by Alan K. Lee
The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is a great way for the whole family to get out, get some sun, and enjoy the riot of color that the spring flowers bring to our lives.
Each year Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm opens their property to the public from late March through late April or early May for their annual Tulip Festival, and the fields are absolutely stunning.
The festival also offers more than just access to the tulip fields. There is a cafe on site where you can get locally made pastries and fresh brewed coffee and there are a variety of food vendors at the festival each day. There is also a Wooden Shoe Vineyards tasting room on site, with beer and cider also available. The festival also hosts many crafts vendors and there is a playground and activities available for kids.
There are a variety of daily festival activities, and wooden shoe making demonstrations and steam tractor demonstrations on the weekends. There are also a variety of special events every year.
Sunrise hot air balloon flights are available daily. Tethered hot air balloon flights are also available. All balloon flights are weather dependent. When the weather grounds the balloons, kite flying exhibitions are held in their place. Sunrise balloon flights require advanced reservations. Tethered rides are first come, first served. Check the Wooden Shoe webpage for details on balloon flights and other events and activities.
Cut flowers and potted bulbs are available for purchase at the farm, and flower bulbs can be ordered for fall delivery.
All tickets must be purchased online. Tickets can be purchased through the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm website. Tickets include parking, and transportation from the parking lot to the fields is available for those with mobility issues. Photographers and early risers can purchase sunrise passes that allow entry to the farm before regular festival hours. Drone operators can also purchase a pass that allows drone flights during certain hours of the day. 
2025 update: The farm is currently in full bloom (4-13-25), and this year’s festival runs through April 27. Festival hours are 9am-6pm Mon-Thu, 9am-7pm Fri, 8am-7pm Sat, and 8am-6pm Sun. General admission (ages 13-64) is $16 on weekdays and $21 on weekends. Seniors (65+) get a $5 discount and children under 13 are free. Individual season passes are $70. 
This is just a great event, fun for the whole family. In previous years it has been a very popular event. There are a limited number of tickets available each day and having to purchase tickets in advance means that you have to take your chances with the weather, and weekend tickets often sell out quickly. But even so, this is a really worthwhile outing, especially if you’re a photographer or just a flower lover. And who doesn’t love flowers?
And if you live in the Seattle area, or are planning a visit, check out the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival in Mount Vernon. It runs through the end of April.
Originally posted March 26, 2022. Most recently updated April 13, 2025.
All photos © Alan K. Lee