Story and photos by June Russell-Chamberlin (unless otherwise indicated)
Tulip Fest: Celebrating Spring with Flowers, Food and Fun
For some visitors, it’s the Instagram-worthy backdrop of color-soaked rows of blooms rolling across the landscape. Others visit Tulip Fest to select the must-have additions to next year’s spring display. Some are just looking for a family outing or a weekend diversion.
Whatever the reason, more than 150,000 people from all over the country — and the world — are drawn each spring to the tulip fields at the family-owned Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm near Woodburn, Oregon.
The Universal Appeal of Tulips
“There seems to be a universal appeal with flowers,” said Barb Iverson, one of the owners of the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm. “Because that’s the other thing out here — the diversity of people. You walk through the field and sometimes you don’t even know what country you’re in, with the number of languages. People just love it. It’s the first thing out of the gate in the spring, a chance to get outside, go do something. And you know, the beauty of it — it’s just a unique experience.”
Getting to Tulip Fest and Getting Around
The Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is located about an hour from Portland and 8 miles from Interstate Highway 5 (I-5) in the countryside near Woodburn. Timed admission tickets and directions to Tulip Fest can be found on the festival website here. Parking is available on site
Catch a ride on a tram near the main building (with the gift shop and flower market) to visit the fields, where you can wander at will. The rows are often muddy, so you might want to wear rainboots.
For a more comfortable trip through the fields, buy a ticket and hop aboard the Tulip Tour Train for a cushioned 30-minute ride through the fields, weather permitting. Like wine? The Wine Wagon Tour combines a trip through the fields with wine tasting (weekends only; purchase tickets). The tour includes wines from Wooden Shoe Vineyards, food pairings and photo stops.
The Tulip Fields of Magnificent Colors
Rows of colorful tulips march across the rolling hills in wide bands of brillant hues. Pink tulips, in shades from blush to magenta, stand beside rows of purple tulips, from palest lavender to almost black. Some rows are a single silken shade. In others, sunny yellow, candy apple red and a host of additional colors mingle in the “field mix” rows, as bright as confetti. Look closer, and you’ll find tulips with ruffles. Tulips with fringe. Tulips shaped like lilies. The best part? You can immerse yourself in the fields, stroking the smooth petals, breathing in the sweet, fruity fragrance and taking as many selfies and photographs as you please.
Photo Opportunities Galore at Tulip Fest
With 40 acres and nearly 100 varieties in bloom, you can wander the fields and discover new tulips for as long as you like. The fields are open every day, rain or shine, from late March to early May. The exact dates vary from year to year depending on when the bloom begins. The Tulip Fest website has current dates as well as a field report on the current amount of bloom. Kids and leashed dogs are welcome in the fields — just don’t trample the tulips!
Shopping for Tulips
When you find the must-have tulips you want for your own garden, head for the Tulip Market in the main building to order bulbs for the fall or order online. You’ll find the gift shop in the main building too, full of all things tulip-oriented, from dishes and aprons to sweatshirts and souvenirs. On the weekends, vendors sell handcrafted items, tasty foods and one-of-a-kind gifts in the outdoor marketplace.
Food, Fun and Wooden Shoes
If you’ve worked up an appetite walking the fields, head to the food carts for German sausages, barbecue, pizza, donuts, fresh-roasted coffee and other tasty fare. You can also shop for local gourmet foods that showcase the flavors of the Northwest at the retail market in the main building. Handmade artisan pasta from Esotico, oils from Durant Olive Mill, and sausages from Mt. Angel Sausage Company are just a few of the local favorites available. Nearby, the Wooden Shoe Vineyards’ rustic tasting room showcases a variety of wines from the six acres of grapes planted on the family farm in 2009.
The tulips may be the star of the festival, but the fun doesn’t end at the fields. In addition to tours of the fields, the festival also features a children’s play area with rubber duck races, a slide and other family-friendly entertainment. Vintage steam-powered tractors also will be on display. Several hot air balloon companies float over the fields (book direct with the balloon company) and offer tethered hot air balloon rides. Don’t miss the chance to watch a master carver at work crafting wooden shoes and try on a pair yourself.
Tulip Fest: Six Weeks of Blooms
For six short weeks each spring the tulip fields at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm are transformed into ribbons of color. Grab your camera, wander the rows, soak up the brilliant hues and try your hand at the rubber duck races. Find your new favorite tulip. Take photographs galore. Because when the blooms are gone, they’re gone — until the next Tulip Fest.
