Do you love flowers and outdoor activities? Imagine acres of tulip fields all in bloom together, adorning the whole area with vibrant colours, pretty picturesque views, and a freshness to the air that only plants can provide. What is better than walking in between rows and rows of stunning flowers in bloom and feeling like a character out of a romantic novel?
Visit the Chilliwack tulip festival next year and behold the beauty of the tulips of the valley in full bloom.
What is a Tulip Festival?
Held in several cities around the world (mainly in North America), the tulip festival features flowers which are considered a welcomer and bringer of spring. The festival permits the locals as well as the tourists to enjoy the spectacular view of millions of tulips in bloom and also have some fun during the exceptional festival.
Tulip festivals take place across the world in places like Albany, New York, Montreal, New Zealand, Australia, India, Oregon, England, Washington, and many other places in the world.
The Chilliwack Tulip Festival
The Chilliwack tulip festival, Fraser Valley’s first such facility opened its doors in 2006. The Chilliwack Tulip Festival is the biggest tulip spectacle in Western Canada, with thousands of tulip bulbs blossoming each year. It is the first tulip fest in the Lower Mainland.
With over 20 acres of stunning fields, the tulip festival in Chilliwack boasts over nine million flowers in all.
Where Does The Chilliwack Tulip Festival Take Place?
The festival’s setting on a real functioning farm in Chilliwack is what makes it so captivating, you will find it on Yale Road.
Coming from the Vancouver direction, you will first come across signs for the Abbotsford tulip festival. This tulip festival is a beautiful event too, but a bit smaller and a little more expensive. Driving further down the road, you will reach the Chilliwack Tulip Festival within ten minutes or so.
When Does The Chilliwack Tulip Festival Happen?
The Tulip Festival in Chilliwack runs for around four weeks in April. The event typically lasts from 6:00 am to 6:00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays, and from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm during other days of the week.
In 2022, the fest took place on April 11th. That year, however, the visitors were limited, and the festival was only open to the residents of Fraser Valley.
What Can You See At The Chilliwack Tulip Festival?
There are tens of thousands of flowers, all in full bloom. Among the thirty varieties of tulips, the first few days feature the early blooming varieties of tulips like the “World’s favourite” and the double daffodils.
Most of these flowers which bloom early are located at the far end of the field. Hence, someone with mobility issues might prefer to visit the festival during the latter half of the event.
In recent years, fields of hyacinths and peony-like double daffodils were added. These add extra colour and also allow the festival to begin earlier than the previous years.
Other Attractions
It is not just the tulips of the valley that draw in millions of guests. The Chilliwack tulip festival is full of so many other exciting attractions too. First up is the incredible farm shop. The farm shop offers a choice of numerous tulip-themed souvenirs, including fresh-cut and potted tulips, sunflower seeds and many other attractive keepsakes, memoirs and souvenirs.
There are also several photo-op props like raised platforms, swings, an antique horse cart and a 1950s convertible too. Guests can also avail the incredibly attractive individually wrapped frozen treats.
If you are hungry, there are also bottled refreshments just for you and what is more? The three food trucks are on the roam to always cater to your hunger needs. There are also several outdoor lawn games at the tulip event that you can enjoy with your family.
Ticket Prices
In 2022, the general admission ticket fees cost between $7 and $25, depending on the guest’s age and when the ticket is being booked. On weekends, ticket prices for children aged between 3 to 12, people with disabilities, and seniors aged above 65 were $12 when purchased in advance and $17 when purchased on the exact day.
For kids aged 13 and above and for adults, the ticket fee was $20, even booked in advance or even just the day before, and it was $25 if it was booked just on the day of the visit. On weekdays, the ticket prices were comparatively much lower.
Tickets for children between 3 to 12 years of age, seniors, and disabled people cost $7 when they were purchased in advance and $10 when they were booked on the day of the visit. For teenagers and adults, on the other hand, the tickets cost $13 when they were bought in advance or even on the day before the visit, whereas they cost $18 when purchased on the day of the visit.
How To Book Tickets
On account of several changes, tickets have been made available online recently. These online tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable, and it is not possible to make any changes to the date or time of your visit. To purchase tickets for the festival, go to their official website.
Discounts And Festival Passes At The Chilliwack Tulip Festival
The Chilliwack tulip festival offers lots of special discounts to save your money too. When you arrive, be sure to figure out which locations are accessible.
1. Weekday Season’s Pass
The Weekday season’s pass is a great way to avail of some discounts. They can be purchased for visits on a non-holiday Monday to Friday during non-sunrise (regular) hours of operation. When available, the Weekday Season Passes must be brought online in advance because they cannot be purchased at the gate on the day of the visit.
2. Full Season’s Pass
The full season’s pass allows a person access to the venue seven days a week during the regular hours of the festival. They also need to be purchased beforehand through the online mode.
3. Photographer All Access Pass
The photographer’s all-access pass allows access to the venue of the tulip festival during regular operation hours as well as during the early morning to see the sunrise on weekends. Like all the others, these too need to be purchased in advance through the online mode.
4. Discounts For The Locals
Are you a local living near the festival venue? On Tuesdays, any guest with a permanent address in Chilliwack, Mission, Abbotsford, Langley or Maple Ridge can pay just $10 at the gate as entry fees. On Thursdays, the offer is for all the people living in Chilliwack, Hope, Fraser Canyon, Agassiz, and Harrison.
But remember, do not forget to take your address proof ID to show at the gate because if you forget, it is an opportunity loss and a sad day for you.
Sunrise Openings During The Weekends
When there is good weather, visitors can watch the early sunrise beyond the tulip fields on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays before the regular opening hours. The venue generally opens half an hour before sunrise to give photographers enough time to find ideal spots for their sunrise clicks.
The Chilliwack sunrise schedule varies over the month. To watch the sunrise, visit at 6:30 am at the start of April, but by the month’s end, it rises at 6:00 am.
Regardless of whether it is the early bloom season or the full bloom season, sunrise opening tickets cost around $20 (taxes and online fees included) in case of advance purchase, while it is $30 in case of the purchase at the gate on the day of the visit.
Things to be sure of:
- Check the weather forecast because the sunrise is not very visible on cloudy days.
- Plan to arrive early because the closer you arrive to the opening time, the better chance you will have at finding a good spot and enjoying the magic of the early morning.
Some Final Tips
To have the greatest time at the festival, don’t forget to take notice of the updated information.
- You can happily take your pet dogs to the event, but they must be kept on a leash.
- The venue is a non-smoking area.
- Parking is free.
- At least three food trucks can be found onsite daily.
- You can buy freshly cut and potted tulips at the festival.
- There is also a limited handicapped parking lot.
- Wheelchair users and strollers can navigate the majority of routes relatively readily on dry days. On rainy days, although, it is not advised that those with mobility issues visit because of inconveniences they will face.
If you plan correctly and book your tickets in advance, the Chilliwack tulip festival can easily be one of the most exceptional experiences you have ever had. It will show you quite a rare site, where millions of vibrant flowers are in full bloom together. Apart from the fetching and attractive idea of the festival, it is also the best photography spot for all photographers and social media lovers.
Whether you are a local or a visitor to the city, the tulip festival in Chilliwack is one of the most stunning attractions that you must not miss.
Last Updated on by laibaarif
