HISTORIC HOME FEATURE
Daffodil & Tulip Festival at Naumkeag — A Springtime Celebration in the Berkshires
Naumkeag, Stockbridge
April 18–May 10, 2026 (Thursdays–Sundays, 10AM–5PM)
As spring unfurls across New England, one of the most dazzling horticultural events of the season is the Daffodil & Tulip Festival at Naumkeag, the historic estate in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Set against the rolling hills and scenic beauty of the Berkshires, Naumkeag transforms this April into a vibrant canvas of color as thousands of bulbs — from bright yellow daffodils to jewel-toned tulips — burst into bloom.
Naumkeag’s Festival is more than just a garden tour; it’s an immersive spring experience that celebrates the joy of renewal. The estate’s sweeping lawns, terraced gardens, and iconic Blue Steps provide a stunning backdrop for floral displays that have been carefully planned and planted over years. Visitors can meander through winding paths lined with elegant trees and flowering beds, pause for photos at signature vistas, and take in the artful combination of historic landscape design and seasonal spectacle.
The festival runs Thursdays through Sundays from 10AM to 5PM, giving visitors ample time to explore the gardens at their own pace. It’s also a wonderful way to pair a day in the Berkshires with nearby cultural favorites like museums, small-town dining, and art galleries — making the Blooms Festival a perfect spring getaway or weekend adventure.
Whether you come for the flowers, the fresh air, or the sheer delight of spring in full display, Naumkeag’s Daffodil & Tulip Festival is a celebration of color, creativity, and the long-awaited return of warm days.
Beyond its spectacular spring blooms, Naumkeag is itself a masterpiece of American architectural and landscape design. Built in 1895 as a country retreat for stockbroker Frederic and Anne Sperry Steele, the 44-room Georgian Revival mansion reflects the style and sophistication of America’s Gilded Age. But what sets Naumkeag apart is not only its elegant interior — with richly detailed woodwork, period furnishings, and art collected by the Steeles — but its visionary grounds. In the 1920s and 1930s, the family enlisted landscape architect Nancy McLaren and later celebrated designer Stanley White to create gardens that harmonize architecture with nature: from the iconic Blue Steps and Chinese Garden to terraced lawns, rose gardens, and sweeping views of Monument Mountain. Today, Naumkeag stands as a well-preserved testament to early 20th-century taste and design, inviting visitors to step into history as they explore both the gracious home and its lovingly planned landscapes.