2024 Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
SKAGIT PUBLISHING
A Supplement to the Skagit Valley Herald and the Anacortes American
5Welcome to the 41st Skagit Valley Tulip Festival!
7Tulip Field Map
15 2024OfficialPosterArtist
18Tulip Festival Suppliers
20-22 Mount Vernon Downtown Association Tulip Festival Street Fair
26Tulip Festival Events and Activities
29Schedule of Events
31Art Shows & Galleries
31Points of Interest
31Local Foods & Produce
32Farms & Nurseries
32Wineries & Breweries
35Economic Boost to County 40 2024 KeyBank Tulip Ambassadors
Welcome to the 41st Annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival!
Welcomeone, welcome all to the 41st Annual Skagit Valley Tulip Festival! We have a big change to announce with the retirement of long-time Executive Director, Cindy Verge, last year. Cindy worked for the Tulip Festival between 1999 and 2023, serving as its executive director for the last 20 years of her tenure. In 2024, she passed the torch to Nicole Roozen. e Tulip Festival would like to thank Cindy for her outstanding service and dedication to the festival.
Nicole Roozen comes to the role of executive director with years of brand strategy and brand marketing experience in both
non-profit and retail. She has a BA in Communications from the University of Washington. As a Roozen, she has direct ties to the festival. Said Nicole, “ e ties between the Roozen family and Skagit tulips run deep. My husband is Brent Roozen, the general manager of RoozenGaarde, and my father-in-law is Leo Roozen, president of Washington Bulb Company. For generations the family has been devoted to sharing the beauty of these tulips with our community and the world beyond, and I feel very honored to be part of that. I have spent many years helping at Roozengaarde on the weekends during the busy Tulip Festival season, which has given me
Executive Director, Nicole Roozen
a unique peek into the world of the blooms and the many visitors who come to visit. Now, as I step into the
full-time role of executive director of the Tulip Festival, I look at this not just as a job; but as a chance to represent something I truly believe in and feel proud to be a part of.”
SaviBank/Judd & Black Appliance 2024 Gala Celebration
e SaviBank/Judd & Black Appliance 2024 Gala Celebration will take place at the Snohomish Casino and Lodge from 5:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. on March 22, 2024. Advance ticket purchase required; please visit auction.tulipfestival.org or call the administrative office at 360-428-5959 to buy your tickets. Nicole shared, “ e gala serves as the festival’s opening ceremony and celebration of the festival community. We are excited to announce the first ever live auction fundraiser. Come ready to bid on some great items!” Attendees can expect a fabulous Roaring Twenties
themed evening featuring delicious food, awards, auction, and community recognition.
Tulip Festival History
e 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. ey 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. e 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, the festival finalized its separation from the chamber when it moved to its own offices.
Over the decades the festival has grown in length. e 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.
e executive director works year-round alongside a sponsorship coordinator and a 20-person volunteer board of directors (including voting members and advisory positions).
e board governs the festival and provides support for festival-operated events such as the Gala, the fall poster unveiling, and the annual Tulip Parade. In addition, the festival is run with the help of generous volunteers and donors.
1.Swinomish Casino & Lodge
2.Children’s Museum of Skagit County
2.Skagit Skate; Warren Jewelry
3.Beaks, Noses & Bills Petting Farm
4.Seattle Premium Outlets
5.Anacortes Brewery/Rock sh Grill,
5. Outer Island Excursions
6.Bow Sanctuary,
6.Taylor Shell sh Farms
8. English Tea/Willowbrook Manor
9.30th Annual Spring Garage Sale
9.Downtown Mount Vernon Street Fair
9.Forté Chocolates 9. Lincoln Theatre
Salmon Barbecue 11. Art Bash 2024 presented by Skagit Artists 11.La Conner Brewing Company
12. Pasek Cellars Winery
13.PACCAR Open House
11.La Conner Ice Cream Tower
11.Museum of Northwest Art (MoNA)
11.Paci c NW Quilt & Fiber Museum
11.PNW Exploration
11.Skagit Cellars
11.Skagit County Historical Museum
11. Skagit Crest Vineyard & Winery
11.Skagit River Queen Boat Tours
11.Tulip Parade
20.Art in a Pickle Barn
21.Skagit’s Own Fish Market
14.Chuckanut Brewery
14.Heritage Flight Museum
15.Skagit Acres
16.Salty Farms Candle Company
16. Tulip CountryBike Tours
17.The Skagit Casino Resort
18.Christianson’s Nursery
18.Art at the Schoolhouse
18.The PNW Artisan Marketplace
19.The Rex
20.Schuh Farms
22.Snowgoose Produce
23.WSU Discovery Garden
24.Farmstrong Brewing Company
24.Chili & Chowder Cook-O
25.Fidalgo Bay Co ee Roasters
27.Sedro-Woolley Scavenger Hunt
28. Tip Toe Treasures Sale
29.Tulip Festival Concert
29. Tulip Tussle Pickleball Tourney
30.3rd Annual Mountain Film Festival
30.C. Lee Franks Candles & More
Thank You to Our Volunteers and Donors
e Tulip Festival depends on hundreds of donated hours from community members and sponsorship money from local businesses and organizations. Staffed with volunteers, the Tulip Festival office is open seven days a week through the month of April to provide information and brochures, maps, and festival merchandise. “We rely heavily on our amazing volunteers to keep the office running every day during the festival. We couldn’t do it without our volunteers and donors and we are thankful for their support”, said Roozen.
Online Presence
e festival’s official website was rebuilt this year! e site has more than 700,000 unique visitors annually, with most visits occurring during the month of April. “With 80% of festival visitors viewing the site from their mobile devices, we knew we had to provide a more mobile friendly experience. We hope visitors will love the new website and make use of some of the new features.”, Nicole said. e website was built by FDG Web of Arlington and has all the information people need to enjoy the festival. It has a Quick Hits section with links to buy garden tickets online, an up-todate bloom status with illustrative bloom cycle, and an interactive map
that shows every attraction that’s connected to the festival along with its proximity to the fields, including restaurants, hotels, retail stores, etc. Visitors can also shop for merchandise, find updated pictures and details about events, and get handy travel tips.
e Tulip Festival Facebook page has been a growing and integral part of the festival’s success for years with over 87,000 followers. e Instagram page has also been gaining traction in recent years, increasing its followers to over 21,000 this year. “Our social media pages are a great place for people to learn about the festival and beyond. We share real-time updates and essential information during the festival, as well as captivating imagery
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and videos showcasing the tulip blooms. Dive into our posts for festival tips, planting and gardening pointers, tulip fun facts, and more. Join us to immerse yourself in the beauty of our blooms and all that Skagit Valley has to offer”, shared Nicole. Be sure to follow the festival’s Instagram and Facebook pages for beautiful pictures and announcements throughout the year as they welcome new sponsors, share information about events in the Skagit Valley, and post updates about the flower fields.
Facebook & Instagram Photo Contest
It’s easy and fun to participate in the festival’s annual social media photo contest, presented by North Coast Credit Union. Check our website,
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Facebook, or Instagram page for entry details, weekly finalists, and the winning photos. Applicants are encouraged to submit one photo per week during the month of April and our committee will choose weekly finalists and announce the winners in various categories at the end of the festival. e winning photographers will receive recognition on our social channels and a signed 2024 poster.
What to See & Do
e 2024 Tulip Festival is open from April 1-30, though the flowers bloom according to Mother Nature and dates could shift. Check tulipfestival.org for updates on blooms, a calendar of events, maps and places to stay, eat, and shop.
C O N N E R H E I G H T S
Brought to you by Skagit Valley’s premier builder, BYK. Perfectly located in the heart of La Conner. Enjoy easy access to downtown boutique shopping, waterfront dining, marinas and vibrant cultural experiences. Poised above the beauty of the surrounding tulip fields with views out to the Salish Seas.
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 sanctioned events. Be sure to visit the four show gardens: RoozenGaarde, Tulip Town, Garden Rosalyn, and Tulip Valley Farms. We also recommend visiting Beaks, Noses, and Bills 4-H Club Petting Farm, JeKa PlantShop, Skagit Acres, Meerkerk Gardens, WSU Discovery Garden, Christianson’s Nursery, Skagit’s Own Fish Market, Taylor Shellfish Farms, Snow Goose Produce, and Schuh Farms. In addition to the fields and farms, there are so many hidden gems to discover around the Skagit Valley, from roadside stands to local restaurants, and more!
Events are spread throughout the valley in cities from Sedro-Woolley to Anacortes, Mount-Vernon, Burlington, and La Conner. Some of the fantastic 2024 sanctioned events include the Kiwanis Salmon BBQ, the Downtown Mount Vernon Street Fair, the Tulip Tussle Pickleball Tournament, the Sedro-Woolley Scavenger Hunt, the 30th Annual Spring Garage Sale, the Chili & Chowder Cook-Off, and of course our annual Tulip Parade in La Conner. Said Roozen, “We are excited to bring back classic Tulip Festival events and welcome some new events this year.”
Festival Tips
Tulip Tickets: Each display garden has their own ticketing system to purchase tickets directly either from
their website or in-person. We strongly encourage you to pre-purchase your tickets in advance. e tulipfestival.org website has links to purchase tickets for all four gardens in the Tulip Farms & Tickets section. Pro tip: garden tickets are non-refundable so wait to buy until you are sure about the date you want to go.
Traveling Around the Festival:
ere isn’t a single location for the festival; gardens and events are miles apart so you will need a vehicle or bicycle to get around. Visit tulipfestival.org for an interactive map and guide or pick up a brochure with a map at the Tulip Festival Store in downtown Mount Vernon.
Pets & Drones: Pets are not allowed at Roozengarde, but Garden Rosalyn,
Tulip Town, and Tulip Valley Farms allow well-behaved leashed dogs. Drones are prohibited in all gardens and fields, except for Tulip Valley Farms.
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).
Planning: Tulip crops rotate every year and blooming fields vary based on tulip variety and weather conditions. Check out the Tulip Festival’s bloom status at https://tulipfestival.org/ bloom-status. For the latest updates, follow us on Facebook and Instagram or call 360-428-5959 to help plan your trip. It’s also a good idea to plan
your trip around any special events you would like to attend. ere are several events throughout the month of April, visit our events page to plan accordingly.
Traveling to the Festival in Your Own Vehicle: When traveling to the festival use SR 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. e quickest route out of the Tulip Festival is also SR 20.
Extra Tips:
Make a Pit-Stop: Weekends can get busy, with potential traffic backups. We recommend you make a pit-stop at home or in town before heading out to the gardens and fields. Pro tip: Avoid the crowds by planning a mid-week trip or arrive by 9 a.m.
Plan for the Weather: Weather can be unpredictable; we recommend you bring clothing and shoe options. Dressing in layers and bringing along a waterproof jacket and boots is a smart move.
Questions? Call our office at 360428-5959, stop by in person at 311 W. Kincaid St., email us at info@ tulipfestival.org, or send a message through our Facebook or Instagram pages. Fir-Conway Lutheran Church, Conway Foods, and Skagit’s Own Fish Market also act as official Info Stations.
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 outside of the Skagit Valley, we recommend these options:
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.
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 Step-On 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 in your own rented coach, shuttle, or van; the master gardener will navigate your tour. is 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
Outer Island Excursions Whale & Wildlife Tours
Departs from Anacortes (360) 376-3711
Reserveonlineatwww.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 TULIP24.
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 e Hole in e Wall. $15 per person.
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. eir 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.
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. Guided tulip tours are available for small groups of up to 10 people. New Tulip Tours available in 2024!
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 shuttles or tours from the train station.
By bus
Monday through Saturday Skagit Transit Route 615 operates along McLean Road. 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
e tulip fields are located 60 miles north of Seattle along I-5 and 70 miles south of Vancouver, BC, Canada. e 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. e four display gardens have free parking adjacent to their facilities. Roadside parking is limited due to shoulder conditions and traffic safety regulations.
2024 Official Poster Artist
Each year a committee of community volunteers selects a local artist to create an official poster for the Tulip Festival. e artist is then announced in November at the annual 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 Gary Brown who was selected as the 2024 official poster artist! is year is a little different, because Gary is a photographer instead of a
Gary’s
of the scenes of the Skagit Valley and the
the land. For 45
he and his wife, Susan, have lived in this scenic area, nestled on farmland in between Mount Vernon and La Conner. Gary and Susan have participated in Tulip Festival events since the start of the celebration. e couple feels a deep connection to the festival – they even grow tulips in their yard.
Gary is a retired physician but his journey in photography began in the 4th grade with a “Brownie Starflex Outfit.” e significance of photography was instilled in him as a child. As he observed his parents capturing moments at various family gatherings, he quickly understood the importance of preserving these special memories through photos.
As a photographer, Gary is inspired by light, land, weather, people, and sky. ese elements serve not only as visual inspirations but also as sources of deep reflection and metaphorical significance. His photography has helped him appreciate the beauty that often goes unnoticed in the midst of daily routines. He often keeps a camera in his car, seizing opportunities to capture the beauty of the Skagit Valley during his daily commutes. e changing scenes of planting and
harvesting, with a vast variety of crops, have been his primary focus.
Story Behind the Image
In his quest to create a unique image for the poster, Gary sought to take a picture that showcases the beauty and expanse of the Skagit Valley, and “the magic that happens when you are here…to see the early morning glow or evening light on the fields through the eyes of people who’ve traveled here, visualizing the color for the first time, is a joyful experience”, he said.
Gary recalled, “One day as I traveled down Beaver Marsh Road, I noticed a sign in a large yard next to a soonto-be red tulip field. It said: ‘You are welcome to park here anywhere at no charge. Please respect our property. Please pick up and remove all trash you find. ank you. - Mel Terry’. is struck me as such a welcoming gesture, an example of the kind of community we have here in Skagit County. About two weeks later in the early morning, parking on his lawn, and walking into the field by myself, I was given the image. I was alone, it was quiet, the mist was present, and I remember thinking… ‘what a perfect, peaceful sunrise’.”
Gary feels honored to be selected as the artist for the 2024 Tulip Festival Poster. “It’s going to be fun to interact with people coming here as well as my friends and neighbors. ere are many businesses benefiting from the event and I’m looking forward to doing what I can to make it memorable. I’ll try to carry on the spirit of Terry’s kind welcome.”
Learn more about Gary at garylbrownphotography.com.
Meet the Artist
Kevin Hartman of Westar Solutions worked with Gary to transform his photograph into the Tulip Festival poster. In addition, Hartman worked on a graphical design of the official photo to be printed on official apparel and many other products.
Purchase your festival poster and merchandise online or at the Tulip Festival Office at 311 W Kincaid St., Mount Vernon.
Gary will be available to sign your poster during special guest appearances. Please check the festival website for dates, times, and locations.
Tulip Festival Suppliers
Festival Merchandiser
Westar
Solutions is back 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 high-quality puzzles, coasters, T-shirts, stickers, mouse pads, and posters will be available. In the past the merch all had either the festival logo or poster on it. is year Westar came up with a graphical design of the
official photo to print on products. With nearly 100% of merchandising now happening in Skagit County, the festival is able to offer a wider variety of clothing colors and sizes.
For Westar President Kevin Hartman, it’s not just a festival or about making a profit. e 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 25 years ago, straight out of high school. He bought the business and took over as president in 2006.
Tulip Growers
e festival’s long-standing tulip gardens, RoozenGaarde/Washington Bulb Co., Inc. and Tulip Town have been joined by Garden Rosalyn and Tulip Valley Farms in recent years. All four growers offer unique artistic tulip displays in their show gardens and have a deep passion for growing tulips.
RoozenGaarde
With tens of millions of tulips creating endless rows of color, brilliant color combinations, spectacular floral designs, flowering rivers of deep blue muscari and more, RoozenGaarde is a must-see spring spectacle! Visitors will enjoy an astounding showcase of nature, color, beauty, and blooms.
e Roozen family helped make tulips synonymous with the Skagit Valley, and this year the featured garden and fields will be more bright, beautiful, and tulip-filled than ever! e 2024 fields will have flowering rows measuring three-feet wide, meaning three times as much amazing color! RoozenGaarde’s world-renowned display presents over 50 acres of blooming flowers and a seven-acre formal garden. e display garden is re-designed each fall and hand planted with over one million spring flowering bulbs featuring 200 tulip varieties, 50 types of daffodils, hyacinths, and muscari.
RoozenGaarde is the retail division of Washington Bulb Company Inc.,
the largest flower bulb grower in North America. Family owned for over 75 years, the company plants more than 500 acres of tulips and daffodil fields throughout the Skagit Valley. In addition to the fields of flowers, the Roozen family also grows tulips year-round in their 15 acres of greenhouse space – tulips are not just
a fresh cut flower for the spring! All the daffodils and more than 95% of the tulips grown in the Skagit Valley are produced by the Roozen family. Bulbs are harvested each summer and sold to home gardeners throughout the Pacific Northwest and all 50 states.
RoozenGaarde is open year-round. Admission is charged for the duration
of the spring bloom – exact dates depend on Mother Nature. While 2023 was a late blooming year, the 2024 blooms sound as though they may get off to a bit of an earlier start. Tickets can be purchased in advance online at tulips.com. Weekday tickets are valid for entry any Monday –Friday. Weekend tickets are valid for any Saturday or Sunday this spring.
Season passes are also available for those wanting to enjoy all the spectacular stages of the spring bloom!
•Spring Hours: weekdays 9 a.m. – 7 p.m. and weekends from 8 a.m. – 7 p.m.
•Parking is free on Beaver Marsh Road
•Fill your home with farm fresh tulip bunches – 10 stems for $8 or five bunches (50 stems) for $32!There will be a wonderful selection of tulip varieties offering outstanding value to visitors.
•Potted tulips are available to take home while flower bulbs can be prereserved for fall pickup/delivery
• Don’t miss the RoozenGaarde gift shop!
•Food concessions on site – burgers, hot dogs, kettle corn, ice cream, fudge, espresso, and more
•Sorry, pets and drones are not permitted
Tulip Town
Owned by Spinach Bus Venture Group, a group of Mount Vernon High School classmates from the class of 1994, Tulip Town is home to over five-acres of dazzling flower displays with incredible photo opportunities. Excellent landscaping techniques are featured throughout the farm including apple trees, gardens, nursery trees, annuals, and perennials. Bulb orders open March 1. Visitors come back year after year to enjoy both the indoor and outdoor display gardens and the picturesque windmill. Visitors enjoy free trolley rides through the tulips (weather dependent) and grabbing a drink in the beer and wine garden. e Landing at Tulip Town serves food, treats, ice cream, and coffee for the whole family.
Tulip Town will officially open to the public on March 30 and remain open through bloom season. e team is excited to share acres of vivid color during the Tulip Festival. Advance tickets are highly recommended and sold at a discount. Ticket changes can be made on the Tulip Town website any time 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.com/pages/tickets.
• Monday – Thursday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Friday – Sunday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
•Parking is free with designated spots for those with disabilities: the lot is on Bradshaw Road, adjoining the Tulip Town fields and indoor flower show.
• Tulip Town has over 10,000 square feet of indoor space featuring an indoor flower display, beautiful murals, andretail shops featuring a curated selection of local goods.
• Trolley rides
•Flower stand selling fresh, handpicked bouquets
•Café with espresso, food & treats
•Beer & wine garden
•Credit cards accepted
•Well-behaved dogs on short leashes are welcome (with all ticket levels except the Experience Pass)
•Drones are not permitted
Garden Rosalyn
Garden Rosalyn was first created in 2019. It is located in the heart of the Skagit Valley with breathtaking views of the Cascade Mountains and show-stopping tulip fields during the Tulip Festival season in April and dahlias between May and early fall. In addition to the beautiful flowers, this family friendly farm features a quaint
GARDEN ROSALYN
windmill and pond with a resident family of geese and ducks that enhance the experience.
Festival visitors will enjoy acres of tulips in award-winning designs such as stars and waterfowl. e garden is located at the corner of Kamb and Junquist Roads at 16645 Junquist Rd. Food trucks will be on-site with delicious delicatessens. Please visit https://gardenrosalyn.com/ to purchase tickets.
•Se Habla Español
•Open daily 7 a.m. – 8 p.m., April 1 – May 10
• General admission is $15, children 2 and under are free
• Free parking on Jungquist Road
•Gift shop with memorabilia of the garden and the festival
•Food trucks & picnic tables
•Well-behaved, leashed dogs are welcome
•Drones not permitted
Tulip Valley Farms
Tulip Valley Farms is a collection of dazzling tulip fields, offering visitors a park-like experience. It is the only u-pick tulip field at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, the biggest on the west coast, and second biggest in the country in just their second year! A team member will help you wrap your unique bouquet at one of the new U-Pick Wrapping stations. Tulip Valley Farms is an expansive 30-acre farm in West Mount Vernon with three million blooms and views of Mount Baker and beautiful surrounding farmland. Because the tulips are co-planted with hazelnut
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trees, the rows are wide enough to allow grass pathways between, so there is less mud than other farms. is allows visitors to more safely “tiptoe” between the tulip rows while enjoying incredible photo opportunities. e farm will be open daily throughout April from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Parking is free and accessible on Bradshaw Road. 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 had a great first year in 2023 and we’re excited to really lean into the things people told us they loved about visiting Tulip Valley Farms. e overwhelming message from guests was that they loved the additional option Tulip Valley Farms brings to the Tulip Festival. ey
appreciated the relaxed feel of our farm, being able to meander up and down the grass rows right next to the tulips, the family-friendliness, the innovation of trying new things like Night Bloom, and being able to pick their own tulips!”
ere are several exciting experiences to enjoy at Tulip Valley Farms, including:
•Free twice-daily farm tours with Farmer Andrew at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., Monday - Saturday
•Night Bloom with lasers, lights, music, and bonfires! 7 p.m. to – 9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the festival
• New for 2024: The “Wow Garden” and “Parrot Garden” packed with fancy tulips
• Farm animals!
• Picnics are encouraged!
• Unlimited u-pick tulips!
•Free parking on Bradshaw Road and Pulver Road
LACATRINA
TACOS&TEQUILLA
HoursMonday–Thursday11:00am–9:00pm Friday&Saturday11:00am–9:30pm MonthofApril11:00am–5:00pmSundays
It is recommended to pre-purchase your tickets online at https:// tulipvalleyfarms.ticketspice.com/ skagit-tulip-festival-2024.
General admission online ticket prices: Children (ages 3-15): $8.50; Adults (16+): $13.50; Seniors/ Military (ID required): $10.50 (tickets purchased at the gate will be $3 more)
Season pass includes a guest!
• Anytime Tickets let you come any one day throughout the festival without worrying about changing ticket dates/ weather/schedule changes!
• Get 5 free stems (25 total!) when you pre-purchase your u-pick bouquet for $20. Stems purchased at the wrap stations will be $2 each.
•Well-behaved dogs are welcome with the purchase of a Pooch Pass for $5.
•Drones are allowed by purchasing a Drone Pass.
30TH ANNUAL
April12•9AM-4PM April13•9AM-4PM
Tulip Festival Events and Activities
Thetulips are worth the trip in their own right but 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.
Passport Program
Whichever events you choose to participate in, be sure to sign up for the Tulip Festival Guide or “passport program” brought to you through the festival’s partnership with the Skagit Tourism Bureau*! It is a fun,
interactive way to explore all there is to do during the Tulip Festival.
is is a free online passport; visitors can sign up and use it anytime throughout the festival. ere 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. Participants can earn points and enter to win prizes. You can sign up for the passport at https://tulipfestival. org/passportregistration/ or visitskagitvalley.com.
*Championed by the heads of the six chambers and funded by a room tax on hotel stays in Skagit County, the Skagit Tourism Bureau was formed to promote the entire valley in a sustainable way.
Featured Events
Tulip Parade, presented by Astound Broadband
First Street, La Conner (360) 428-5959
April 6, 2 p.m.
Join in the fun as a spectator or participant. No entry is too small; wacky impromptu entries welcome. Line up for the parade in the Port of Skagit complex. Entry forms available online at tulipfestival.org.
PACCAR Technical Center Open House
12479 Farm to Market Rd., Mount Vernon
1 mile N of SR 20 (360) 757-8311
April 13, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. is 375-acre site provides test and development for PACCAR divisions, including Kenworth, Peterbilt, and DAF trucks. e tour highlights test labs and trucks manufactured by PACCAR. See the trucks and how they are tested!
Downtown Mount Vernon Street Fair, presented by the Mount Vernon Downtown Association
S 1st St., Mount Vernon (360) 336-3801
tulipfestivalstreetfair.com
PACCAR Technical Center
facebook.com/tulipfestivalstreetfair
April 19 - 21, Fri & Sat 10 a.m. - 6 p.m., Sun 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Come to downtown Mount Vernon for the 40th Annual Tulip Festival Street Fair. Enjoy 140 plus juried arts
and crafts vendors from throughout the USA and Canada, including painting and fine art, photography, jewelry, clothing, gourmet food stuffs, unique gifts, garden art, children’s toys – fun for the whole family!
Tulip Tussle Pickleball Tournament, sponsored by Skagit Valley College and Skagit Valley Pickleball Club Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion
2727 E. College Way, Mount Vernon (360) 416-7771
Info for game times and registration: athletics.skagit.edu/ or https:// pickleballbrackets.com/
April 25 - 28
Watch the second annual tournament or join as a competitor! Registration is now open. Men, women, doubles, and mixed doubles on all covered courts.
DOWNTOWN MOUNT VERNON STREET FAIR
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
MARCH 22-24
Tulip Days Basketball Tournament
Various gyms throughout Skagit County (360) 416-1350
Games played 9 am-7 pm daily skagitcounty.net/parks
MARCH 22
Judd & Black Appliance/Peoples Bank
2024 Gala Celebration (360) 428-5959
March 22, 2024, 6-9 pm
Advance ticket purchase required. 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 teaandtour.com
APRIL - EVERY FRIDAY-SUNDAY
Kiwanis Salmon Barbecue
March 30-April 28
Hillcrest Lodge, 1717 S 13th St
Mount Vernon, WA 98274
Fri.–Sun., 11 am-7 pm in April mvkiwanisclub.org
For 15+ group reservations, call (360) 708-5550
APRIL 6
Tulip Parade presented by Astound Broadband
First Street, La Conner, WA 98257 (360) 428-5959
April 6, 2 pm tulipfestival.org
APRIL 6
Skagit Chili & Chowder Cook-Off Farmstrong Brewing Co. 110 Stewart Rd
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 428-8547
April 6, 1 pm-4 pm mountvernonchamber.com
APRIL 12
30th Annual Spring Garage Sale
Skagit County Fairgrounds 501 Taylor St
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 416-1350
April 12-13, 9 am-4 pm skagitcounty.net/garagesale
APRIL 13
Tulip Festival Concert
Bethany Covenant Church 1318 S 18th Street
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 424-9399
Saturday, April 13 7 pm mail@bccmv.org
APRIL 13
Music & Memories
Skagit Adult Day Program’s 11th Annual Aution/Dinner Bertelsen’s Winery 20598 Starbird Road
Mount Vernon, WA 98274
Saturday April 13 at 5:30 pm skagitadultdayprogram.org
GARAGE SALE AT SKAGIT COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS
PICKLEBALL
APRIL 13
PACCAR Technical Center Open House
12479 Farm To Market Rd
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
1 mile N of SR 20 (360) 757-8311
April 13, 11 am-3 pm ONLY – FREE
APRIL 18-21
3rd Annual Mountain Film Festival Concrete Theatre 45920 Main St Concrete, WA 98237
Thursday, April 18 - Sunday, April 21 Tickets: concrete-wa.com
APRIL 19-21
Tiptoe Through the Treasures Sale
The School at Skagit City 17508 Moore Rd
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
April 19-21, 9 am-4 pm (360) 466-3365 skagitcounty.net/museum
APRIL 19-21
Downtown Mount Vernon Street Fair S First Street
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 336-3801
April 19-21, Fri & Sat 10 am-6 pm, Sun 10 am-5 pm
tulipfestivalstreetfair.com facebook.com/tulipfestivalstreetfair
APRIL 25-28
Tulip Tussle Pickleball Tournament
Blackburn Pickleball Pavilion 2727 E College Way
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 416-7771
April 25-28
Info for game times and registration: athletics.skagit.edu/ or Pickleballbrackets.com
APRIL
Sedro-Woolley Scavenger Hunt
Sedro-Woolley (360) 855-1842 director@sedro-woolley.com sedro-woolley.com https://www.sedro-woolley.com/ scavenger-hunt/
ART SHOWS & GALLERIES
MARCH 29-MAY 4
Art in a Pickle Barn located at:
Schuh Farms “Bakery Barn” 15565 State Route 536 Mount Vernon, WA 98273 March 29-May 4
Daily 10 am-5 pm skagitart.net
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 stanwoodcamanoart.com
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 pnwartisanmarketplace.com
APRIL 12-14
ART BASH 2024 presented by Skagit Artists Maple Hall 104 Commercial La Conner, WA 98257
Free and open to the public Fri & Sat 10 am-7 pm, Sun 10 am-3pm
BOW SANCTUARY
POINTS OF INTEREST
Bow Sanctuary
3533 Chuckanut Dr Bow, WA 98232 (360) 840-2248
Open 9 am-3 pm daily bowsanctuary.com
Burlington Plaza 448 Fashion Way Burlington, WA 98233 (360) 757-3548
Open daily; store hours vary theshopsatburlington.com
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
Lincoln Theatre
712 S First St
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 336-8955
A variety of events during April. lincolntheatre.org
Seattle Premium Outlet 10600 Quil Ceda Blvd Tulalip, WA 98271 (360) 654-3000 premiumoutlets.com/seattle
Swinomish Casino & Lodge
12885 Casino Dr Anacortes, WA 98221 (360) 588-3600 or (888) 288-8883 swinomishcasinoandlodge.com
The Skagit Casino Resort 5984 Darrk Lane Bow, WA 98232 (877) 275-2448 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 laconnericecreamtower.com
Schuh Farms 15565 State Route 536 Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 424-6982 Daily 9 am-6 pm 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 skagitfish.com
Snowgoose Produce 15170 Fir Island Rd Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 445-6908
Open daily 8:30 am-6:30 pm snowgooseproducemarket.com
Taylor Shellfish Farms 2182 Chuckanut Dr Bow, WA 98232 (360) 766-6002
Open Daily (Retail) 10 am-6 pm, (Kitchen) 12 pm-6 pm 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
14904 State Route 20
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 424-1580
Daily 9 am-5pm
Wide variety of indoor and outdoor plants and great service.
Beaks, Noses, and Bills
4-H Club Petting Farm Jones Rd. (behind the Shell Station) Free Parking Conway, WA 98238 (360) 202-5023
Weekends: April 6-7, 13-14, 20-21, 27-28 10 am-3 pm
Christianson’s Nursery 15806 Best Rd
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 466-3821
Daily 9 am-6 pm christiansonsnursery.com
Garden Rosalyn 16648 Jungquist Rd
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 202-7982 gardenrosalyn.com
JeKa Plant Shop
219 S First Street
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 318-7944
Wed-Sat 11 am-6 pm jekaplants.com
Meerkerk Gardens 3531 Meerkerk Ln Greenbank, WA 98253 (360) 678-1912 meermerkgardens.org
RoozenGaarde 15867 Beaver Marsh Rd
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 424-8531
Tulips.com
Skagit Acres
18923 Peter Johnson Rd
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 424-6760
Open daily 9 am- 6 pm skagitacres.com
Tulip Town
15002 Bradshaw Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 424-8152 TulipTown.com
Tulip Valley Farms
15245 Bradshaw Road
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 399-6462
tulipvalley.com
WSU Discovery Garden 16650 State Route 536
Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Open Dawn-Dusk skagitmg.org/discovery-garden/
WINERIES & BREWERIES
Anacortes Brewery/Rockfish Grill 320 Commercial Ave Anacortes, WA 98221 (360) 588-1720 anacortesrockfish.com
Chuckanut Brewery 11937 Higgins Airport Way Burlington, WA 98233 (360) 752-3377
Open daily chuckanutbrewery.com
Farmstrong Brewing Co. 110 Stewart Road
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 873-8852
Hours: Mon-Fri 2-8 pm; Sat noon-8 pm; Sun noon-6 pm farmstrongbrewing.com
La Conner Brewing Company 117 S First Street
La Conner, WA 98257 (360) 466-1415
Opens daily at 11:30 am laconnerbrewery.com
Pasek Cellars Winery 2615 Old Hwy 99 South Road
Mount Vernon, WA 98273 (360) 404-5640
Wed-Sun 11:30 am-5:30pm; Open daily in April 11:30 am-5:30 pm pasekcellars.com
Skagit Cellars Winery 106 First St La Conner, WA 98257 (360) 708-0345 facebook.com/SkagitCellars/
Skagit Crest Vineyard & Winery 105 N First Street, 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 skagitcrest.com or facebook.com/skagitcrest/
Economic Boost to County
ThisTulip Festival has a significant economic impact on the community, especially because it happens in April, which would typically be a quieter tourist month. From a prior study, we know that the 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 often plan their trip to the gardens around the additional Tulip Festival sanctioned events they will attend; many of which support local organizations and charities.
rough its partnership with the Skagit Tourism Bureau and CEO Kristen Keltz, the Tulip Festival has been able to launch an extensive advertising campaign for the first time this year. is exciting initiative includes placements in a wide range of media channels, such as magazines, social media, influencers, and online display ads. According to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival’s Executive Director Nicole Roozen, “We’re eager to track the impact of these advertising efforts. rough our newly launched enhanced website, we’re poised to understand the impact of this investment on various businesses throughout Skagit County, helping to further show the benefits of the Tulip
Festival to our larger community.” e Skagit Tourism Bureau is excited to see the impacts of this campaign not only through increased overnights during the festival, but throughout the year for our hotels and tourism related businesses. Kristen elaborated, “ e Tulip Festival is the crown jewel and we have an opportunity to capture the hundreds of thousands of people that attend the festival and show them all the reasons they should return to our remarkable valley throughout the year.”
e Tulip Festival board, staff, and volunteers are proud of both the
agricultural heritage of the Skagit Valley as well as the many other types of small businesses that make up the business landscape. Several years ago, the festival developed an Official Product Program to promote local businesses and locally made products. ese businesses highlight some of the best the Skagit Valley has to offer and the list continues to grow.
is year, the festival has added two new official product lines: an official candle from Salty Farms Candle Company and official bath products from C. Lee Franks Candles & More.
Familyowned& operatedfor61years.
OpenDaily9-6April– December
Always -Espresso,IceCream&Milkshakes, HomemadePie,CinnamonRolls,Cookies,Cheese,Jam,
Spring -CutTulips,TulipMerchandise,GardenGifts, Plants,FloweringBaskets,Rhubarb,Asparagus
Summer -U-Pick/We-PickBerries,GardenProduce, PicklingCucumbers,SweetCorn,Cherries,Apricots, Nectarines,Peaches,Melons,Tomatoes, FlowerBouquets
Fall -PumpkinHarvest& FamilyFun!LocalCider, Apples,SweetCorn,WinterSquash,FallDecorations
Winter Ornaments& Nuts
Skagit Organics is the leader of Medical Cannabis in Washington State with the largest selection of DOH Compliant MedicalGrade cannabis products while providing individualized patient services, education, and access to certified medical cannabis consultants.
2024 KeyBank Tulip Ambassadors
Aspart of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, two kids are chosen each year to represent the festival as Tulip Ambassadors. “ e Tulip Ambassador event is open to all fourth and fifth graders in Skagit County, and is the
festival’s way to help engage the youth in the community. e kids who have the courage to be a part of this event bring pride to the community.”, said Tulip Festival Executive Director Nicole Roozen.
Nicole made presentations at local elementary schools between mid-January and early February to encourage children to participate in the competition. Said Nicole, “ e ambassador program is a valuable way to bring the youth into something that’s such a big staple of the community. Most kids have heard of the festival but this program creates a fun and immersive learning experience to get a behind the scenes understanding of the gardens and the rich agricultural heritage of the valley.”
About 50 people attended the competition at La Conner’s Maple Hall on February 15 and 21 fourth and fifth-graders from around the county
participated. Roozen and co-presenter, I.V. Reeves of sponsor KeyBank, called the students onto the stage one at a time to answer two questions. 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?” After questions were answered, each participant received a certificate, points were tallied and the winners were announced.
Congratulations to the winners of the 2024 KeyBank Tulip Ambassador contest: Clyde Oczkewicz and Kiki Kaur Narwal! Clyde said he was excited and shocked that he’d won, adding that he was excited about attending the open house for PACCAR, a local truck designer and manufacturer. Kiki said she was amazed she had won because there were so many other participants that did well at answering questions. She looks forward to going to Olympia to meet the governor in her role as Tulip
e ambassadorship is a great opportunity for students to get involved in the Skagit community and share their pride with visitors. e children will make appearances throughout the festival in their roles as Tulip Ambassadors representing the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, including greeting visitors at the annual PACCAR Technical Center open house, appearing on local radio stations, riding in the start of the Tulip Parade, presenting the governor with a festival poster in Olympia, and
e 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 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. e Tulip Festival organization works to make the tryouts a special occasion for the kids.
Ambassador.
attending the Tulip Festival Gala.
