By Trevor Cassell
Photo by Larisa Birta on Unsplash
Mount Vernon is now closing in on the final days of Skagit Valley’s annual Tulip Festival. So far, both gardens, Roozengaarde and Tulip Town, located in the luminous heart of Mount Vernon have been bringing in the usual attention due to their variety of appealing colors.
According to Tulipfestival.org, “The tulips grown in Skagit Valley do not bloom according to a precise calendar and schedule predetermined by humans. Instead, the tulips bloom according to Mother Nature.” Based on how mother nature decided the bloom dates this year, it is now past peak bloom as most would call it. The official website of the festival also said that the best time to come get your annual family pictures with the top tier pacific northwest backdrop was from April 14-26 this year. All good things must come to an end at some point.
Although tulips do not stay in peak bloom forever, that doesn’t mean there isn’t still time to go visit the Valley’s most famous tourist attraction. Last year, in 2020, the festival was completely aired online and virtual due to the upcoming rises of COVID-19. Despite the statewide regulations, the beautiful gardens were welcome to open up for excited visitors only with some safety precautions in place. Some of the precautions that visitors should take into consideration before going to purchase a ticket would be that guests are limited to only stay 2-3 hours this year and all tickets must be purchased online in advance with a chosen arrival date. The festival will be open to visitors until the second of May at the Tulip Town garden and Roozengarde will remain open after the third with reduced ticket prices, rain or shine. If rain comes on the day you plan on attending, dressing for muddy pathways and wearing clothes that are fit for getting wet are highly encouraged by employees.
RoozenGaarde
Located off of Beaver Marsh Rd, this massive garden has been used for growing tulips for a long time now. Brent Roozen and his family have been growing tulips since the early 1950s and Roozens father, William, started the Washington Bulb company in 1952 and by 1984, Roozengaarde was established around the same time as the Tulip Festival started. This garden is not your typical backyard feature. The Roozen farm has a 25-acre tulip accompanied by a 25-acre daffodil field. Kaitlyn Washburn, an annual tulip festival visitor, said when you visit the Roozengaarde fields, it is hard to take your eyes off of the hundreds of different colors and varieties of designs they display differently each year.
Since Kaitlyn could remember, her family would visit Tulip Town and take a plethora of photos which now remain in the hallways of her mother’s home. As she has grown older, that hallway will always be nostalgic as those are memories she will cherish with her family forever. Washburn also stated that the nationwide lockdown in early months of 2020 were odd for most residents that have resided in the Skagit Valley area because right when everything went into lockdown was right around the time when the tulips were in full bloom.
She also said, “It was weird driving by the tulip fields while they were in full bloom but seeing only people passingin cars in sight.” Another lifelong Skagit County resident, Rachelle Himmelman, said “last spring was eerie and unlike any other.”, regarding the county’s restriction. Thankfully, the field looks as it is happier than ever even with limited capacity. The farm is open daily from 8:00A.M.-7:00P.M. Purchasing a ticket online would grant you access to the complete garden, tulip and daffodil fields, the gift shop, and the highly popular tulip market.
Tulip Town
Tulip Town started in 1984 and was owned at the time by a man named Anthony DeGoede. The tourist attraction was then purchased in 2019 by Andrew Miller who is the current CEO along with four of his former high school friends. This farm is approximately 5-acres of land that is specifically designed for people to enjoy up close and personal to get the full experience of Spring without damaging the symbolic plants.
There are three different ticket options available for the festival. The general admission ticket, which is the experience pass and the exclusive photography ticket. The general admission ticket will include parking, entry and a trolley ride around the tulip fields. The experience pass includes all general admission items plus a workshop opportunity to pick your own bouquet of your desire. The final ticket option is an exclusive photography access to the tulip field and gardens between 6-8AM and through sunset and during regular hours. Tulip Town has the same business hours as Roozengaarde.
The Pacific Northwest is extremely blessed to have this beautiful family owned landmark that has been a part of the Skagit Valley for many years and counting.
