5 tips for a family trip to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival (2024)

I have always loved the tulip fields in bloom at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, the romantic image of heading up on a misty morning, and my children running through rows of blooming colors that span the rainbow.

Hundreds of thousands of people come to the tulip festival each April to enjoy the beauty of the fields.

However, droves of visitors and fields of flowers stretching over a big valley can easily turn into a family outing gone bad. Here are five survival tips to help make sure your tulip trip goes well. And to come home with the photos that make your trip to the tulips memorable and worthwhile:

Tulip Festival tips: Timing is everything

The timing of your trip can be the difference between a fun family outing or a long, stressful day spent mostly in the car. Skagit Valley is an hour’s drive (at least!) north of Seattle. There are two ways to avoid the biggest crowds: go midweek or arrive early. The earlier you arrive, the fewer crowds you will have to maneuver through. I suggest arriving at your first destination around 9 a.m. That means having snacks prepared, kids fed and clothed, and bodies out the door fairly early. And don’t forget your camera! ( see “How to take the best family photos at the Tulip Festival“)

Play ‘Name That Tulip’

I recommend stopping by one of the tulip nurseries first. They provide instant gratification to excited kids who want to see flowers, and you can pick up some catalogs for a game of “Name that Tulip” while you are in the fields. Get one for each person, including yourself or your partner, to avoid any squabbling. The catalogs provide the names and photos of many of the tulips you will see throughout your day. Send the kids out to hunt for a certain tulip, or just walk through the gardens and flip through the pages to find the names of the flowers on display. The game is simple, educational and fun, and the catalogs are a pretty keepsake of your outing.

Tulip Festival tips: what to wear

There is bound to be mud on any given day at the festival. Kids and mud … need we say more? A tulip festival veteran suggests packing two large garbage bags for dirty clothes; a box or laundry basket to keep muddy boots contained and off the carpet in the car; an extra set of clean clothes for each child; and pajamas, if you plan to stay late (for transferring sleepy kids directly to bed after the car ride home).

Tulip Festival tips: Check the map!

Tulips are a rotating crop, and blooming fields vary depending on climate conditions. Be sure to check the current field bloom map so that you don’t waste your time looking at green fields. Also, download the festival map ahead of time to plan your itinerary.

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Get the best bang for your buck

Be sure to visit one of the tulip growers, RoozenGaarde or Tulip Town (Tulip Town will be opening early, Easter weekend) If your main goal is to see tulips in a garden setting, RoozenGaarde is the cream of the crop. Tulip Town offers lots of kid-centered activities, including face painting, kite flying and trolley rides through the tulip fields.

If you can fit it in, visit Chistianson’s Nursery for a huge selection of roses, perennials, and trees and delicious strawberry and whipped cream crepes; or Schuh Farms for fresh organic fruits and veggies, great milkshakes,and a chance to feed goats and chickens.

Know before you go

General admission to Tulip Town includes parking, entry and a trolley ride (weather permitting). Prices are $15 for ages 12 and older; $7 for kids 6-11; $13 for seniors and military. Kids 5 and younger are free. This spot has a cafe, indoor displays and a retail boutique.

RoozenGaarde charges $15 (weekday) and $17 (weekend) for everyone older than 2 to see its 5-acre garden, 25-acre tulip field and 20-acre daffodil field. It also has a gift shop and tulip market.

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. Festival admission prices can be found on the garden website.

Roads may be congested on days that draw big crowds. Saturdays are generally the busiest, followed by Sunday, Friday and Monday (in that order). Rainy days equal smaller crowds.

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5 tips for a family trip to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival (2024)

FAQs

5 tips for a family trip to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival? ›

We recommend bringing options and layers, as conditions can change. Be prepared for muddy fields or pathways, boots are always a good idea! And remember that even if it's sunny and dry on the day you plan to visit, if we've had rain on the days preceding your visit, the tulip fields may still be muddy!

What to wear to Skagit Valley Tulip Festival? ›

We recommend bringing options and layers, as conditions can change. Be prepared for muddy fields or pathways, boots are always a good idea! And remember that even if it's sunny and dry on the day you plan to visit, if we've had rain on the days preceding your visit, the tulip fields may still be muddy!

What do you wear to Tulip Festival? ›

More soft/muted tones. If you are drawn to softer or more muted colors, and the spring color theme, dressing in softer tones like a light pink or lavender, and then taking the photos amongst cream or pale pink tulips can be quite lovely.

How much time to spend at Skagit Valley Tulip Festival? ›

We highly recommend a two-day visit to take in all the tulip gardens (4) and the many farms, art shows and tours available here in the Magic Skagit Valley. Please contact Cindy Verge, Executive Director, Skagit Valley Tulip Festival at cindy@tulipfestival.org for additional help.

Is it worth going to the Tulip Festival? ›

I've visited this festival about 3 times already and I always loved it. It was breathtaking and beautiful. The blooming fields were truly mesmerizing. Important thing to check before you visit is the bloom time because tulips doesn't have a fixed date of bloom.

Can I wear jeans to a festival? ›

If you're wondering if you can wear jeans to a festival, the answer is yes! Cropped jeans work perfectly – they'll keep your legs warm when the sun goes in and stay out of the mud if it's wet.

How long do tulips last? ›

Different tulip varieties have different bloom durations: Early Blooming Tulips: These often last for about a week or slightly more. Mid-Season Tulips: They can last up to two weeks if the weather is favorable. Late Blooming Tulips: Some late bloomers are known to last up to three weeks or more.

What is festival dress code? ›

Cut-off shorts, jeans, jackets and shirts, they're all welcome at festivals and make an easy go-to if you're unsure what to wear but still want to look cool. Be carefree enough to wear a patterned shirt. This means anything goes, worn open or buttoned up; this is a piece of staple clothing for a festival.

What is a tulip shape dress? ›

The tulip shape accentuates your waist and gives a feminine shape at the hips and bust - a show-stopping style for any occasion! We are famous for our tulip dresses available in a range of on-trend colours and fantastic floral prints.

Where is the biggest tulip festival? ›

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is the largest tulip festival in the USA by acreage of tulips, number of farms, and days of blooms. It is held annually in April and features fields of tulips, display gardens, experiences, and events.

Which garden is best at Skagit Valley Tulip Festival? ›

Two farms, Roozengaarde and Tulip Town, have long comprised the heart of the festival. The former is famous for its fields that stretch wide with blocks of color; the sight of such tidy lines of perky blooms is more impressive than you'd think.

Is the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival free? ›

Tulip Gardens. While the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival itself is ticket-free, there are four different tulip gardens that offer distinctive experiences and ticket prices.

When should I visit Skagit Valley? ›

When to visit the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. The valley is beautiful throughout the spring, with daffodils blooming first in mid to late March. Prime tulip season is typically mid-April, while lillies and irises are the last to bloom in late April or May.

How to dress for Tulip Festival? ›

Basic Clothes: It doesn't need much. A basic look in light and neutral colors always works super well in contrast with the colorful tulips on the background and will also match everyone's look. Jumpsuit, jeans, t-shirts.

Why did people lose money on tulips? ›

In February 1637, tulip traders could no longer find new buyers willing to pay increasingly inflated prices for their bulbs. As this realization set in, the demand for tulips collapsed, and prices plummeted—the speculative bubble burst.

What is festival vibes dress code? ›

Think mini dresses, lightweight jumpers and packable rain jackets. Don't: Buy a brand new pair of trainers for the occasion. If you're lucky enough to avoid the mud and rain, they'll probably still get ruined in a dust bath as soon as you go near a stage. Bring an old pair you don't care about or stick to boots.

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