Tulip Fest: Visit the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Woodburn, Oregon for Spectacular Color

Every year, the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm in Woodburn, Oregon hosts an annual tulip fest in late March through late April. The farm presents tulips in bands of colors, like a giant rainbow rooted to the ground. On clear days, Mt. Hood, in its snow-caped finery, rises as the perfect background for this fun, family-friendly festival.

Quick stats:

Tulip fest begins in late March and runs through late April; from 9:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m.

Walk the fields and order bulbs

Visit kid's play area, country store, and gift shop

Cost: $10 per car on weekends; $5 per car during the week

Location: 33814 South Meridian Road in Woodburn, Oregon

What is the Tulip Fest?

The Tulip Fest at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm has been going strong for almost a quarter century. Oregonians living throughout the Willamette Valley flock to this annual event to get great photos of their children prancing and posing among the beautiful flowers. Although it is often rainy in early spring, the weather does not seem to deter tulip lovers from this fun festival.

On clear days, Mt. Hood to the east provides a stunning backdrop for photographers. During early morning hours, visitors can sometimes see hot air balloons rising from the field of flowers. The scenery is so spectacular that Canon and Pro Photo Supply have sponsored an annual photography contest entitled "Catch the Color." All photographers are encouraged to submit photographs to the contest to win some great prizes. The grand prize is a Canon Digital Rebel camera.

The Tulip Fest is a very family friendly event. Children can participate in many activities, depending on age. The Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm offers a kid's play area and cow train daily during the festival. The cow train does cost around $2 per child. Parents can ride with younger children. The play area features a bumpy slide, horse swings, ducky races, and a hay stack.

For other visitors, the Tulip Fest offers a variety of activities ranging from tasty snacks in the country store to weekend favorites such as wine tasting, wooden shoe making, a craft marketplace, and real steam tractors. The Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm brings fun country entertainment to a tented stage area during peak festival weekends.

Once the tulips begin blooming in earnest, the Tulip Fest can be quite crowded on weekends. If the weather is sunny, the festival will be packed with families. Watch out for young children and bring rain boots and extra clothing. Children love to splash in mud puddles found throughout the field and get drenched!

The Tulip Fest tends to be less crowded during the work week when most children are still in school. Early mornings during the week tend to be great opportunities for spectacular photographs.

Sources:

Personal experience
Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm

Pro Photo Supply "Catch the Color" Contest