Every year in April, northern Washington becomes a bit more vibrant as millions of tulips burst into bloom across the tulip fields of Skagit Valley. Mother Nature ultimately decides the blooming schedule, but the tulip festival is officially held throughout the month of April.
During my first few weeks in Washington I didn’t see the sun, so I knew, when one of the doctors at my hospital told me about the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, it was something I had to add to my list. Even in the rainiest of conditions the colorful fields can brighten up the day. We lucked out and had some beautiful weather during our visit at the end of April.
About the Tulip Festival
The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival began in 1984 and has transformed from a two day event to a nationally known, 30 day festival. It has become one of the largest tulip festivals in the U.S. The festival is designed as a driving tour, but guests are able to purchase tickets to visit each of four tulip gardens; Garden Rosalyn, RoozenGaarde, Tulip Town and Tulip Valley Farms. The gardens are a great place for guest to view the tulips and take photographs.
The Tulip Festival Fields
RoozenGaarde
One of the most popular of the four fields, RoozenGaarde features a five-plus acre display garden and over 50 acres of tulips and daffodils in their fields. It is important to note that pets are not permitted in this garden. Admission is $15 per person.
Tulip Town
Tulip Town is a dog-friendly field that includes five acres of farmland with over 55 varieties of tulips. Tickets for adults ages 12-65 are $15 online and $17 at the gate.
Garden Rosalyn
Located in the heart of Skagit Valley, Garden Rosalyn features beautifully designed flower beds. This garden boasts it’s lake with resident duck flock and permits dogs with a leash. Tickets are $17 online and at the gate.
Tulip Valley Farms
Tulip Valley Farms features two experiences with their farm and their garden. The farm includes twelve acres of planted bulbs and the garden is a smaller, more tightly planted field with different events and activities . Tickets are sold separately for each, and due to limited parking and space the garden is only available to visit via pre-purchasing your ticket here.
The Best Time to Visit
Although the festival officially occurs from April 1st through the 30th, Mother Nature ultimately determines when the blooms start and how long they last. Because of this, you can see blooms as soon as the end of march, and they can last into the beginning of May. The best time to visit really depends on the weather and when most of the tulips begin to bloom. The colder and rainier the season has been, the longer the tulips will take to bloom. We visited the fields in the last week of April, and the timing was perfect. The tulips were really showing out! You can check on the bloom status here.
It goes without saying that weekends are busier than weekdays. Visiting on a weekday may allow for fewer crowds and more opportunities for photos of the fields without people in the background. However, the weekends tend to have more events, activities, and vendors. Getting to the fields earlier in the morning may help to beat the crowds as well.
Planning For Your Trip
Viewing the Tulips
There are multiple ways to view the tulips. You can walk, drive, bike, and/or stop to visit each individual garden by purchasing a ticket. Driving is completely free and will protect you from the elements, but if you are going to be walking or biking I would suggest keeping an eye on the weather. Rain jackets and/or umbrellas are a good idea. If you are choosing to walk be considerate of each field’s designated routes to protect the tulips. And keep in mind, many of the fields, attractions, and display gardens are located miles apart, so be prepared for long distances.
Parking
Be aware of the areas you can and cannot park. There is free parking at each of the display gardens; Garden Rosalyn, Tulip Town, RoozenGaarde and Tulip Valley Farms. Most areas do not allow parking alongside the road. Be careful not to park in no parking zones to avoid a ticket or towing.
Dress for the Weather
It’s fun to dress up and look cute for photos with the tulips, but remember to plan for the weather. Rain is always a possibility and the fields can be quite muddy in places. A nice rain jacket and some waterproof boots would make great additions to any outfit! It can still be pretty chilly in April, so dressing in layers is a good idea.
Restrooms
There are no public restrooms in the tulip fields. If you buy tickets to RoozenGaard or Tulip town you will have access to restrooms, but if not, it is suggested that you make a pit stop before heading to the fields. According to the festival website, there are public restrooms at all of the visitor information centers in the county and at the transit station in downtown Mount Vernon.
Where to Eat
There are local vendors with snacks and some food inside the gardens, as well as, food trucks on certain days, but the website also lists some great places to eat in the surrounding areas. We chose to eat in Mount Vernon at Temperate Habits Brewing Co., and it was delicious. I would highly recommend their “Tipsy-Mosa”, which is a sparkling wine with a splash of any one of their ciders or seltzers on tap. Downtown Mount Vernon is full of fun shops and places to eat if you have some extra some extra time to explore.
Bring Cash
Many of the vendors and shops will accept cards, but it’s always a good idea to carry cash just in case.
How To Get There
The festival is located about 60 miles north of Seattle between La Conner and Mount Vernon, Washington. The fields don’t have addresses and their locations change every year due to crop rotation, so it’s a good idea to follow a map of the tulip field area to help you navigate. The festival website provides an interactive map as well, which includes the locations of all the events and attractions.
I would advise including time in your itinerary to account for traffic, especially if you are driving from or through the Seattle area. There is typically quite a bit of extra congestion during the weekends, and there can be quite a bit of traffic after getting off of the interstate too. On busy days it can take a fair amount of time to journey from the I-5 exits to the tulip area. I would say the earlier you can depart the better!
Have Fun!
Most importantly don’t forget to “stop and smell the tulips”! This festival is not one to miss, and I hope this guide allows you to have the best experience possible!
