Be a visiting celebrity and honored guest for a weekend of fun and special take-home memories during the acclaimed Nantucket Daffodil Festival on New England’s most historic and famous Far Away Island. Share a private brunch for you and your group with Nantucket resident and best-selling novelist Elin Hilderbrand. This exclusive, one-of-a-kind package for four, puts you and your fellow travelers in the spotlight during Nantucket’s famed Daffodil Festival weekend from Friday, April 23 through Sunday, April 25, 2010. As guests of Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce and its hundreds of members, your group will see the Island and meet its people in ways rarely possible for visitors. Enjoy bursts of spring as thousands of daffodils brighten Nantucket’s yards and roadways during the island’s 36th Annual Daffodil Festival, where you’ll take a special place in a decorated antique car in the head of the festival’s famed Antique Car Parade. You’ll don caps and badges to help judge festival events and take part in the colorful Tailgate Picnic (with provided lunch) that follows in the quaint Nantucket Island village of ‘Sconset. Throughout the weekend, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at Daffodil Festival events and much more. You’ll walk Nantucket’s historic cobblestone streets, step inside the Island’s outstanding historic sites and tour its lively and informative museums. You’ll be guided through these rare Nantucket experiences by informed, in-the-know natives, year-rounders, Island leaders and local celebrities. You’ll spend three days and two nights at the Island’s venerable and atmospheric Jared Coffin House and dine in some of the Island’s finest restaurants, all as our guests. And a bag of special Nantucket goodies awaits your arrival. Your weekend culminates on Sunday afternoon when your group enjoys a private brunch and book signing with nationally-known romance novelist Elin Hilderbrand—her latest novel The Castaways stayed on The New York Times best sellers list for weeks—as she caps off your weekend with insider stories of Nantucket’s wealthy and creative luminaries. The package includes goods and services donated by the following: Packaging and promotion of Nantucket Experience weekend and all goods and services provided by Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce and its members. Round-trip first-class boat transportation for four from Hyannis to Nantucket aboard the high-speed ferry Iyanough. Transportation donated by Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard Steamship Authority. Ferry departs Friday, April 23rd at 4:30pm. You will enjoy amazing ocean views as you skim over the waters of Nantucket sound on this sleek and luxurious 1 hour ferry. Two nights lodging for four at the historic Jared Coffin House including Saturday and Sunday breakfast. Accommodations provided by Nantucket Island Resorts, owner and operator of the Jared Coffin House, The White Elephant Resort and The Wauwinet Inn. Island “goodies bag” from Chamber of Commerce member merchants including a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne courtesy of Chamber Board of Directors members Stacey Stuart Greenhalgh and Peter Greenhalgh. Arriving on island at 5:30pm you will be whisked away to your accommodations at the famed Jared Coffin House where a champagne toast and goodie bags full of unique Nantucket products await you.  Friday night dinner for four at Brotherhood of Thieves. Just a few doors down from your hotel is dinner at at the cozy Brotherhood of Thieves with its rustic brick,wooden beams and welcoming fireplaces.   Visit to Loines Observatory provided by Maria Mitchell Association. Weather permitting, a short cab ride will take you to the Loines Observatory for an evening of stargazing and a tour of the heavens with the help of their 8 inch telescope.  Nantucket Bake Shop "Moonlight Madness" from owners Jay and Maggie Detmer. If your group is in need of late night snacks (anytime after 1am) then take a short stroll down moon lit Orange Street to the back door of the Nantucket Bake Shop where master baker Jay Detmer will send you on your way with a bag of assorted cookies and half pints of milk. Judging antique cars, hats and tailgate picnic made possible by the Nantucket Chamber of Commerce. Chamber staff member Michael Galvin will photograph your morning festival activities and Chamber Board member & photographer Peter Louderback will capture your fun in the parade and at the picnic. Photos will later be sent to you. A ride for four in the Daffodil Parade in the antique “Big Yellow Taxi” from Island Buggies and its owner Wayne Siltanen (41 Old South Road, 617-803-8948.) Jean Petty and Paul McCarthy of Nantucket Carving & Folk Art will help decorate the car. Floral decorations for your antique auto from Marine Home Center Flower Shop. Saturday morning, decorate the car you will be traveling in for the 36th Annual Antique Car Parade. You will be driven to the foot of Main Street where your entry will have its merits judged. If you wish - stack the contest in your favor as our special guest judges! Your party will also have the opportunity to be a judge in the Most Outrageous Hat Contest and the Tailgate Picnic Contest. After leading the parade through the streets of downtown Nantucket you'll head east to the village of ‘Sconset for the Annual Tailgate Picnic (a picnic lunch will be provided.) See islanders and visitors alike awakening from winter hibernation! Guided tour of Nantucket Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum courtesy of the museum and its parent Egan Maritime Institute. After the picnic, the next stop is a visit to the Nantucket Shipwreck and Lifesaving Museum where one of the few remaining men to have served on a Nantucket Lightship will give you his personal perspective on the upcoming exhibit honoring the lifesaving abilities of man’s best friend. Saturday night dinner for four at Oran Mor Bistro from chef-owner Chris & Heather Freeman. Enjoy a gourmet meal at the romantic restaurant Oran Mor. The food here is legendary and the wine list sublime! Located up a flight of copper stairs in a historic Nantucket home, the restaurant has an intimate bar and three dining rooms with attractive earth-toned decor that are a warm prelude to delicious, beautifully prepared food.  Sunday morning island van tour for four with owner-operator Gail Johnson of Gail’s Tours. Sunday morning's activities begin with a 10am van tour of the island given by seventh generation island native Gail Johnson. Johnson has a unique island perspective and enjoys what she does so much it soon becomes evident. Nantucket Garden Club's Annual Daffodil Flower Show - private tour for four with Mary Malavase. After your tour with Gail, take another private tour with island flower enthusiast Mary Malavase. Mary’s Daffodil expertise will impress the budding botanist in you. Ask her about the newest hybrid being named for Nantucket called “Sankaty Light.” Sunday Brunch for four with romance novelist at the Boarding House with Elin Hilderbrand including autographed copies of Hilderbrand’s latest novel from Nantucket Bookworks. Enjoy an unforgettable brunch with Nantucket’s own romance novelist Elin Hilderbrand and her husband Chip. Elin will be happy to indulge your questions concerning her entertaining books and their spectacular setting.  Maybe you can pry out of her which of her characters have been modeled after real life Nantucketers! Please click here to place your bid for this package on Ebay Please submit any questions about this package by eBay email or call the Chamber at 508-228-1700. PLEASE NOTE: Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce launches this first of four annual auctions to help promote the island’s singular beauty and historic setting. All goods and services are donated by members of the Nantucket Chamber. You’ll be responsible for all taxes, tips and purchases of alcohol. Although this auction benefits the Nantucket Chamber and its members, please note that your winning bid is in exchange for goods and services described here and is NOT tax deductible. Nantucket’s Daffodil Festival takes place rain or shine, so no cancellations are allowed due to weather. This package must be used on the dates specified here. All transportation, accommodations and other services are as described, although Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce retains the right to substitute alternative goods and services of equal value on the specified dates if necessary. The Chamber or its representatives will contact the winning bidder to confirm all arrangements. Any requests by the winning party for transfer of the weekend package to others must be approved by Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce and/or its representatives.