Photos: Tulips in the Skagit Valley

Skagit Valley tulips
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

Wayne Pridemore says, "The tulips in Skagit Valley are now in bloom and it is a perfect time to enjoy the colorful display. A favorite viewing location of many people is Roozengaarde Tulip Garden on Best Road near Mt Vernon."

Cinda Sue Dow paints tulips
Photo by Wayne Pridemore

A Friday Harbor artist, Cinda Sue Dow, was creating a pastel work of the tulip field. Cinda Sue is known for putting a contemporary twist on traditional subject matter. You can view her pastel art here.

Fields beginning to bloom
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Steve Robinson was up about a week before Wayne. Some of the tulips were in full bloom then and some were just starting to show color.

Multi colored fields
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

The official tulip festival time this year is April 1-30, 2015. The fields are around the Mt Vernon / Burlington area - check the brochure.

The expansion to 30 days was to ensure that the huge fields of tulips grown in Skagit Valley would actually bloom sometime during the festival, since a shorter festival sometime missed the blooming of the fields. 

Today the festival boasts an amazing assortment of events -- art shows, gala celebrations, concerts, tours of local shellfish and cheese operations and an open house at PACCAR. Two signature events have grown along with the festival --the Downtown Mount Vernon Street Fair and the Kiwanis Salmon Barbecue – fundraisers for both organizations that have proven highly successful. There are lots of physical activities associated with the festival as well – a run, 20- 40- and 60-mile bike rides, and a youth basketball tournament.