Here’s a great idea for a springtime family excursion: visit the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival to see the flowers and more!
The festival hosts a variety of free public events alongside the breathtaking blooms to celebrate the community. Whether it’s their annual parade, stunning tulips, local art, live music, a street fair, a photo contest, and delicious food, there is fun for everyone.
See the full list of events happening during the festival here. This very popular springtime tradition runs throughout April, although there is no guarantee of when the flowers will bloom.
There are five main destinations: Tulip Town, RoozenGaarde , Tulip Valley Farms, Garden Rosalyn, and their newest addition this year, Skagit Acres.
Skagit Acres is their all-new 3-acre tulip field with views of Mount Baker! In addition to the tulip fields, Skagit Acres will be alive with live music, food trucks, and a beer and wine garden.
Festival organizers suggest visiting one garden in the morning and the other in the afternoon. The roads may be congested on days that draw big crowds. The Tulip Festival reports that Saturdays are generally the busiest, followed by Sunday, Friday and Monday (in that order). And the wild card: any day that it’s sunny! (Rainy days = smaller crowds.)
There are other things to do while in the area, too, and the Tulip Festival website suggests restaurants and other activities.
Allow around 90 minutes to get to the Skagit Valley from the Seattle area. If you have a full day (or more than a day!), you could even make a side trip to Deception Pass State Park and come home via Whidbey Island and the ferry to Mukilteo.
Tulip Festival organizers emphasize that they cannot guarantee when the tulips will be in full bloom (and, of course, they don’t control the weather!). When planning ahead, aiming for mid-April is probably the safest for gardens in full bloom.
Tulip Town Barn. (Image courtesy of Tulip Town)
Tulip Town
At Tulip Town, tickets will be available for April 1-30; general admission includes parking, entry and a trolley ride (weather permitting). Prices are $18 online for ages 12 and up; $10 online for kids 6-11; free for kids 5 and under. There’s a boutique and nursery for shopping. Tulip Town also has other admission options at higher prices. However, they still promise “an idyllic day on the farm for the whole family” with trolley rides, a cafe, indoor displays and a retail boutique. Pets are allowed, free of admission and must be on a leash. Owners must clean up after their dogs.
Trolley rides: Hop aboard their vintage trolley and take a fun and scenic ride through the tulip fields!
They are offering luxury transportation with Wanderlie! A round-trip luxury transportation for festival-goers with a Double Bloom Ticket. For just $69 per person, Wanderlie provides a stress-free travel experience from Seattle (Downtown) or Bellevue (Factoria Mall) straight to the tulip fields. Learn more here.
Tulip Town will be extending their closure date until Sunday, May 4, 2025! May pricing: $10-$15.
RoozenGaarde
RoozenGaarde charges $16 online on weekdays and $20 online for the weekend for everyone over 2 to see its 7-acre garden, 30-acre tulip field, and 20-acre daffodil field. It also has a gift shop and tulip market. Pets are not allowed. (Be sure to check their social media @roozengaarde on Instagram/Facebook for when blooming will begin). Buy tickets here.
Garden Rosalyn
Garden Rosalyn showcases beautiful tulip fields during the tulip festival and dahlias between May and early fall. As an added attraction, this park loves local fowl. They offer free parking and dogs are welcome but must be kept on a leash. Festival admission prices can be found on the garden website.
Tulip Valley Farms U-Pick Flowers. (Image courtesy Dani Winters)
Tulip Valley Farms
Tulip Valley Farms, is a U-Pick Tulip Farm where visitors can immerse themselves in spring colors as they stroll down the trails of vibrant tulips. This garden offers a family-friendly experience and allows guests to handpick their own bouquets. The field is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. every day of the week and has Night Bloom on Friday and Saturday evenings. When visiting the farm, you can expect to experience Tulip Talks with Farmer Andrew, farm animals, 10 acres of tulips with 140 varieties, the display garden, free audio tour, numerous photo ops and more. See prices here.
New this year: Visitors can meet micro-mini highland cows from Compact Cattle Co, adding a unique charm to the farm. Don’t miss their Night Bloom program, where visitors can enjoy the Black Light Garden, where tulip pollen glows in the dark, and stroll under the Edison Lights in the Trees, and enjoy Stomp Lights (an interactive lights that respond to every step taken on the path.
This farm offers the unique opportunity to hand select their own tulips, daffodils and create a bouquet. There is no entry fee to pick daffodils, cost is $1-2/stem.
Skagit Acres
The Skagit Acres is their newest addition, with 3 acre tulip field offering views of Mount Baker to the north and beautiful farmland. They offer live music and entertainment like kite flying and live performances, local food trucks, and a beer and wine garden. They welcome kids and dogs. General admission is $18 for adults, $10 for children ages 6 to 11, and $15 for military/senior individuals. The gift shop has an array of items including specialty glassware, handcrafted home goods, candles, cookbooks, local gourmet food items, and more. They have an on-site cafe, where you can purchase espresso, beer, and wine. Don’t miss their garden center, filled with a variety of plants, flowers, pots, and unique gardening essentials. The hours are Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday-Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
