Every April, our family hops in the car and makes the hour-and-a-half trek from Seattle to Skagit Valley. Like most Seattleites, we brave the crowds to see the dazzling, sprawling tulip fields. A rainbow of vibrant colors blankets the valley. It’s a tradition we love, but we wanted to enjoy a different vantage point of the tulips – a nighttime bloom.
You have probably seen the beautiful rows of tulips during the day, but there’s a new attraction you might want to add to your list of things to do with your family. Family-friendly Tulip Valley Farms offers an experience unlike any other: Night Bloom. When the sun sets in the tulip fields and the surrounding fields send visitors away, the flowers stay alight.
Make the lights bright in this kid-friendly activity. (Image by Kathryn Mueller)
What is Night Bloom?
Night Bloom offers families the opportunity to see tulips in the dark while enjoying an array of bright attractions, including step stones that change colors when you hop from one to another, lasers that bring the fields to life, and glowing globes scattered throughout the rows, creating a whimsical radiance that delights visitors as you stroll through the fields. At night, they also bring in live bands. Check ahead to see who’s planning to play each night.
Globes help light up the night at Tulip Valley Farms. (Image by Kathryn Mueller)
Is it worth losing sleep over?
Pros: My kiddos loved the unique experience. They danced in the lasers, played hide-and-seek in the field, and loved the glowing tulips under the black lights (yes, they actually glow!). The ticket prices are also reasonable at $4-$9 (plus fees) per person.
Cons: It made for a very late night. Night Bloom opens at 7:45 p.m., so if you have a strict bedtime, this experience probably won’t fit your schedule. It was a two-hour experience, but we didn’t stay the whole time. After my little ones romped around for about an hour, they were ready to head out.
The tulips really glow! (Image by Kathryn Mueller)
We visited the fields both during the day and at night, and I wish there were a dual option where you could stay from day to night. Regular hours end at 5 p.m., so you will have to leave and come back for the Night Bloom if you want to do both. We went to dinner in between, which worked out nicely for our family, but it made for a long day.
Tip: If you go, bring a lantern or glow sticks for the kids so you can keep track of them as it gets very dark despite the glow experience.
Pay for the u-pick experience to add to the day’s festivities. (Image by Kathryn Mueller)
Spending the day at the farm
Not interested in seeing the tulips at night? That’s okay. Tulip Valley Farms is nice place for family fun during the day. In the daytime, there is much to do for families with kids of all ages, with more than 10 acres to explore and 140 different tulip varieties on display.
Visit the animals on the farm like this shaggy cow. (Image by Kathryn Mueller)
Say hello to the farm animals (we loved the shaggy cows and fluffy bunnies), attend a Tulip talk with farmer Andrew, pick a bouquet of tulips, or enjoy the many photo backdrops scattered around the farm.
Hungry? They also have finger foods like mini pancakes and a coffee cart for adults needing a caffeine pick-me-up. Tulip Valley Farms offers the only u-pick tulip field in the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival and was awarded “World’s Most Scenic Tulip U-Pick” by the World Tulip Society.
Sit in the field, just be gentle with the flowers. (Image by Kathryn Mueller)
Least stressful experience at Tulip Valley Farms
We appreciate Tulip Valley Farms because it is welcoming and geared toward families. You don’t have to worry about wrangling your little wanderers or stress about someone yelling not to run or touch a flower. It’s meant to be an immersive, creative, and fun experience for little tulip enthusiasts. When you visit, there’s no judgment when kids stray off a path or run through the fields (maybe even lose a boot or two). Andrew, the farmer, and Holly, his wife, have six children – so they get it. You can picnic next to the tulips, kick off your shoes, and take in the beautiful sights of the surrounding mountains without the stress of accidentally stepping on a stem (although it is nice to be gentle with the flowers).
Enjoying a giant cookie at a local cafe. (Image by Kathryn Mueller)
Know before you go
- Location: 15245 Bradshaw Road, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
- Hours: Open 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., seven days a week during tulip season (expected April 1-30).
- Night Bloom is offered Friday and Saturday from 8 p.m. – 10 p.m.
- Price
- Daytime: Save when you purchase an entry ticket and 10-stem u-pick bouquet; $27 Mon. – Thurs.; $29 Fri. – Sun. Tulip Valley Farms offers a family pack for 2 adults and up to 6 kids for $73. General admission tickets start at $16. Children’s ticket prices start at $10.
- Night Bloom: General admission tickets start at $11 ($9 plus a $2 fee), and children’s tickets start at $6 ($4 plus a $2 fee).
- Parking: There is a large parking area in front of the fields.
- Restrooms: Portable restrooms are available on-site.
- Insider tip: If you visit the tulips in Mount Vernon, swing by Calico Cupboard on the way. The adorable café and bakery serves giant cinnamon rolls, artisan baked goods and offers an all-day breakfast menu. The café is also connected to an eclectic shop brimming with apparel, home décor, toys, jewelry and more. Stop in for a sweet treat and leave with a one-of-a-kind trinket. My tiny shoppers loved the vintage car parked in the middle of the shop. It’s in the heart of downtown at 121 Freeway Dr Ste B, Mount Vernon, WA.
