It’s no secret that I am completely in love with tulips. I’m not sure where the love started except that I grew up in an area where flower fields abound in the springtime. I can remember as a kid going to the flower farms and taking in the rows and rows of colored jewels. It has stuck with me and is still one of my favorite things. I have a dream of someday visiting the Netherlands during peak tulip season (typically in April) to wander through the Keukenhof Gardens and take more pictures than I can ever possibly need to take.
Until that time comes, I will have to be content with the tulip festivals that are more accessible to me.
History Lesson
I promise I won’t bore you with too many specifics on the history of these beauties, but I think it’s important to note that tulips didn’t even originate in Europe! They were most likely a product of Asian roots dating back to the 10th century and were not brought to Europe until several centuries later. Interesting because when I think tulips, I automatically think Holland! 
There are 75 species of tulips and thousands of hybrids in a wide variety of colors that now span the globe, thriving in more temperate climates. The Netherlands is still the leading producer of these beautiful flowers, producing about three billion bulbs per year. Crazy, right?! And lucky for us, there are tulip festivals from one side of our country to the other for us to enjoy each spring.
Where To Go
Google is your best friend if you’re looking for a tulip festival near you. But, I will tell you about the two I have visited, as well as other notable festivals in the United States.
The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is located in Western Washington near Mt. Vernon, which is about an hour north of Seattle. 
You can take a driving tour of the many different flower fields in the area. Or just visit Tulip Town or Roozengaarde where you can get out and enjoy tulip fields and other beautiful highlights. My suggestion is to do both! 
Visit their website HERE where you will find all sorts of useful information from printable maps to a list of other local attractions. They also keep you up to date on exactly when the flowers will be in full bloom, usually in April.
The Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, UT is a different experience from that of the festival in Western Washington. Rather than fields of flowers you will find beautifully landscaped gardens full of tulips, as well as other flowers. 
Manicured lawns and paved walking paths lead you through 55 acres of gardens, fountains, ponds, sculptures, and hidden benches where you can sit for hours and never be bothered.
You can find more information online HERE, including hours, prices and other events.
I love both of these tulip festivals. They are so different and I would not want to compare them. I highly recommend both as worth your time.
Other Festivals
- Tulip Time Festival in Holland, MI. It’s city of origin alone has me dying to go check it out! They also boast the largest tulip festival in the United States. You can visit their website HERE to read up on their other attractions- they have quite the lineup! Be careful, though- unlike the festivals listed above, theirs isn’t until May!
- The Albany Tulip Festival, located in Albany NY also takes place in May. Unlike the other festivals, this one is free to the public! You can find more information HERE.
- The Tulip Festival in Pella, IA is three days of events honoring the Dutch culture, as well as their tulips. Their website is located HERE, if you want to check it out!
- The Orange City Tulip Festival is also located in Iowa. Again, they celebrate Dutch customs over the course of several days. More information is found HERE.
These are just a few of the larger, more notable festivals. I know there are others located across the country, too. If you find one that you love, let me know- I’m always interested in adding new places to my bucket list! 🙂
