAXIS
Walk down Straight Wharf toward Main Street.  There is a taxi stand at the base of the wharf in front of the Tavern Restaurant.  If there are no taxis available, there are two more taxi stands one block further from the Hy-Line in front of the Club Car Restaurant. The fare to Milestone Bog is $17 each way for the first passenger and $2 for each additional passenger.  The drive takes approximately 15 minutes.
The WAVE
Nantucket’s public transportation bus line provides service to Milestone Cranberry Bog every hour at 15 minutes past the hour departing from the Greenhound Building on Washington Street.
From the Hy-Line, walk toward Main Street for 2 blocks and take the second left onto Washington Street just after you pass the Club Car restaurant.  The Greenhound building is approximately 250’ down on the left.  The fare is $2 each way and the trip takes about 40 minutes.

From The Steamship Authority Ferry Dock
TAXIS
There are usually a number of taxis at the SSA parking lot when it arrives.  If there aren’t any, you can walk about 200’ down Broad Street and take the first left onto Easy Street.  Follow this for about 500’ to the intersection of Easy and Main Streets.  There will be a taxi stand in front of you and another to your right.
The WAVE
Nantucket’s public transportation bus line provides service to Milestone Cranberry Bog every hour at 15 minutes past the hour departing from the Greenhound Building on Washington Street.
From the Steamship Authority, walk approximately 200’ down Broad Street and take the first left onto Easy Street.  Follow Easy Street approximately 500’ and turn right onto Main Street.  Walk one block on Main and take the first left onto Washington Street.  The Greenhound building is approximately 250’ down on the left.  The fare is $2 each way and the trip takes about 40 minutes.

Please note that all schedule and fare information is subject to change. Please confirm the information above prior to your trip.

The Wave         http://nrtawave.com/index.php
The Steamship Authority   https://www.steamshipauthority.com
The Hy-Line      https://hylinecruises.com/

The Nantucket Conservation Foundation is a non-profit, member supported organization that relies solely on the generosity of its members for funding.  If you would like to learn more about membership or make a contribution to one of our many noteworthy projects, please contact us at (508) 228-2884 or go to our Online Giving page by clicking here.

Please keep in mind that this is a working farm and that there is heavy machinery and equipment operating throughout the Festival area all day.-