April is Tulip time in northwestern Washington, and even though it’s too late to go now for 2019 because your friendly neighborhood blogger didn’t tell you about it until now…
There’s always next year. Put it this way, it’s never too early to start planning, because Tulip Festival in Skagit Valley, Washington is a big deal. Hundreds of thousands come from all over the world to see the many tulip fields in bloom. The only other place in the world that rivals this much tulip production is the Netherlands.
Fun Fact
If you go to Amsterdam to shop for tulip bulbs, chances are you find some that actually came from Washington. Yep.
And Skagit Valley doesn’t just have gorgeous and expansive tulip fields. They have a month-long celebration that encompasses several towns around the area.
Anacortes (the gateway to the San Juan Islands) has the Spring Wine Festival, vintage market, and Art Bash. Mount Vernon has its epic Street Fair. There are garage sales galore, Skagit Beer Week, a parade, Tulip Country Bike Tours…I could go on and on. Read all about it here.
How Long to Go?
If you really want a feel for this yearly celebration of Spring, plan a whole week in Skagit Valley. Not only are the tulips in bloom, but the countryside’s wide expanse of rolling hills is breathtaking.
We went to the street fair in Mount Vernon during the third week in April and it was tons of fun. There is music, craft booths, and yummy food. Just know that most of it will not be healthy food! We’re talking corn dogs galore, folks. And holy moly, we stopped at one vendor and had the most delicious, melt-in-your-mouth mini doughnuts, coated with cinnamon and sugar. Heaven.
Things to consider:
- Pay attention to opening and closing times, but don’t think you have to adhere to these hours! The best time to view and tour the tulip fields is early morning before 9 am and in the late afternoon/early evening. We went to one field where it was well after closing time and dozens of people were still walking around! Fewer crowds.
- Wear galoshes or rain boots or water-resistant comfy shoes!
- Be sure park in designated parking lots. DO NOT park on the side of the road. Most all of the roads are two lanes, and parking your car anywhere on the side of the road will hold up traffic and is dangerous.
- If you prefer to have someone do the driving for you, there are several tour companies that will guide you in the comfort of a bus and/or with a local guide. See the Tulip Festival Website for getting around Skagit Valley Tulips.
- If you can, attend the Tulip Festival during the week. Because, big surprise, the weekends are crowded.
- Drones are becoming popular for taking aerials shots of the gorgeous tulips, but they are NOT allowed in the fields.
- There is free parking at some places, like Tulip Town and RoozenGaarde, but some landowners may charge for parking if there is overflow traffic.
