During Easter Weekend, my sister-in-law, Denise, and I trekked to the Wooden She Tulip Fest in Woodburn.
The festival, which runs from March 28-May 4, celebrates one of spring’s favorite bulbs — and what a celebration it is! More than 40 acres of fields are awash in an array of brilliant colors, with blooming bulbs almost as far as the eye can see. It’s a spectacular sight.

The family-run farm has been in operation  since the 1950s; the Wooden Shoe tulip business was formed in 1983 and grew (literally!) from there.
The tulip fields were first opened to the public in 1985, during Easter weekend. Nowadays, the festival runs for almost eight weeks and offers much more than just the exploration of the rows and rows (and rows….) of tulips. Granted, at least for me, getting lost among the gorgeous blooms would be enough of a draw; the flowers here run the gamut of shapes, sizes and colors. Before venturing to the Tulip Fest, I had no idea just how many different varieties there are!

 

For those who need more than just beautiful bulbs to capture their attention, there’s plenty here — a gift shop, a food court, tram rides, duck races, photo ops, planted pots and more. Of course, everything is extremely family-friendly; the festival is designed to bring out the kid in all of us. And it does — I had a smile on my face from start to finish. All the unbridled joy seen on so many young faces was contagious.
 

In hindsight, I do wish we could’ve gone on a weekday; the crowds can be a bit overwhelming. And, if you plan to go, don’t forget your rain boots — even on a sunny day, if there’s been a recent rain (as was the case on Friday) the dirt aisles and pathways you traverse become sloggy slush.

The Wooden Shoe Tulip Fest is located at 33814 S. Meridian Rd, Woodburn; 503-634-2243. $10 per carload. Open daily 9 am-6 pm.
Here are a few more photos from our outing:
 

 
 

 
 


 

 
 

About the Author
Lisa Broadwater, GRI, CDPE, is a Central Oregon-based real estate professional who specializes in listing and selling homes, especially in Sisters, Tumalo, Bend and Redmond.