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SKAGIT VALLEY TULIP FESTIVAL

One of my favorite destination events for the Pacific Northwest, held from March 30 - April 30, celebrating millions of tulips bursting into bloom.

TIPS TO PLAN YOUR VISIT

I visit the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival nearly every year with my family. It's a great activity for all ages and the fields, flowers, and vistas are truly amazing. Here are some helpful tips I've learned over the years to help you plan your trip.

WHAT TO EXPECT

There are two display gardens with more than a million bulbs in every color imaginable! Stroll through the gardens to find your favorite picture spot. You can order bulbs, buy cut flowers and purchase gifts. The display gardens (RoozenGaarde and Tulip Town) offer completely different experiences. Make sure to take in an event or activity. There is truly something for everyone.

Visit tulipfestival.org/events to see what's scheduled during the festival and view the official brochure.

BEST TIME TO VISIT

Tulips are expected to show early color in the first week of April and reach peak bloom in mid-April. Of course, this could change depending on weather conditions. The two display gardens have several different varieties planted that will bloom throughout the season. The least crowded times are weekdays or on weekends during early morning (right at opening time) or late afternoon. The gardens are open daily from 9am to 7pm.

GETTING THERE

The gardens are 60 miles north of Seattle. Use exits 221-231 off I-5. All of these exits have tulip brochures at nearby businesses. The festival is designed as a driving tour. Walking or biking is an option but keep in mind that events and activities are miles apart.

ADMISSION

RoozenGaarde is offering General Admission tickets for $15 per person on weekdays and $17 per person on weekends with children ages 2 and under free.

TICKETS FOR ROOSENGAARDE

The passes available for Tulip Town for 2024 are General Admission, Experience Pass, Anytime Ticket, Anytime Plus Ticket, 2024 Season Pass, Date Night Package, Engagement Package, and Photography Pass. The General Admission is $15 ages 12+, $7 ages 6-11, and kids 5 and under are free. General Admission includes parking, a trolley ride, access to the 2024 Tulip Bloom field, tulip gardens, indoor tulip display, and barn experience. Click on the link below to view more.

TICKETS FOR TULIP TOWN

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BLOOM DATES ACCORDING TO MOTHER NATURE

The tulips grown in Skagit Valley do not bloom according to a precise calendar and schedule predetermined by humans. Instead, the tulips bloom according to Mother Nature - their schedule depends on the weather, particularly the weather in late winter/early spring. The tulips and daffodils only bloom once a year. Check the map below and watch the progress of the blooms.

Tulips

Breathtaking blooms

Spectacular Seattle & Eastside places to find picture-perfect signs of Spring.

Bellevue Botanical Garden

Bellevue Botanical Garden

Take in the vibrant colors of Spring at Bellevue’s beautiful 53 acres of cultivated gardens, woodlands, and wetlands. Stroll through Rhododendron Glen which includes 50 different rhododendrons from now through the summer when the Fuchsia Garden and hydrangeas will make themselves known. Often visited by hummingbirds, it's hard to go wrong at this expansive garden.

University of Washington

University of Washington

By far one of the most popular local places to view spectacular blooms, UW's iconic Quad offers 29 Yoshino cherry trees that transform the campus into a dreamy sea of pink and white blossoms. One of the city's first signs of spring, the annual bloom is a popular destination, visited by thousands of tourists and locals alike.

Azalea Way at the Washington Park Arboretum

Washington Park Arboretum

Just south of the U District, the Washington Park Arboretum bursts to life with bright azaleas, magnificent magnolias, flowering cherries, and blooming true ashes. Explore the more than 200 acres of foot trails, lawns, and paths leading to ponds lined with gorgeous flowering plants and trees perfect for a spring picnic or a floral themed photoshoot!

Kubota Gardens

Kubota Gardens

Pops of purple and red flowers are set against the serene rocks and ponds of the 20-acre Japanese garden. This hidden gem of a park holds an impactful history for Seattle's Japanese community and offers a true urban escape with its peaceful streams, idyllic waterfalls, large magnolia blooms, and beautiful architecture.

Woodland Park Rose Garden

Woodland Park Rose Garden

Featuring 200 varieties of fragrant roses, Woodland Park Rose Garden is every gardener's dream. Over 3,000 individual plants produce explosions of bright blooms amid the winding paths and soft grass of the 2.5 acres manicured grounds. As a nationally certified Rose Test Garden, they also feature several varieties of roses available to home gardeners.

Parsons Gardens

Parsons Gardens

The perfect spot to sit on a bench, kick back, and admire the spectacular spring blooms on a sunny day, Parsons Gardens is a true “urban oasis” providing a uniquely intimate escape in the heart of bustling Seattle. This lovely, quaint Queen Anne garden offers picturesque pathways lined with blue and white flowers and is a favorite destination for weddings.

Highline Seatac Botanical Gardens

Highline SeaTac Botanical Gardens

A visual paradise paired with a fascinating story, Highline SeaTac Botanical Gardens is rich in both beauty and history. This 10.5-acre botanical wonderland includes an endless array of blooms from Elda Behm’s Paradise Garden, Seattle Rose Society Celebration Garden, Seike Japanese Garden, and Sensory Garden.

ROMANTIC RESTAURANTS

Find the perfect date spot for you and your sweetheart!

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