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When I moved to the Pacific Northwest from London, office of me lamented that I was even further away from the tulip fields of the Netherlands.  Imagine my surprise to learn that xc minutes northward of Seattle, the fields of the Skagit Valley bloom into a quilt of technicolor tulips throughout April each year.

As a leading tulip product area in Washington, the Skagit Valley has a unique microclimate – much similar the wine production surface area Woodinville. A combination of temperate climate, mild winters, and a healthy dose of rain help abound some of the most beautiful displays of tulips you can discover in the U.Southward.

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

If you want to visit the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, you're not alone. This popular bloom festival typically draws crowds – though in 2021, it will operate a little differently. Read on to learn near the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in 2021, plus how to visit and extra tips on planning your visit.

This post was originally published in June 2014, and was updated in March 2021. Prices, dates, and links should be authentic for the 2021 Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.

What is the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival?

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is the official celebration the flower of Skagit Valley tulips each twelvemonth. The festival occurs from April 1st to April 30th each year.

Individual farmers who grow tulips in the Skagit Valley prepare all winter so that their fields are successful – and can handle the thousands of visitors each Apr. As the fields bloom according to the species, you lot can also discover roses and daffodils too. The boondocks of Mount Vernon, WA is the epicenter of horticultural fun; these are among the best tulip fields in Washington! Here are my tips on how you can attend the Tulip Festival, see Skagit Valley tulips (and other flowers, too!), and accept a great fourth dimension.

The Best Time to Visit the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival officially from Apr 1st to April 30th. Some fields open every bit early every bit March 30th and stay open as tardily every bit May 6th, depending on the weather and blooms. Similar the Cherry Blossom festivals in Japan and Washington, D.C… information technology's all upwards to the flowers!

In 2018, the best fourth dimension to attend the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival was in the last two weeks of Apr due to cold winter atmospheric condition in March; during 2019, the peak of the tulip flower was mid-April, betwixt the 8th and 22nd. In 2020, the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

For 2021, you'll need to book tickets in advance to visit some of the most pop fields that participate in the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. Both Tulip Boondocks and the Roozengaarde let you purchase tickets for a specific 24-hour interval and 3-hour time frame. This will help cut downwardly on crowds in the field and allow people to safely visit. This means that my historic communication to not visit on the weekends no longer applies – as long as you suit a reservation, there won't be traffic or crowds like in years past.

If you're uncertain when to book a ticket during the day, here are some tips:

  • Sunrise is popular for photographers, as is dusk, for the cute gold light.
  • Visiting midday means y'all'll get a vivid, vivid view of the blooms.

Tips for Attending the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

When you arrive to see the tulips and other flowers, there are some important rules to follow.

1. Book Your Tickets in Accelerate

As I mentioned, y'all need tickets to visit two of the festival'due south nigh popular fields, Tulip Town and the Roozengaarde. If you don't have a reservation, you lot won't be immune to enter the fields.

two. Park But in Designated Areas

Parking tin be hard to find at the various Skagit Valley tulip fields, and you may have to loop effectually to detect a good spot. Whatsoever y'all do –don't park anywhere you lot like, or along the side of the road. You may harm the fields and risk getting towed.

3. Observe Signs nigh Where Y'all Tin can Walk

Each field and owner accept their ain route you can accept through their field; this is all to protect the Skagit Valley tulips! I know you want the perfect Instagram picture, only please be respectful of the tulips and the owner who makes their livelihood growing these beautiful bulbs.

four. Don't Impairment the Flowers.

This is obvious, but if you harm the flowers, thennobody gets to enjoy them. If you visit with children or pets, please keep an eye on them too. And of course,don't pick the flowers.The tulips and other flowers in the Skagit Valley are carefully harvested.

5. Bring Greenbacks

Some of the fields charge for parking and/or admission; in 2021, that may be dissimilar due to the reservation system. However, it'south all-time to always bring some cash in case yous demand it!

6. Visit in March for Daffodils

If you lot love daffodils but detest crowds, you might consider visit the Skagit Valley in March. Well-nigh of the daffodil fields bloom a few weeks before the tulip fields, then yous can come up to admire these funny flowers without having to spend hours in traffic or expect for crowds to articulate out of your flick.

The Top Fields at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

Each year, the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival committee creates a map that guides you to the top fields. The map is interactive depending on what is in bloom. While these fields modify from year to year – and may be affected past weather and blossom times, it tin can be a good guide to seeing the 'acme' fields.

Hither are some of the top fields to visit at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival:

  • The Roozengaarde, along Beaver Marsh Road. Home to a big windmill, this field is one of the near beautiful and colorful. As mentioned, you demand a reservation for the Roozengaarde in 2021. Click hither to book.
  • Tulip Town, along MacLean Route. Some other behemothic, colorful tulip field with a windmill. As mentioned, you demand a reservation for Tulip Town in 2021. Click hither to volume.
  • The Washington Bulb Company Daffodil Fields – at that place are a lot of them! If you dearest daffodils, consider attention the 7th Annual La Conner Daffodil Festival, which takes place in March and early April. This twelvemonth, you need a reservation to visit the daffodil fields likewise. Click here to book.

I'm not sure which fields will be open without reservations, and then information technology'south best to plan ahead and become yourself a reservation for one of these.

Where to Stay for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival website has a not bad listing of accommodations, but here are some of my suggestions too.

If Y'all're Willing to Stay Outside the Skagit Valley & Drive In

Consider staying in Seattle (a 90-minute drive) or Anacortes (a thirty-minute drive). Y'all will have lots of accommodation choices in Seattle.

In Anacortes, I recommend the Majestic Inn & Spa (more than luxe) or the Cap Sante Inn (more budget). I've stayed at both of these properties and they're both nice. I also have a guide for how to spend your fourth dimension in Anacortes, and how to explore the San Juan Islands beyond Anacortes.

Anacortes can besides exist a amend budget-friendly pick, since you're further away from the crowds of people who want to stay and attend the festival each day.

If You Want to Stay Near the Skagit Valley Tulip Fields

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

In the Skagit Valley, hotels and bed & breakfasts book upwards fast. If you tin can't observe anywhere on the list provided on the festival website, consider booking an Airbnb. Here are a few I like:

  • The G Willow Inn also lists all of their rooms on Airbnb, and the "Noir Blanc Suite" is my favorite (Private room from $65/night)
  • "Barn Apartment at Avon Acres" (Entire abode from $194/nighttime)
  • "The Granary Romantic Fall Getaway (with hot tub!)" (Entire abode from $220/dark)

You tin besides choose to stay in La Connor, WA, which is about xx minutes away from the tulip fields. I added a few La Connor properties to my Airbnb wishlist (forth with the properties above). Hither's the total list of Airbnbs I recommend for the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.

Have fun among the flowers! If you accept other questions, please post in the comments below.