Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

What is Skagit Valley Tulip Festival?

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is an annual event where visitors can walk among extensive fields of blooming tulips in a rural part of northwestern Washington. The festival includes large display gardens, such as Roozengaarde, which features about 1 million bulbs over 50 acres. In addition to the flower fields, there are art shows, street fairs, and other community events throughout the month.

The history of Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

The roots of tulip growing in the region go back to the late 19th century, when George Gibbs began experimenting with flower bulbs on Orcas Island. After successful trials and support from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the industry moved to Skagit County following setbacks in Bellingham. The modern festival started in 1984 as a three-day event organized by the Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce, later expanding to a month-long celebration.

What there is to see

The festival takes place every April, timed to coincide with the peak bloom of tulips in the Skagit Valley. Local growers plant vast fields of tulips, daffodils, and irises, which are then opened to the public for viewing. Display gardens are carefully arranged to showcase different varieties and colors, and visitors can tour the fields, attend art shows, and participate in community activities.

When to go

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is mainly a tourist event, attracting visitors from across the country to enjoy the colorful tulip fields and related festivities. The festival supports the local economy and celebrates the region’s bulb-growing heritage. Roozengaarde and Tulip Town are major venues, offering public gardens and gift shops during the event.

Parts and collections

The festival highlights different tulip varieties and display gardens, with Roozengaarde being one of the largest, featuring about 1 million bulbs. Tulip Town is another major venue. Over the years, the festival has grown to include street fairs, art shows, and sporting events, expanding its appeal beyond just the flower fields.

Why Skagit Valley Tulip Festival matters

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is a major cultural event in Washington, drawing over 400,000 visitors annually and generating significant economic impact. It has been recognized as the best street fair in the region and is a symbol of the area's agricultural heritage. The festival was cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic, but has since resumed its role as a key springtime attraction.

The flowers of Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

TulipSpring-blooming bulbs with showy, cup-shaped flowers in many coloursNarcissusSpring-flowering bulbs with trumpet-shaped blooms in white, yellow, and orangeIrisA large group of perennial flowers with striking, six-lobed bloomsWild daffodilA pale yellow spring flower and the national emblem of WalesIris damascenaA rare white and purple iris found only on a Syrian mountainCoastal IrisA dark-flowered iris native to Israel’s coastal plainsGerman irisA tall, rhizome-rooted iris with showy bearded blooms in many coloursIris florentinaA white, violet-scented iris grown for orris root and as a grave flower

Plan a visit

🇺🇸 Mount Vernon · AprilTulip fields of the Skagit ValleyFlat river delta farmland north of Seattle where commercial tulip and daffodil fields flower through April.

Questions people ask about Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

Good reading and sources

• Skagit Valley Tulip Festival on WikipediaEncyclopedia
• More photos on Wikimedia CommonsPhotos
• Wikidata recordOpen data