One of the most scenic things to do in the spring around Washington is to enjoy the fields and fields of flowers. Every year, flower festivals dot Washington state from Sequim to Chelan. There are thousands of flowers planted, watered, and grown to admire.
Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
The Skagit Valley Tulip Festival runs throughout the month of April annually and is open Monday-Sunday, 9 AM-5 PM. The festival is open to the public and offers free events, but to get into the main festival, you have to buy a ticket. The prices range from $10 to 20, with children and seniors getting a discount. At the festival, you can find food trucks, art exhibits, family-friendly activities, and tons of flowers. You can walk through flower fields to take pictures or to see as many different colored tulips as you can. There are many hotels, Airbnbs, and bed and breakfasts you can stay at if you’re coming in from out of town or want a weekend getaway. The festival also offers free parking for guests coming in just for the day. There is something for everyone at the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. Address: 311 W Kincaid St, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
White Salmon Wildflower Festival
At the White Salmon Wildflower Festival, which runs from May 1st to 30th, you can find beautiful Washington State wildflowers in full bloom. White Salmon, Washington, is home to beautiful, naturally growing flowers, some only found in Washington State, like Columbia Gorge Daisy, Oregon Sullivantia, Smooth-leaf Douglasia, and Columbia Kittentails. The festival offers many attractions for visitors: live music, beautiful hikes, art shows, and photography contests. The festival is free admission; however, there are breweries and wineries that offer ticketed tastings. The White Salmon Wildflower Festival also has a strict Leave No Trace sentiment that you should be mindful of if you’re planning a visit! Address: Mile Post 65, Highway 14, 1 Heritage Plaza, White Salmon, WA 98672
Pike Place Flower Festival
Taking place May 10-11, the 17th annual Pike Place Flower Festival will take over the iconic Seattle landmark. In this celebration of local farmers, over 35 farmers will be selling their prized flowers. All flowers are locally grown, all within 100 miles of Pike Place. This festival takes place over Mother’s Day weekend, making it a great place to get a gift or a perfect place to spend quality time with your mom. The festival will also have live music with different lineups for both Saturday and Sunday, handmade arts and crafts vendors, and food booths available. This is a great place to spend a Saturday afternoon, and it’s the perfect weekend to get the whole family involved! Address: 85 Pike St, Seattle
Farmers Markets
Have you ever woken up on a beautiful spring morning, the sun is shining, birds are chirping, and your brain is craving vitamin D? The best thing to do is lazily get out of bed and stumble to a farmers market! Get a coffee, maybe a scone, and walk around in the sun looking at all the beautiful flowers and fresh fruit. You can see people walking their dogs, kids playing, and you really start to feel like it’s summer. It’s that time of year again—time to enjoy your local farmers market!
Proctor Farmers Market
Just over the bridge, the Proctor farmers market is a wonderful seasonal affair that brings Tacoma’s culture together. This market, which runs from early April to the end of December, offers fresh, local food, flowers, art, and live music. Proctor is a bustling little neighborhood with many restaurants, stores, and coffee shops just a walking distance from the market. The market is dog-friendly and stroller-friendly and is really an amazing spot for a lazy Saturday morning outing and a great place to support local farmers. Address: Corner of N. 27th St. & N. Proctor St., Tacoma, WA 98407
Port Orchard Farmers Market
The Port Orchard Farmers Market is held Saturdays, 9 AM-2 PM, mid-April-mid-December. The farmers market is known for its beautiful scenery as well as for its location at Port Orchard Waterfront Park, leaving way for people to lay out a blanket and enjoy a picnic or, on a hot summer morning, maybe a dip in the water! One student reported, “They have the best Lavender Honey Chai.” The market prides itself on locally farmed produce; most vendors work at the farms themselves. The farmers market is open to friendly dogs. It’s had negative experiences in the past and doesn’t want to have to ban dogs altogether, so please know your pup’s limits. Port Orchard Farmers Market is excited to have you! Address: waterfront parking lot at Harrison and Bay St., Port Orchard, WA 98366.
Vashon Island Farmers Market
The market, which started as a small fresh produce stand outside the post office in 1980, quickly evolved into an iconic spring destination on the island. The Vashon Island Growers Association (VIGA) prides itself on the freshness of the ingredients and the localness of the produce. One of the main goals of VIGA was to create jobs on the island, and that has been done with the dozens of farming jobs now available. The location is a great place to stop if you want to support a small community and small businesses. Vashon Island is also a cute little town that is perfect for a day trip. Dogs on leashes are welcome, and the market is open May 3-Sep. 27, Saturdays 10-3. Address: 1717519 Vashon Highway SW, Vashon, WA 98070519 Vashon Highway SW, Vashon, WA 98070
As the beautiful Washington spring weather begins to slowly creep back in, make sure to get outside and enjoy some of Washington’s outdoor and community activities.