2023 Tulip Festival

2023 Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

Welcome to the Fortieth Skagit Valley Tulip Festival!

Our big, in-person gala is back for the 2023 Skagit Valley Tulip Festival! The Judd & Black Appliance/ Peoples Bank Gala Celebration will take place at the Snohomish Casino and Lodge from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m. on March 25. Attendees can expect a fabulous evening featuring swing dancing with music and vocals by Skagit Swing Big Band, a cocktail & appetizer hour at 6 p.m., and buffet dinner at 7 p.m. There will be a silent auction fundraising program where people will bid on items on their phones with QR codes or login to the online auction ahead of time and place a bid. It’s a snazzy system; bidders

will receive updates if they’ve been outbid on an item. Guests are highly encouraged to pre-register for the auction and take a look at the items. Tickets to the Gala must be purchased online or by calling the Tulip Festival office in advance. To purchase tickets,

register for the auction, or make a donation, visit https://event.auctria. com/07f094a1-320a-4885-8f34e328593d3ea7/ or use the QR code. Said festival President Cindy Verge, “It is delightful to welcome everyone back in person for the start of the Tulip Festival. We think people will really enjoy the evening and we hope to have a full-house at our Gala.”

Thank you to our volunteers and donors

The Tulip Festival depends on hundreds of donated hours from students and other community members and sponsorship money from more than 200 local businesses

and organizations. Staffed with volunteers, the Tulip Festival office is open through the month of April to provide information and brochures, maps, and festival merchandise. Said Verge, “We are so thankful for our volunteers, donors, and local media who play a big role in advertising the festival, including Skagit Publishing who doubles as a sponsor.”

Facebook Photo Contest

It’seasy and fun to participate in our annual Facebook Photo Contest, presented by North Coast Credit Union. Check www.Facebook. com/SkagitValleyTulipFestival for entry details, weekly finalists, and the winning photos. Applicants are encouraged to submit one photo per week during the month of April; our committee will choose weekly finalists and announce the winners in various categories at the end of the festival. The winning photographers will receive a signed 2023 poster and have their photo published in the festival brochure in 2024.

Tulip Festival History

The mission of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival is to coordinate and promote a countywide spring celebration of the tulip bloom, in commemoration of the valley’s annual tulip harvest, and to be an advocate for Skagit Valley agriculture. In the early 1980s, then Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce directors Jerry Digerness and Joan Houchen recognized that thousands of people were coming to visit the tulips of Skagit Valley. They decided to form the official Tulip

Festival and created a weekend of events and festivities meant to entice and enhance visitors’ trips to the area during the month of April. The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival was officially inaugurated by the chamber in 1984 and was run through that office until 1994 when the festival became its own entity. In 2002, separation from the chamber was completed when the organization moved to its own offices.

Over the decades the festival has grown in length. The event began as a three-day weekend; jumped to 10 days, then 17 and has been a full 30 days since 2003. With the unpredictability of the weather, the full 30 days means that the tulips have a greater chance of blooming during the festival.

Cindy Verge has been working for the Tulip Festival since 1999 and has been its executive director since 2003; she has a BA in Communications from the University of Washington. In addition, Cindy has earned the title “Certified Festival and Event Executive” from the International Festival & Events Association (IFEA). Verge works with a 20-person volunteer board of directors (including voting

members and advisory positions) who govern the festival and provide support for festival-operated events such as the Gala, the fall poster unveiling, and the annual Tulip Parade.

Social Media

The Tulip Festival Facebook page has been a growing and integral part of the festival’s success for years with over 80,000 followers. The Instagram page has also been gaining traction in recent years, increasing its followers to over 15,000 last year. Said Verge, “Facebook is a great place for people to learn about the festival and for us to share updated information during the festival while cont. on pg. 7

By Guy D Corp, DBA grafixCORP

Reproduced with permission of the Skagit Valley Tulip

1. Swinomish Casino & Lodge Tulip Festival Gala Celebration

2. Burlington Plaza

Children’s Museum of Skagit County Skagit Skate; Warren Jewelry William Bounds Custom Framing

4. Seattle Premium Outlets

5. Anacortes Brewery/Rockfish Grill, Anacortes Dinner Cruise Outer Island Excursions

6. Taylor Shellfish Farms

7. Art at the Farmers Market

8. English Tea/Willowbrook Manor

9. 29th Annual Spring Garage Sale

Downtown Mount Vernon Street Fair Cantible Chamber Choir Concert Forté Chocolates; Lincoln Theatre

10. Kiwanis Salmon Barbecue

11. La Conner Brewing Company La Conner Ice Cream Tower Pacific NW Quilt & Fiber Museum PNW Exploration; Raven’s Cup Skagit Cellars Skagit County Historical Museum Skagit Crest Vineyard & Winery Skagit River Queen Boat Tours Tulip Parade

12. Pasek Cellars Winery

13. PACCAR Open House 14. Chuckanut Brewery

Flight Museum

Skagit Acres

Tulip CountryBike Tours

The Skagit Casino Resort

in the Schoolhouse

PNW Artisan Marketplace

The Rex

Schuh Farms; Art in a Pickle Barn

Instagram is the perfect platform for sharing beautiful pictures and videos of the blooms. We are getting out into the fields each day to take and share pictures on our social media pages and website.” Be sure to follow both the Instagram and Facebook pages for beautiful pictures and announcements throughout the year as we welcome new sponsors, share information about events in the Skagit Valley, and keep festival enthusiasts informed about the flower fields.

Skagit Publishing supports the Tulip Festival by hosting and maintaining the festival’s official website. Said Cindy, “The website has all the information people need to enjoy the festival. We hope you’ve been making use of some of the new features. Because our brochure is printed in January, our website will have new events and activities that have been added since January.” The site has more than 700,000 unique visitors annually, with most visits occurring during the month of April. In addition to the interactive map and daily updates on blooms and tulip field hours, site visitors can shop for merchandise, find updated pictures and details about events, and get handy travel tips – all in

a mobile friendly format.

What to See & Do

The 2023 Tulip Festival is open from April 1-30. Check tulipfestival.org for updates on blooms, a calendar of events, maps and places to stay, eat, and shop. Said Cindy, “We’re thrilled to be fully back to normal this year. Our ambassador program is back as well as the annual PACCAR Technical Center Open House where the public can tour the semi-truck test and development center.”

Events are spread throughout the valley in cities from Sedro-Woolley to Anacortes, Mount-Vernon, Burlington, and La Conner. Our fabulous, sanctioned events include the Kiwanis Salmon BBQ, the Street Fair, WoodFest, the Tulip Days Basketball Tournament, the Chili & Chowder Cook-Off, and the Tulip Parade. Said

Cindy, “We have a new event this year in Concrete: a celebration of the moving This Boy’s Life movie at the Concrete Theater on April 22 and 23.” Visit the events page on tulipfestival. org for a complete list of 2023 events.

Be sure to visit Christianson’s Nursery, Snow Goose Produce, Schuh Farms, RoozenGaarde, Tulip Town, Garden Rosalyn, and the new tulip grower this year called Tulip Valley Farms. Revel in the beauty of the colorful tulip fields, take photos of exquisite flower displays, order bulbs, buy cut flowers and mementos, eat and drink, and enjoy the local shops and events. Said Verge, “In addition to Tulip Festival events, there are lots of hidden gems to discover around the Skagit Valley from roadside stands to cont. on pg. 8

WELCOME cont. from pg. 3

local restaurants and more.”

Festival Tips

•We strongly encourage you to pre-purchase your display garden tickets in advance. Note: tickets are non-refundable so wait to buy until you are sure when you can go. The tulipfestival.org website has links to purchase tickets for all four gardens on the home page.

•Avoid the crowds by planning a mid-week trip or arrive by 9 a.m.

•Tulip crops rotate every year and blooming fields vary day-to-day based on weather conditions. Before you head out check tulips.com/bloommap or call

360-428-5959 to make sure you are going to the fields with blooming flowers. The Tulip Festival website has a bloom button that shares updates for all four gardens.

•Be sure to make a pit-stop at home or in town before heading out to the fields.

• When traveling to the festival use Highway 20 and take exit 230 in Burlington. From there the side roads will provide easier access to the tulip fields with decreased traffic congestion compared to the main roads.

• Park FREE at all four gardens, RoozenGaarde (on Beaver Marsh Road), Tulip Town (on Bradshaw Road), Tulip Valley Farms

(Bradshaw Road and Pulver Road), and Garden Rosalyn (on Jungquist Road).

• The festival is a driving or cycling tour with events miles apart. Visit tulipfestival.org/map, pick up a brochure with a map, or print off a map from our website. This pocket or purse-sized map printout is a great backup in case your internet connection goes spotty or your phone dies. Note: the maps identify locations but are not to scale.

• Tulip fields are usually muddy. Wear rubber boots and clothes that you don’t mind getting wet/dirty. Bring garbage bags for dirty clothes and muddy boots and a change of clothes and footwear.

• Pets are not allowed at Roozengarde but Garden Rosalyn, Tulip Town, and Tulip Valley Farms allow wellbehaved leashed dogs. See Festival Suppliers article for details. Drones are prohibited in the gardens and fields, except for Tulip Valley Farms.

Tulip Festival Tours

Are you looking for a small group tour of the tulips led by a knowledgeable local guide? Bring your camera and enjoy a day centered around the glorious tulip fields without having to plan the whole trip on your own.

If you’re coming from areas outside of the Skagit Valley, we recommend these options:

Skagit Guided Adventures (360) 474-7479

www.skagitguidedadventures.com

Experience the colorful tulip fields and exquisitely arranged gardens on Skagit Guided Adventures’ four-hour small group tours. Learn about the tulip history, industry, and festival from friendly local guide Stephanie, who has over 30 years’ experience. Tours run daily at 9:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Free pickup from area hotels and the Mount Vernon Amtrak Station. Satisfaction guaranteed!

WSU Master Gardener StepOn Guides

tuliptours@skagitmg.org

http://mastergardener.wsu.edu/

Sponsored by WSU Skagit County

Master Gardeners, the Tulip Festival Step-On Guides operate throughout the month of April. A trained master gardener will meet your group at the eight-acre MG Discovery Garden in Mount Vernon where they provide a complimentary tour along with beverages and refreshments. After the tour, the group heads to the tulip fields

cont. on pg. 10

Experience Skagit History

Three outstanding galleries of fascinating Skagit history Preserving and presenting the history of Skagit County ‘for all people, for all time’.

WESTERNBUD.COM

WELCOME cont. from pg. 9

in your own rented coach, shuttle, or van; the master gardener will navigate your tour. This is approximately a three-hour event with most groups breaking for lunch in between gardens by attending the Kiwanis Salmon Barbecue or other places for food stopovers.

Other Festival Sponsor Tours

Anacortes Dinner Cruises, departs from Anacortes (360) 333-5282

www.anacortesdinnercruise.com

30% OFF ALL ONLINE ORDERS $0

Cruise the scenic waters of the San Juans in style on a three-hour cruise. Guests can unwind knowing the only people on board will be a small crew and four to eight guests. Enjoy a freshly prepared meal while soaking

up the amazing views from the boat’s outdoor and indoor areas. Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays only.

Outer Island Excursions

Whale & Wildlife Tours, departs from Anacortes (360) 376-3711

Reserve online at www. outerislandx.com

Naturalist guided, family friendly, fast and comfortable. Visits 172 islands abounding with whales and wildlife. Individuals, groups, parties, or transportation. A must do while visiting the Northwest! Ask about the Tulip Festival prebook. Buy one get one 50% off! Use promo code TULIP23.

Skagit River Queen Boat Tours, departs from La Conner (907) 415-8762

www.pacificnwfloattrips.com

Captain Dave Button will take you on a water tour of the Swinomish Channel on the pontoon boat River Queen. Visit Shelter Bay, Goat Island, and The Hole in The Wall. $15 per person.

Shutter Tours (425) 516-8838

www.shuttertours.com

Relax in a comfortable tour bus with a top-rated tour company. See tulips and receive tips to improve your photography. Photo stops include tulip fields and lunch in La Conner. Seattle hotel pickups available.

Bike Rentals

Most tulip fields, events, attractions

and display gardens can be accessed easily by bicycle but be prepared for the weather, bike defensively, and watch for changing road conditions.

Tulip Country Bike Tours (360) 424-7461

www.countrycycling.com

Tulip Country Bike Tours offers bike

rentals and self-guided bike tours of the tulip fields on a limited basis. Their rentals include a map, self-guided tour route, and staff recommendations for lunch and other stops. Groups of 10 or more can reserve a guided tour of the fields. Visitors with their own bicycles can join guided tours at a discounted rate.

pril 14 - 23 A

PNW

Exploration (360) 399-8964

www.pnwexploration.com

PNW Exploration is a family run, e-bike rental company offering locally curated, self-guided tours of Skagit Valley. This year, for the first time, they are offering guided tulip tours for small groups of up to 10 people. Options are Early Tulip Pedal, Afternoon Tulip Pedal, and Sunset Tulips & Wine.

Traveling to the Tulip Festival

BY TRAIN

Amtrak service runs to Mount Vernon. On arrival, be prepared to rent a car, call a taxi or work with one of our tour providers listed above to get to the tulip fields as there are no cont. on pg. 12

Anacortes business locations, parks and public areas

join the hunt for 200 artist created nautical prizes hidden in for de tail s and a map g tes.or .anaco r www visi t

shuttles or tours from the train station.

BY BUS

Monday through Saturday Skagit Transit Route 615 operates along McLean Rd. If you take this bus, make sure to get on and off at Beaver Marsh Road as this is the closest stop to the tulip fields and gardens. Note that you will still be walking a distance to reach your destination.

BY CAR

The tulip fields are located 60 miles north of Seattle along I-5 and 70 miles south of Vancouver, BC, Canada. The tulips are generally grown in a 15-mile triangle bordered by Highway 20, the Skagit River, and the Swinomish River

Channel. Use State Route 20 to enter the tulip area and please carpool, if possible.

Parking

Parking is available at designated

lots in the Tulip Field area. The four display gardens have free parking adjacent to their facilities. Roadside parking is limited due to shoulder conditions and traffic safety regulations.

2023 Official Poster Artist

Eachyear a committee of community volunteers selects a local artist to create an official poster for the Tulip Festival – which is unique to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival among other tulip celebrations around the country. The artist is announced in November at the official poster unveiling celebration at Skagit Acres. Sponsored by Heritage Bank, the event is the first opportunity to see the new poster and products for the upcoming Tulip Festival. Local artists submit their applications and the featured artist is free to choose their medium and style so they can bring their vision of the Skagit Tulip Festival to life.

Congratulations to Kerry Clavadetscher who was selected as the 2023 official poster artist! Kerry is a Seattle artist specializing in photorealistic watercolor and acrylic painting. Kerry enjoys rendering the world in great detail, exposing the ever-present beauty of nature. Her favorite subjects are wildlife, botanicals, and landscapes from the Pacific Northwest. She also works as a digital designer, illustrator, and sports portrait artist. Clavadetscher was born, raised, and now back to living in the same house in Lake Forest Park, which used to be part of North Seattle but is now its own city. Said Kerry, “I love to be surrounded by woods and wildlife. I thrive on the peace

Fuel UP for Your Spring Adventures! Fuel UP for Your Spring Adventures!

you only get outside a big city – going out to Skagit so often in the last couple years feels similar and I understand why someone would move or stay there. My parents would take me to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival when I was little so I grew up with it, as most people do in the Puget Sound area. In my subconscious, it’s something that’s just part of spring - green leaves, sprouts, nesting animals, chicks, and the Tulip Festival.”

Kerry holds a natural science illustration certificate from the University of Washington and a B.S. in physics from Yale. Before she became a painter she worked as a software developer for Microsoft, as an intern for NASA, and as a setter for WVBA

- one of the nation’s top youth volleyball clubs (and one of the 10 items Kerry hid in her painting for the 2023 poster).

As a realist, it was important to the artist to depict a true scene or experience that someone could have at the tulip fields in her painting. The Savannah sparrow is so ubiquitous that the males sing their mating calls all across the tulip fields. Said Kerry, “It’s almost impossible to miss them on a visit before afternoon. The sparrow in my painting is not a symbol, it’s a real thing, and a genuine tulip festival phenomenon.”

For her painting, Clavadetscher chose watercolor – the traditional medium for botanical illustration. Kerry elaborated, “I paint mostly acrylic or watercolor and I wanted a really intricate, detailed,

and fine look for the tulips – my acrylic style, while detailed, is more impressionistic and heavy.”

“After I graduated from my illustration program in summer of 2019 I started work as a full-time artist. Then the pandemic hit, so I only did virtual shows in 2020. In 2021 I put up a booth and did the local art fair circuit: Anacortes, Edmonds, Shoreline, Magnuson (Seattle), and then my Dad had a stroke that totally shook my family. So, I became a caretaker in 2022. Now, with my mom able to do most of the caretaking duties I’ve resumed being an artist in 2023. In addition to several poster signings, the Scott-Milo Gallery in Anacortes will have an April exhibition featuring my more abstract paintings and The Cascadia Art Museum will

host me for the Edmonds Art Walk in May.”

“I was excited and really happy about being chosen as the 2023 Tulip Festival artist. The timing was perfect overall with regard to my own emergence as an artist, the pandemic, my family’s hardship, the Savannah sparrow becoming more popular amongst photographers, and more. Right now, I’m feeling incredibly nervous and overwhelmed as I prepare for artist appearances and gallery shows but I am also so excited about all the poster signing events during the festival as well as those that I’ve lined up outside the official festival artist appearances.”

Learn more about Kerry and find times and locations for additional poster signing events on her website: https:// www.kerryclav.com/

Meet the artist:

Kevin Hartman of Westar Solutions worked with Kerry to transform her painting into the Tulip Festival poster. Hartman will also be designing official apparel and many other products using the poster art. Purchase your festival poster online or at the Tulip Festival Office at 311 W Kincaid St., Mount Vernon.

Kerry will be available to sign your poster during special guest appearances at the Tulip Festival office on April 27 between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. She will also be at RoozeenGarde and Tulip Town on Thursdays April 6, 13, and 20. Visit tulipfestival.org or call the festival office for specific times and locations.

3 Days Filled With Family Fun, Including:

Grand Parade, Entertainment, Kid Zone, Lawn Mower Races, Classic Car Show, Smoke & Grill BBQ Competition, Cornhole Tournament, Strawberry Shortcake, and much more!

Festival Merchandiser

The festival is pleased to have Westar Solutions return as the official Tulip Festival merchandising supplier. Based in Mount Vernon, Westar Solutions is a complete local source for graphics services from design to print, offering everything from business cards to vehicle wraps, signage, and fine art reproductions.

Classic Tulip Festival products such as coasters, T-shirts, stickers, mouse pads, and posters will be available. Westar is also bringing back highquality puzzles of the poster art that they produce in-house. With nearly 100% of merchandising now happening in Skagit County, the festival is able to offer a wider variety

Tulip Festival Suppliers

of clothing colors and sizes. Said Cindy Verge, “The Festival is proud to be producing merchandise locally and of the relationships we have with local retailers who carry our products.”

For Westar President Kevin Hartman, it’s not just a festival or about making a profit. The business is involved in Tulip Festival meetings and has a deep commitment to the community and keeping jobs in Skagit County. Kevin’s connection to the Tulip Festival began as a child raised in Mount Vernon. He has a background in art, design, and manufacturing. Kevin started off working for Westar 24 years ago, straight out of high school. He bought the business and took over as president in 2006.

Tulip Growers

The tulip fields planted by RoozenGaarde are spread throughout the Skagit Valley in rotating fields a few miles apart so you will need to take a driving or cycling tour to see them all. The festival’s long-standing tulip gardens, RoozenGaarde/Washington Bulb Co., Inc. and Tulip Town are now joined by Garden Rosalyn, returning for their second year, and a new grower, Tulip Valley Farms. All four gardens offer unique artistic tulip displays in their show gardens and have a deep passion for growing tulips.

Tulip Valley Farms

Tulip Valley Farms is a collection of new tulip fields with a dazzling

vision to offer visitors a parklike experience with the space for guests to soak in spring and envision the potential of their “Magic Springdom.” Tulip Valley Farm is an expansive 30-acre farm in west Mount Vernon with views of Mount Baker and beautiful surrounding farmland. In fall 2022, farmers planted 12-acres of bulbs amongst the hazelnut trees and between grass rows. Tulip Valley Garden is their second venue, located just five minutes from I-5 in Burlington. Here they planted two-acres of bulbs with grass rows. Because the fields are tightly planted, there is less mud than other farms so visitors will be able to safely “tiptoe” between the tulip rows while enjoying incredible photo opportunities. Visit https://tulipvalley.com/ for more information.

Co-Founder/CEO Andrew Miller is passionate about Tulips: “Tulips are iconic for Skagit Valley and they’re a symbol of fresh starts and the hope of spring. We started Tulip Valley Farms because we want to continue the spectacular spring traditions of tulips in Skagit Valley in a way that honors our heritage and also embraces the possibilities of what could be. We’re also delighted to rally our community around terrific causes like

the United Way of Skagit County by co-sponsoring our first “Bloom Ball” and the Helping Hands Food Bank by partnering with them on our “Neighbor’s Night” open house.”

There are several exciting experiences to enjoy at Tulip Valley Farms, including:

• Tea Time in the Tulips (only at Tulip Valley Gardens)

• Night Bloom with lasers and lights

• Magical boutique (only at Tulip Valley Gardens)

• Professional photo mini sessions (only at Tulip Valley Gardens)

• Painting classes (only at Tulip Valley Gardens)

• Yoga (only at Tulip Valley Gardens)

• Food trucks

• Photo class with photographer Melissa Anne of Melissa Anne Colors

With limited parking and space in each experience, general admission and experience tickets at Tulip Valley Gardens are only available by pre-purchasing online at https:// tulipvalleyfarms.ticketspice.com/ tulip-festival-2023/.

• If you plan to bring your (wellbehaved) dog(s) with you in the designated doggy area, click the “Add-Ons” to purchase a Pooch Pass for $6.50.

• Drones are allowed by purchasing a drone pass, but users must provide proof of insurance and licensure.

• Parking is free at both locations. Parking at Tulip Valley Farm is on Bradshaw Road and parking for

Tulip Valley Garden is on Pulver Road.

Garden Rosalyn

Garden Rosalyn was opened in 2021 and the team is thrilled to

be returning as one of the official tulip growers for the Tulip Festival this year. Located in the heart of Skagit Valley with breathtaking views of the Cascade Mountains, Garden Rosalyn showcases beautiful tulip fields during the Tulip Festival season in April. The family friendly farm is a beautiful destination and features a pond with a resident family of geese and ducks that will make your visit a fun experience.

Festival visitors will enjoy acres of tulips in intricate designs such as stars and waterfowl. The garden is located at the corner of Kamb and Junquist Roads at 16645 Junquist Rd. New this year, visitors will be able to visit the gift shop with memorabilia of the garden and the festival. There will also be food trucks on site with delicious delicatessens. Please

visit https://gardenrosalyn.com/ to purchase tickets.

• Se habla español

• Open daily 8 a.m. – 7 p.m., April 1 –May 10

• General admission is $17, children 2 and under are free

• Free parking: the lot is on Jungquist Road

• New: gift shop

• Food trucks, picnic tables, and a pond on the property

• Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome

• Drones not permitted

Washington Bulb Company/ RoozenGaarde Flowers & Bulbs

RoozenGaarde (tulips.com) is a division of Washington

Bulb Company Inc., the largest flower bulb grower in North America. Family owned for over 75 years, it grows more than 700 acres of tulip and daffodil fields within the Skagit Valley. In addition to the fields of flowers, WBC also grows tulips year-round in 15-acres

of greenhouses. RoozenGaarde & Washington Bulb Company grow 98% of the tulips and all of the daffodils in the Skagit Valley.

RoozenGaarde is open yearround, but only charges admission

cont. on pg. 24

www.portofskagit.com

Photo by Cedarbrook Studio

during the spring bloom. Exact dates for the tulip and daffodil bloom will be determined by Mother Nature. Tickets can be purchased online in advance and used any day during the bloom. Season passes are also available. Please see additional information at https://www.tulips.com/ tulip-festival-information.

The five-plus-acre display garden is re-designed every year and hand planted with over 150 different varieties of tulips and one million spring flowering bulbs. This display garden is accented with other flower varieties including daffodils, hyacinths, crocus, and flowering rivers of blue muscari. A 25-plusacre tulip field and 20-plus-acre daffodil field sit alongside the display garden. This year’s tulip field will be

filled with more color than ever.

• Spring hours: weekdays 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. and weekends 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.

• Parking is free at RoozenGaarde: the lot is on Beaver Marsh Road

• Don’t forget the gift shop, bulb booth, and fresh cut flowers

• Farm fresh tulip bunches – 1 stem for $7 or 50 stems for $30

• Pets and drones are not permitted

Tulip Town

Tulip Town is home to five-acres of dazzling flower displays, creating incredible photo opportunities. Bulb orders open every spring. Visitors come back year after year to enjoy both the indoor and outdoor display gardens and the picturesque windmill. Don’t forget to take a trolley ride through the tulips (weather dependent) and grab a drink in the beer and wine garden. The Landing at Tulip Town serves food,

treats, ice cream, and coffee.

Tulip Town is owned by Spinach Bus Venture Group, a group of five Mount Vernon High School classmates from the class of 1994. The team’s goal is to keep the farm a strong agricultural statement that the community can be proud of. Excellent landscaping techniques are featured throughout the farm including apple trees, gardens, nursery trees, annuals, and perennials.

The 2023 show gardens will officially open to the public on April 1 and remain open through bloom season. The owners are excited to share acres of vivid color during the Tulip Festival and seasonal events all year. Advance tickets are highly suggested because they guarantee admission in a particular time slot during the Festival. Ticket changes are allowed up to 48 hours prior to your visit but there are no refunds. Choose from one of several ticket options: General Admission, Experience Pass, Anytime Ticket, Anytime Plus Ticket, Photography Pass, Engagement Package, and Date Night Package. General Admission season passes are also available. Purchase tickets at https://tuliptown. regfox.com/tulip-town-tickets.

• Parking is free in the gravel parking lot with special spots for those with disabilities: the lot is on Bradshaw Road, adjoining the Tulip Town fields and indoor flower show.

• Tulip Town has an art gallery and retail boutique, local goods, flower stand, nursery, pottery and more. Credit cards accepted.

• Drones are not permitted

• Well-behaved dogs on short leashes will be allowed starting this season (with all ticket levels except the Experience Pass)

It’s Tulip Time!

Tulip Festival Events and Activities

Thetulips are worth the trip in their own right but visitors should know that the Tulip Festival also features a wide range of sanctioned activities during the month of April. From community fundraisers to open houses, art exhibits and more; there is an activity for you and your family, no matter your interests! Look for the full list of events at tulipfestival.

org under Events & Attractions.

The Tulip Festival board is very excited about its new partnership with the Skagit Tourism Bureau this year. Championed by the heads of the six chambers and funded by a new room tax on hotel stays in Skagit County, the Skagit Tourism Bureau was formed to promote the entire valley in a sustainable way. Said Skagit Tourism Bureau Director Jake Buganski, “As an organization, we are focusing on a wide variety of tourism in Skagit County from dining to retail shops to hotels with the understanding that local needs matter too. Our two main goals are to be responsible stewards by attracting visitors who will respect the character of the Skagit Valley and alleviating some of the burden of tourism on

residents. For example, we are forming a transportation task force that is working to mitigate the extra traffic that comes in during the festival. We want locals to be good ambassadors of the place they live because their attitude toward visitors affects how tourists are received – and that can only happen when residents feel respected and have an understanding of the benefit that tourists bring to the county.”

The bureau will be interacting with the Tulip Festival through a gamified passport program where participants can earn points and enter to win prizes that include a holographic sticker, restaurant gift certificates (Calico Cupboard, Skagit River Brewery, and Annie’s Pizza) and a grand prize for a return visit stay at the LaConner

Country Inn, e-bike rental, and gift certificate toward dinner at the Nell Thorn Restaurant & Pub. The online passport is free and visitors can sign up for it and use it anytime throughout the festival. There will be a geo location-based check-in for each participating venue and some businesses will have discounts/ promotions if you show them the passport and check in. When a visitor checks-in, a photo, name and promo, if applicable, will appear.

Said Skagit Tourism Bureau Director Jake Buganski, “This is our first year to really get involved with the Tulip Festival and we are excited to introduce the Banwango passport. The passport will be a fun, interactive way to get people to move around destinations and help address people’s

questions about where to go and what events to participate in during the festival. It’s really a way to help people take full advantage of what the Tulip Festival has to offer and to do so in a way that manages the flow of business.”

Executive Director Cindy Verge is also very excited about the new partnership and passport program, “this is our first

chance to collaborate with the tourism bureau and we love their online passport program that will guide visitors to all the Tulip Festival events and activities.”

You can sign up for the passport at https://tulipfestival.org/ passportregistration/ or www. visitskagitvalley.com.

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SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

MARCH 24-26

Tulip Days Basketball Tournament

Various gyms throughout Skagit County

(360) 416-1350

Games played 9 am-7 pm daily www.skagitcounty.net/parks

MARCH 25

Judd & Black Appliance/Peoples Bank

2023 Gala Celebration

March 25, 2023, 6-9 pm (360) 428-5959

Advance ticket purchase required at www.tulipfestival.org

APRIL - EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY

English Tea at Willowbrook Manor

27420 Minkler Rd

Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284

(360) 218-4585

Every Friday and Saturday in April, 11 am-5 pm

www.teaandtour.com

Skagit Farm to Pint Ale Trail

Trek the Trail, collect stamps, and win prizes!

www.skagitfarmtopint.com

APRIL - EVERY FRIDAY-SUNDAY

Kiwanis Salmon Barbecue

Hillcrest Lodge, 1717 S 13th St

Mount Vernon, WA 98274

Fri.–Sun., 11 am-7 pm in April

www.mvkiwanisclub.org

For 15+ group reservations, call (360) 708-5550

APRIL 2

Skagit Chili & Chowder Cook-Off

Farmstrong Brewing Co.

110 Stewart Rd

Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 428-8547

April 2, 1 pm-4 pm

www.mountvernonchamber.com

APRIL 6, 13, 20, 27

2023 Poster Artist Kerry Clavadetscher

Appearances

Various Locations

April 6

10:30 am – 12:30 pm RoozenGaarde

1 pm – 3 pm Tulip Town

April 13

10:30 am – 12:30 pm Tulip Town

1 pm to 3 pm RoozenGaarde

April 20

10:30 am – 12:30 pm RoozenGaarde

1 pm – 3 pm Tulip Town

April 27

3 pm – 6 pm at Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Office and Store

311 W Kincaid St.

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

(360) 428-5959

www.tulipfestival.org

APRIL 7

29th Annual Spring Garage Sale

Skagit County Fairgrounds

501 Taylor St

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

(360) 416-1350

April 7-8, 9 am – 4 pm

www.skagitcounty.net/garagesale

APRIL 8

Tulip Parade

First Street, La Conner, WA 98257

(360) 428-5959

April 8, 2 pm

www.tulipfestival.org

APRIL 14-16

Tiptoe Through the Treasures Sale

The School at Skagit City

17508 Moore Rd

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

(360) 466-3365

www.skagitcounty.net/museum

April 14-16, 9 am-4 pm

APRIL 15

Cantabile Chamber Choir Preview Concert

512 S First Street

April 15

(425) 389-6803

www.cantabilechamberchoir.org / home

Cantabile Chamber Choir, Skagit Valley’s only auditioned choir

APRIL 15

PACCAR Technical Center Open House

12479 Farm To Market Rd

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

1 mile N of SR 20

(360) 757-8311

April 15, 11 am-3 pm ONLY – FREE

APRIL 21-23

Downtown Mount Vernon Street Fair

S First Street

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

(360) 336-3801

April 21-23, Fri & Sat 10 am-6 pm, Sun 10 am – 5 pm

www.tulipfestivalstreetfair.com

www.facebook.com/ tulipfestivalstreetfair

APRIL 22 & 23

30th Anniversary Celebration of This Boy’s Life Film, Talks & Town Tours

Concrete Theatre

45920 Main St

Concrete, WA 98237

Saturday, April 22, 2 pm & 7 pm

Sunday, April 23, 2 pm Tickets, $10, at the door. www.concrete-wa.com

APRIL 28-30

Tulip Tussle Pickleball Tournament

Skagit Valley College

2405 E College Way

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

(360) 416-7771

April 28-30

Info for game times and registration: www.Athletics.Skagit.edu/events

APRIL 29

Woodfest

Sedro-Woolley High School

1235 Third St

Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284

(360) 855-1841

April 29, 9 am – 4 pm

www.sedro-woolley.com/woodfest

ART SHOWS & GALLERIES

APRIL 1-30

Art at the Schoolhouse

Christianson’s Nursery

15806 Best Rd

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

(360) 466-3821

April 1-30, 10 am-5 pm

www.stanwoodcamanoart.com

APRIL 1-30

Art in a Pickle Barn located at:

Schuh Farms “Bakery Barn” 15565 State Route 536

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

April 1-30

Daily 10 am – 5 pm

www.skagitart.net

APRIL 1-30

The PNW Artisan Marketplace

In the Vinery Building at Christianson’s Nursery

15806 Best Rd

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

(360) 224-2387

Open Daily April 1-30 10 am-6 pm

www.pnwartisanmarketplace.co

APRIL 7-16

Rexville Grange Art Show

19299 Rexville Grange Rd

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

(425) 327-0661 or (360) 466-0477

during show

April 7-16, 10 am-6 pm

APRIL - EVERY WEDNESDAY-SUNDAY Art at the Farmers Market

19193 State Route 534

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

Wed-Sun, 10 am-3 pm

POINTS OF INTEREST

Burlington Plaza

448 Fashion Way

Burlington, WA 98233

(360) 757-3548

Open daily; store hours vary

www.theshopsatburlington.com

Lincoln Theatre 712 S First St

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

(360) 336-8955

A variety of events during April. www.lincolntheatre.org

Seattle Premium Outlet

10600 Quil Ceda Blvd

Tulalip, WA 98271

(360) 654-3000

www.premiumoutlets.com/seattle

Skagit Skate

390 Cedar Street

Burlington, WA 98233

(360) 755-5001

www.skagitskate.com

Swinomish Casino & Lodge

12885 Casino Dr

Anacortes, WA 98221

(360) 588-3600 or (888) 288-8883

www.swinomishcasinoandlodge.com

The Skagit Casino Resort

5984 Darrk Lane

Bow, WA 98232

(877) 275-2448

www.theskagit.com

LOCAL FOODS & PRODUCE

La Conner Ice Cream Tower

104 N 1st St.

La Conner, WA 98257

(360) 399-1722

Open daily April through September

Schuh Farms

15565 State Route 536

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

(360) 424-6982

Daily 9 am-6 pm

www.Schuhfarmswa.com

Skagit’s Own Fish Market

18042 State Route 20 Burlington, WA 98233 (360) 707-2722

Mon-Sat 10:30 am-5:30 pm; lunch until 4:30 pm

Sun 11 am-4 pm; lunch until 3 pm www.skagitfish.com

Snowgoose Produce 15170 Fir Island Rd

Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 445-6908

Open daily 8:30 am-6:30 pm www.snowgooseproducemarket.com

Taylor Shellfish Farms

2182 Chuckanut Dr Bow, WA 98232 (360) 766-6002

Open Daily 9 am-5 pm www.taylorshellfish.com

The Rex 19271 Best Rd

Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 466-5522

Tue – Sat 7am-7pm Sun 7am-6pm

FARMS & NURSERIES

Azusa Garden Centre

April 1 -30

Daily 9AM - 5PM

Wide variety of indoor and outdoor plants - annuals, perennials, trees and shrubs. Great plants and great service. Beaks, Noses, and Bills

4-H Club Petting Farm

Jones Rd. (behind the Shell Station)

Conway, WA 98238 (360) 202-5023

Weekends only: April 1-2, 8-9, 15-16, 22-23, 29-30

10 am – 3 pm

Christianson’s Nursery

15806 Best Rd

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

(360) 466-3821

Daily 9 am-6 pm

www.christiansonsnursery.com

Garden Rosalyn

16648 Jungquist Rd

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

(360) 202-7982

www.GardenRosalyn.com

RoozenGaarde

15867 Beaver Marsh Rd

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

(360) 424-8531

www.Tulips.com

Skagit Acres

18923 Peter Johnson Rd

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

(360) 424-6760

Open daily 9 am- 6 pm

www.skagitacres.com

Tulip Town

15002 Bradshaw

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

(360) 424-8152

www.TulipTown.com

Tulip Valley Farms

16648 Jungquist Rd

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

(360) 202-7982

www.GardenRosalyn.com

WSU Discovery Garden

16650 State Route 536

Mount Vernon, WA 98273

Open Dawn-Dusk

WINERIES & BREWERIES

Anacortes Brewery/Rockfish Grill

320 Commercial Ave, Anacortes, WA 98221 (360) 588-1720

www.anacortesrockfish.com

Chuckanut Brewery

11937 Higgins Airport Way

Burlington, WA 98233 (360) 752-3377 | Open daily

www.chuckanutbrewery.com

Farmstrong Brewing Co.

110 Stewart Rd, Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 873-8852

Hours: Mon 3 pm-close, Tue - Sun Noon-close

www.farmstrongbrewing.com

La Conner Brewing Company

117 S First St, La Conner, WA 98257 (360) 466-1415

Daily at Noon

www.laconnerbrewery.com

Pasek Cellars Winery

2615 Old Hwy 99 South Rd. Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 404-5640.

Wed-Sun 11:30 am-5:30pm; Open daily in April 11:30 am-5:30 pm

www.pasekcellars.com

Skagit Cellars Winery

106 First St, La Conner, WA 98257 (360) 708-0345

www.facebook.com/SkagitCellars/

Skagit Crest Vineyard & Winery

105 N First St, Suite 1, La Conner, WA 98257 (360) 333-9819

Sat-Sun April-Oct Noon-6 pm; Nov-Mar Noon-5 pm; April also Fri Noon – 6 pm

www.skagitcrest.com or

www.facebook.com/skagitcrest/

Schuh Far ms

Family owned & operated for 60 years.

Open Daily 9-6 April – December

Always - Espresso, Ice Cr eam & Milkshakes, Homemade Pie, Cinnamon Rolls, Cookies, Cheese, Jam, Pickles, Gourmet Foods, cider, fr esh flower bouquets

Spring - Cut Tulips, Tulip Merchandise, Gar den Gifts, Plants, Flowering Baskets, Rhubarb, Asparagus

Summer - U-Pick/We-Pick Berries, Garden Produce, P ickling Cucumbers, Sweet Corn, Cherries, Apricots, Nectarines, Peaches, Melons, Tomatoes, Flower Bouquets

Fall - Pumpkin Harvest & Family Fun! Local Cider, Apples, Sweet Corn, Winter Squash, Fall Decorations

Winter - Tr ees (we flock), Wreaths, Garland, Holly, Ornaments & Nuts

Economic Boost to County

TheTulip Festival brings an average of 350,000 tourists to the Skagit Valley over the month of April, providing a huge bump to Skagit County’s tourism industry and economy. Approximately 75 percent of festival visitors come on day or overnight trips from out of the area in groups of about three, which translates to a boost in revenue for local

restaurants, lodging, and retail shops. Visitors participate in the festival’s events, often planning their trip to the gardens around the specific events they plan to attend; many of which support local organizations and charities. Said Executive Director Cindy Verge, “we are looking forward to welcoming our international neighbors alongside our local and out-of-state visitors at this

year’s festival.”

The Tulip Festival board, staff, and volunteers are proud of the small business and agricultural heritage in the Skagit Valley. Several years ago, the festival developed an Official Product Program to promote local businesses and locally made products. These businesses highlight some of the best the Skagit Valley has to offer and the list continues to grow. Participants pay a licensing fee for use of the festival’s artwork so customers will easily recognize the official products. This year, the festival has added a new official product line: an official tea and an official scone mix from Willowbrook Manor.

Returning official products are:

Barn Cat Creations is a small batch artisan soap and bath and body product company using only the highest quality ingredients, always trying to do so in the most environmentally friendly way possible.

Willowbrook hosts private tea parties, overnight stays, scenic bike tours, glamour camping, corporate events and fundraisers, and we open to the public four times a year to provide a country tea experience that is like none other.

Official cannabis and hemp products from Skagit Organics/Skagit Naturals

Skagit Organics is the leader of Medical Cannabis in Washington State with the largest selection of DOH Compliant Medical-Grade cannabis products while providing individualized patient services, education, and access to certified medical cannabis consultants.

Official beer from Anacortes Brewery/Rockfish Grill

The Anacortes Brewery was established in 1994 and is the 10th oldest continuously operating brewery in the state of Washington. They brew over thirty styles annually, and after all these years in the business, they still take pride in still being an innovator. Their brewers focus on high quality ingredients, a carefully controlled process and delicate handling to provide one of the best beers you will find in the industry.

La Catrina

taCos & tequiLLa

Hours Monday–Thursday 11:00am–9:00pm Friday & Saturday 11:00am–9:30pm Month of April 11:00am–5:00pm Sundays

Official coffee from Fidalgo Bay Coffee Roasters

Fidalgo Coffee Roasters creates a Special Tulip Festival Blend each year This year's label and blend will please tulip fans as they enjoy the artwork of Kerry Clavadetscher and see the Savannah Sparrow perched on their coffee.

Official wine from Pasek Cellars

Pasek Cellars is the official wine of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival and our tasting room always offers a dry red and dry white that feature a different original artwork label from the Festival each year. Rounding out our grape wine selections are a Muscat Canelli, an off dry Chardonnay and new comers Red Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon dominant red wine and a low cost value wine sporting our Ride Share Red label.

•

Breakfast •

Official jewelry from Warren Jewelers

Warren Jewelers is a custom jewelry design, jewelry manufacturing and jewelry repair company that has called the Seattle area home since 1973. Our jewelry stores are conveniently located in Kirkland and Burlington, Washington. We are proud jewelry designers and the official jewelry maker of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.

Official candle and bath products from CocoBee Wax Works

Our candles are made with the cleanest burning waxes on the market today. We sustainable waxes and only the highest quality, phthalate-free fragrance oils.

All our products are hand curated with care in small batches to ensure the highest quality.

Official chocolate from Forté Chocolates

Extraordinary chocolate has the power to make every moment of your life richer by bringing life’s memories to new heights! Each piece of our chocolate is handcrafted with the utmost care and artisan passion so you can have (and give) a taste experience like none other!

Official framer, William Bounds Custom Framing

All of our professional custom framing is completed on site by PPFA Certified Picture Framers®. From award-winning design, to employing the most current preservation standards, to materials and techniques appropriate for your art, to making sure that it is completely protected and will continue to look its best for many years to come.

2023 Key Bank Tulip Ambassadors

Congratulations to the winners of the annual Key Bank Tulip Ambassador contest: Conway Elementary fifth grader, Carter See, and fourth grader, Harper McCown! The ambassadors are both excited to take on their new roles. “I’m really excited ... really pumped,” said Harper. Carter said he was surprised to be chosen. “It was so much fun hugging friends and coming up on stage,” he said.

This was the first time the Tulip Ambassador program has been held since 2020; about 100 people attended the competition at La Conner’s Maple Hall on February 9. Approximately 40 fourth and fifth-graders from around the county participated. To choose the best two candidates, each participant was asked to tell a panel of judges why he or she wanted to be a Tulip Ambassador and answer a “mystery” question such as: “What is your favorite subject in school and why?” This year Miss Washington, Regan Gallo, joined the event. Said Tulip Festival Executive Director Cindy Verge, “We were excited to have her help with the event. All our candidates enjoyed meeting her.”

Each year, Verge and her team make presentations to 700 plus children at local elementary schools in the second half of January to encourage children to participate in the competition. Said Cindy, “It’s delightful. There are children here in Skagit County that are very, very proud of where they live and (of) the tulips and the Tulip Festival and they want to participate. The program helps keep kids involved in the festival.”

The ambassadorship is a great opportunity for students to get involved in their community and share their pride with visitors. The ambassadors will make appearances throughout the festival in their roles representing the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, including greeting visitors at the annual PACCAR Technical Center open house (April 15 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.), appearing on local radio stations, riding in the start of the Tulip Parade (April 8 at 2 p.m.), presenting the governor with a festival poster in Olympia, and attending the Tulip Festival Gala (March 25 from 6 p.m. – 9 p.m.).

The Tulip Festival youth competition began as the “Little Miss Tulip” contest. Today the event is open to all children currently attending fourth or fifth grade in Skagit County and has become a search for “Tulip Ambassadors.” Two official Tulip Ambassadors – one boy and one girl - are chosen each February by a five-panel judging team from the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Board of Directors who rank the answers by the candidates. The Tulip Festival organization works to make the tryouts a special occasion for the kids.

2022 Winner: Nicole Long