Flower power! Color erupts early in Skagit Valley
Published 1:30 am Friday, March 20, 2026
MOUNT VERNON — Just when it feels impossible to endure one more gray day, color erupts from the ground in the Skagit Valley.
The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, an April tradition, is kicking off early this year, with three gardens to visit this weekend.
“RoozenGaarde, Tulip Valley Farms and Garden Rosalyn will be open this weekend,” festival director Nicole Roozen said. Tulip Town opens March 28.
The daffodils are putting on a show now, and some tulips are beginning to lift their pretty heads due to the warmer-than-usual winter.
“It’s all Mother Nature-based,” Roozen said.
The fields are on track to deliver their signature burst of tulip flower power in April. The valley farmland transforms into a full-blown spectacle of luminous reds, yellows, pinks and purples. Think the Northern Lights, only underfoot and made of petals.
It’s a picture-perfect stage for selfies, family photos or popping the question.
North America’s largest tulip festival draws about 500,000 visitors each year. For some, it’s a bucket-list trip. For others, it’s an annual spring ritual.
Festival gardens and attractions are scattered across a 15-mile triangle bordered by Highway 20, the Skagit River and the Swinomish Channel.
There’s no single festival-wide pass to the four gardens, each with its own admission and hours. All are gorgeous, so you really can’t go wrong.
Beyond the fields, the celebration spills into surrounding towns with art exhibits, barbecues and parades. Roozen said the festival generates more than $50 million annually for Skagit County, boosting local shops, bars, restaurants and inns.
“We see people come from literally all over the world and all 50 states,” Roozen said. “We have a map in the office where people can put in a pin.”
Marcia Coomes of Indiana returned for the third time in 2025 with family members from Mountlake Terrace.
“It should be one of the wonders of the world,” she said. “Everybody should see the tulips.”
GARDENS
RoozenGaarde: The largest stop, spanning more than 50 acres with millions of bulbs, 150 tulip varieties and a classic windmill. The farm is the largest tulip and daffodil producer in North America, open year-round.
Tulip Valley Farms: A hands-on “u-pick” destination with farm animals and daily “Meet Farmer Andrew” talks.
Tulip Town: Walkable pathways for families and dogs, trolley rides, a windmill and beer and wine garden.
Garden Rosalyn: Winding paths, plenty of picnic spots and a tranquil pond with chatty (and hungry) geese and ducks.
TIPS
Weekdays offer lighter crowds and cheaper tickets. To avoid the weekend crush, arrive early or come later in the day.
Wear boots or waterproof shoes. Mud comes with the territory. Dress in layers.
Buying garden tickets online can save both time and money.
Interstate 5 is the primary route to the festival. On busy days, steer clear of Exit 226, which often becomes congested.
Get details, bloom reports and visitor tips at tulipfestival.org.
SCHEDULE
Tulip Parade: April 11, downtown La Conner. Floats, music, face painting, games.
Tulip Festival Street Fair: April 17–19, downtown Mount Vernon. Artisan vendors, food trucks, live entertainment.
Tulip Festival Art Exhibit: April 3–12 in Anacortes and April 16–30 in Mount Vernon, featuring entries for next year’s poster.
FESTIVAL POSTER
Local artist Kylie Fair Anderson created the 2026 official poster, capturing purple tulips reflected in puddles beneath a rainbow.
“No tulip is exactly like the other,” Anderson said. “Some stems are tall and straight, others bend gracefully. Some petals are narrow, some wide. And between the rows, the shadows, stray petals, raindrops and reflective puddles tell their own story of the Skagit Valley.”
Contact writer Andrea Brown at reporterbrown@gmail.com.
This story originally appeared in Sound & Summit magazine, The Daily Herald’s quarterly publication. Explore Snohomish and Island counties with each issue. Subscribe and receive four issues for $18. Call 425-339-3200 or go to soundsummitmagazine.com
