Don’t be fooled by a possibly chilly start—spring season is coming. And with warmer days ahead, Washington State’s tulips will soon be in full bloom and color for all to admire. At the heart of it all is the Skagit Valley, which accounts for around three-quarters of tulips grown in the U.S.
While not as famous as The Netherlands, the U.S. still offers stunning tulip fields for beer lovers to admire. The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival isn’t just about vibrant blooms, it’s also a perfect time to explore local craft breweries. After a day of strolling through colorful rows of tulips, visitors can unwind with a refreshing pint from one of the area’s many breweries, making it a well-rounded springtime experience. Consider adding the following to your festival itinerary:
Tulip Field Open
Tulips start blooming sometime between the last weeks of winter and the first weeks of spring (depending on weather conditions) and continue well into May. By the time this piece is published, the flowers may already be starting to bud or are already in full bloom. The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is timed with the latter, which usually occurs around April.
As such, the tulip festival is the time of the year when tulip farms open their vibrant tulip fields to the public. While admiring the flowers from a distance is an option, nothing beats seeing them up close and learning how they’re grown. You can even purchase some tulips to take home and adorn your living room or bedside table.
Growers cultivate dozens of tulip varieties, as well as other vibrant flowers like daffodils. The largest tulip garden in the area, Roozengaarde, maintains a 50-acre garden that’s home to more than 200 tulip varieties for endless photo opportunities and the ultimate tulip viewing experience.
Tulip Festival Street Fair
If you’re looking for a good place to stay during the festival, it pays to be as close to Mount Vernon as possible. Although the festivities extend across the valley, this place gets most of the festive spirit thanks to its annual Tulip Festival Street Fair.
Organized by the Downtown Mount Vernon Association, the Tulip Festival Street Fair is a three-day event that brings together local artisans and businesses from all over the area. The fair offers a wide range of goods, from handmade accessories to local cuisine.
However, the fair’s most iconic event is its music festival, Tulip Tunes. According to the street fair’s official website, Tulip Tunes celebrates the vibrance that defines the music of the Pacific Northwest alongside nationally renowned talents. A lineup has yet to be announced as of this writing, but music lovers can expect a range of genres and artists.
This year’s fair is scheduled for April 18 to 20. During the event, the section of South 1st Street (between Kincaid and Division Streets, along with other smaller streets) will be closed to vehicular traffic. Parking spaces will be provided outside the fairgrounds, but they can fill up pretty quickly.
Brewery Hopping
Of course, this piece won’t do this blog justice without mentioning brewskis. And there’s no better time to enjoy local pints than during the tulip festival. Tulips and beer have gone hand in hand for years, and this year won’t be any different.
Washington’s brewing scene may not be as prominent as that of other states like Colorado and Ohio. However, the essence of beer tasting lies less in how much beer a place creates and more in how it creates beer. The breweries of Skagit Valley have their own approaches to turning barley and hops into flavorful brews, and it’s up to one’s taste buds to find out.
Perhaps start with Farmstrong Brewing, which is declared the tulip festival’s official beer. It’s known among beer aficionados that this brewery takes the term “local beer” seriously, down to their choice of locally grown and malted barley. It bucks a prevailing trend among other breweries—that is, sourcing their barley outside Washington State.
If you want delicious food to go with your beer, some breweries got that covered. District Brewing in South Main Street features the broadest selection of craft beer in Skagit Valley, with its own beers on tap along with beers from across the state and beyond. Pair your chosen pint with the pizza of the month (or a custom-made one) or bone-in or boneless wings.
Now, you probably shouldn’t be told this, but always remember to drink responsibly. Know when to stop and enjoy beer in sips. It’s beer, not water.
Get Your Travel Face On
You only have the entirety of April to witness the beautiful tulips of the Pacific Northwest in all their floral glory. Mark your ideal dates and look forward to the beauty of spring and an unforgettable experience in Skagit Valley. And don’t forget to taste their brews.
