Visiting The Dreamy Tulip Festival in Oregon
Visiting the Tulip Festival in Oregon has become a yearly spring tradition and Its truly the time of year that marks the start of spring!
It's one of the most beautiful springtime experiences!
The Wooden Shoe Tulip festival is such a dreamy and fun activity our whole family looks forward to each year.
There's activities for everyone! And of course, we visit to smell the flowers, non the less.
Visiting the Tulip Fields has got to be added to your bucket list!
Where To Stay
If you are visiting from out of town, I highly recommend staying in the Willamette Valley Wine Country.
Specifically, at the Allison in and Spa in Newburg Oregon. The Drive to the flower fields from here is decent and easier to get to than from Portland.
Plus you will have access to all of the wonderful wine country amenities. There are a couple of other places worth checking out if you are curious. While I haven't stayed at the Atticus hotel or the boutique retreat, I have heard lots of good things from others.
Top hotel picks to stay at for visiting the tulips:
-
Atticus Hotel is a chic boutique style hotel that is located right in downtown McMinnville, OR (Its a little less than a 1hr drive to the tulips)
-
The Boutique Retreat are actually just tiny houses you get to stay in. It's adorable and cozy place to stay (Its a little less than an 1hr drive to the tulips)
-
The Allison Inn & Spa This is my personal favorite and this hotel spa is located in Newberg, OR. It's a luxurious countryside escape, perfect for relaxation after a day of tulip frolicking. (Its about a 35 Minute drive to the tulips)
When to visit for peak blooms
The tulip festival is open March 21 – April 27 this year. Over the years I have generally visited in mid April which is usually the peak blooming season. Keep in mind that each year the blooms can vary depending on how the weather has been. There are also early and late blooming varieties.
These photos were taken at the end of March because this time we actually went a little earlier than usual!
While there weren’t quite as many blooms as there would have been later in the season, the trade off was fewer crowds and yet plenty of flowers to enjoy.
As you can see in the pictures, the fields were still gorgeous and full of color, with even more blooms on the way!
Just a little tip: If you're planning a visit, try to wait at least a couple of days after the last rain to avoid the mud! But if you do go right after, rain boots will be your best friend.
Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival Upcoming Events
Each year, the festival seems to grow a little bit more. I'm thrilled to see how far they have come and this year they have announced that they will be adding a late summer flower festival.
It's already in my calendar and I am just waiting for the tickets to open up for sale!! I'll be updating the site with this event asap!
How To Avoid The Crowds In Photos
It's actually a little bit funny that this has come up, but a friend asked me how I manage to get pictures in public places without all of the crowds in them.
And it's true that the tulip festival is absolutely stunning, which draws in the crowds. Its not always completely avoidable but here is what we do:
-
Photography Pass for Sunrise & Sunset Access. This is the ultimate way to beat the crowds. With this special pass, you can enter the fields at sunrise or sunset when the festival is closed to the general public. It costs a little more, but it’s absolutely worth it for the magical lighting and empty fields. This pass is especially great if you are just wanting to take photos or do a photoshoot. Each person would need their own pass to access. However, the festival isn't open during the off hours.
-
Wait it out. If you want those perfect photos without a dozen people in the background, just take your time. I walked through the fields, snapping pictures whenever I found a quiet spot. Sometimes, all it takes is waiting a few extra seconds for the perfect opening. You can also zoom in on your subject with your camera and cut out any bystanders that way.
-
Stay until closing or go first thing at opening. This is my personal favorite trick! We spent the day picnicking, shopping, wine tasting, riding the rides and exploring the cute farmsteads and pop up shops. By evening, as the sun started to set, the crowds naturally thinned out. This is when we went to take our photos in the flower fields. Most people don’t stick around until the very last half hour, which means you’ll have the fields much more to yourself. Its a little chilly by this time, but trust me, golden hour at the tulip fields is pure magic!
-
Use Lightroom or photoshoot to edit people out. Even with all of these tricks above, every once in a while I still get someone in the background of a good shot. And if the photo is a good one, it's worth taking the time to edit them out. I like to use the "remove" tool in Lightroom and put the setting under the generative AI. This works like magic at removing people out of your images. You can also turn on the "detect objects" in the removing tool and test to see which one works best for you.
What to wear to the tulip flower fields
Over the years, I’ve learned that Oregon’s spring weather can be sunny one moment and sprinkle the next.
It looks warm and sunny in pictures, but it’s usually a bit chilly and after a rain it can be a little muddy.
Generally speaking, spring in Oregon highs are in the 50's and lows in the 40's. Here’s my go to outfit formula:
-
Dress + Tights – Dresses look stunning in the fields, but I always wear tights underneath to stay warm. I am actually wearing fleece beige tights in these photos under my dress. If you want to wear a mini dress you can wear sheer tights to help add a layer and stay warm. However, I do see a lot of girls wearing dresses with bare legs. This couldn't be me this time of year simply because I am cold sensitive. It just depends on your own personal tolerance.
-
Cardigan or lightweight coat. This is an essential for layering when the wind picks up or during the brisk morning and evening time. I highly recommend bringing a lightweight jacket or cardigan. You can leave the extra layer in the car for the warmer part of the afternoon. Once evening comes around and the chill picks up, you'll be thankful you packed it.
-
Cute Sneakers or Boots. Im just going to say it flat out, pointy heels are a no go in the muddy fields! Trust me on this one. I love pairing dressy sneakers, ankle boots or rain boots with my outfit for a cute and practical look. There's also something super cute and laid back about wearing a dressy outfit and casual sneakers.
-
Rain Jacket in the Car – Because let’s be real, it’s Oregon. The weather can turn in an instant, and it’s always good to be prepared for a surprise drizzle. All it takes is one fluffy cloud to blow over your direction! And poof, you've got yourself a little drizzle!
The Tulip Festival is A Spring Tradition Worth Experiencing
The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is pure magic. It's basically like stepping straight into a fairytale!
Whenever I scroll through Pinterest or TikTok, I always see breathtaking flower fields in Holland or some far away place.
But guess what? If you're in the U.S. (or anywhere nearby), you don’t have to travel across the world to see something just as stunning.
Photos from the flower festival
The Oregon flower fields need to be on your bucket list!
Whether you're out visiting for the flowers, the wine, or just a peaceful day soaking up the beauty, this festival is a must. If you haven’t been to it yet, you've got to add it to your bucket list!
Until next time, Happy Spring!
Check out these related posts Next:
Written by Caroline Flowers
