After spending so much time inside during the cold and rainy months, it’s time to step outside and find new ways to explore the sunshine by visiting the Wooden Shoe Portland Tulip Festival. Opened on March 24, this vibrant field will last through April 30 and aims to showcase millions of blooming flowers, ranging from blush pink to black. Combined with a view of Mount Hood, this destination is perfect for a weekend getaway.
The festival displays endless rows of flowers throughout 40 acres of dream-like beauty. It has numerous fun activities, including a cow wagon ride, a tulip market and more. Along with these attractions, there is onsite food offered daily, ranging from donuts to Hotshot Bar-B-Q, for you to enjoy while browsing through the flower fields. At the tulip festival, you can purchase bundles of flowers or bulbs to either display in your house or plant for upcoming years, creating your own, personal tulip garden.
Although the weather has not often been favorable for delicate flowers this year, the tulips are still blooming strong against the heavy rains. During the first couple weeks of opening, a delayed bloom was reported due to the recent rain; as of March 21, the fields had less than 10 percent color, discouraging people from visiting. As of April 6, however, the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival revealed stunning photos showcasing full-blooming fields, sparking a wave of visitors for the remaining month of April.
Camila Hererrera, a junior at Tualatin who experienced this year’s Tulip festival in the early opening days shared her opinion on the weather.
“Honestly, it was not as good as previous years. It was super muddy, so my pants and shoes got ruined. They did have really good food trucks and the flowers were still pretty, so in the end it was worth it.”
If you are feeling adventurous and the weather is nice, taking a ride in the sky is also an option at Oregon’s Tulip Festival. You and your family could take an hour-long trip on a hot air balloon through the clouds, but if you are feeling more cautious, try a tethered balloon flight for a less thrilling – though still fun – ride.
If you have been searching for a perfect place to take pictures, run on beautiful trails, eat great food or fly in the sky above rows of endless flowers, purchase your tickets in advance for this weekend to experience the tulips first-hand.
