2026 Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival
Sharing Something Beautiful
Every spring, a remarkable thing happens on a stretch of flat farmland about 45 minutes south of Portland. What was, just weeks before, a muddy expanse of Willamette Valley soil erupts into a canvas of crimson, saffron, violet, and cream. Forty acres of tulips — over 100 varieties, millions of bulbs — open in staggered succession from late March through late April, drawing visitors from all 50 states and more than 130 countries to a working farm in Woodburn, Oregon.
The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is one of those rare events that earns every superlative attached to it. It is Oregon's largest tulip festival. It is the Pacific Northwest's most photographed spring destination. And, if you ask the Iverson family who has farmed this land for more than 75 years, it is simply their way of sharing something beautiful with the world.
Whether you're a Portland-area homeowner looking for a perfect spring day trip, a tourist planning a Willamette Valley itinerary, a photographer chasing golden-hour light, or a parent hoping to give your kids a memory they'll carry for decades — the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival delivers. Here is everything you need to know for 2026.
2026 Festival At a Glance
Dates March 20 – April 26, 2026
Monday – Thurday 9:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Friday 9:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Saturday 8:00 AM – 7:00 PM
Sunday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Adult Admission $19 weekday / $24 weekend
Seniors (65+) $14 weekday / $19 weekend
Children 12 & Under Free with ticketed adult
Season Pass $75/person
Tickets woodenshoe.com/tulip-festival/tickets/
Address 33814 S Meridian Rd, Woodburn, OR 97071
From Portland ~45 minutes south via I-5
From Salem ~30 minutes north via I-5
Dogs Leashed dogs welcome
Rain Policy Open rain or shine
Important All tickets must be purchased online in advance
Note: All tickets for the 2026 festival must be purchased online in advance at woodenshoe.com. Tickets are not available at the gate. Weekend days sell out — buy early.
A Family Farm, Seven Decades in the Making
The story of Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is, at its heart, a story about a family and the land they chose to commit their lives to. In 1950, newlyweds Ross and Dorothy Iverson purchased a farm in Woodburn and set to work growing the kind of diverse crops that define Willamette Valley agriculture: potatoes, green beans, sweet corn, nursery stock. They raised six children on that farm, instilling in each of them — as Barb Iverson, one of those children and a co-owner of the farm today, often says — "the love of the land and farming."
The tulip chapter began in 1974, somewhat serendipitously. The Iversons had been working with a farmer in the Canby area who had pioneered a technique for forcing early tulip blooms by exploiting the Willamette Valley's cool spring temperatures. When that farmer retired, the Iverson family acquired his bulbs and stepped into the tulip growing business, initially for the wholesale market. By the early 1980s, the operation had grown significantly, and four of the Iverson children — Steve, Nels, Ken, and Paul — had returned to the farm after college. Barb came back too, after a decade in the nursery industry.
Tulips are temperature-sensitive flowers that require cold dormancy — a simulated winter — before they can bloom. The Willamette Valley's mild but distinctly cool springs create natural forcing conditions that are remarkably similar to Holland's tulip-growing climate. This is why Oregon produces some of the finest tulips in North America.
In 1985, a neighbor made a simple suggestion that changed everything: why not open the fields to the public? "Of course, we're farm kids," Barb Iverson has recalled. "We're surrounded by this beauty but we take it for granted because all we see is the work." That Easter weekend, the family placed a small ad in a local newspaper. What greeted them was, as Barb tells it, "a little traffic jam" — and the beginning of what is now one of Oregon's most beloved annual traditions.
“When we started opening the field to the public 41 years ago, we had no idea it would become what it is today.”
In those early years, admission was free. The idea was that visitors would buy tulip bulbs on their way out. It worked beautifully — until it didn't. By the 2000s, as social media and digital photography transformed tourism culture, visitors increasingly arrived, snapped their photos, and left without purchasing anything. The Iversons responded by instituting an entry fee, and — counterintuitively — the farm saw more business, not less. "It was like we kinda created value," Barb has said. The lesson, as it turns out, is timeless: people appreciate what they pay for.
Today, Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is Oregon's largest tulip producer. The festival draws roughly 100,000 visitors each year. The operation has expanded to include Wooden Shoe Vineyards, which planted its first wine and table grapes in 2009, and Red Barn Hemp. And through it all, the Iverson family remains the heart of it — members of the family are present on the farm throughout the festival, welcoming guests in the tradition that Ross and Dorothy Iverson established three-quarters of a century ago.
What to Expect: The Festival Experience
Arriving at Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm for the first time is a sensory recalibration. After a drive south through Portland's suburbs and into the agricultural corridor of the Willamette Valley, you turn off the highway and almost immediately the fields open up before you — a rolling horizon of color so saturated it looks edited. On clear days, Mount Hood rises behind the tulips in a composition so perfect it feels staged.
Your admission covers parking, access to the tulip fields and display beds, a narrated shuttle to and from the fields (a particular relief for those who prefer not to walk the terrain), the children's play area, and the four-acre Wooden Shoe Gardens. Beyond that baseline, an ever-expanding roster of additional experiences awaits.
The Tulip Fields Themselves
The fields are the anchor, and they earn every photograph. Over 40 acres are planted with more than 100 tulip varieties, chosen specifically to bloom in overlapping succession across the festival's five-to-six week run. Early visitors in late March see the first varieties opening, often with the fields still mixed in color and stage. By mid-April — historically peak bloom season — the overlap of flowering varieties creates that wall-to-wall color effect that fills social media every spring. Late April visitors often catch the final spectacular push before the season winds down.
The bloom tracker on the farm's website (woodenshoe.com) is updated regularly throughout the season and is an essential planning tool. Peak bloom typically falls in mid-April, but weather drives everything. The Iversons recommend keeping travel plans flexible by seven to ten days if possible.
The best light for tulip photography is during the golden hours — within 90 minutes of sunrise or sunset. Season Pass holders can access the farm one hour before the general public, making it the only ticket option that allows true sunrise shooting. Weekend days without a Season Pass begin at 8:00 AM. The only time drones are permitted on the property is during the 5:00–7:00 AM Sunrise Admission window.
Hot Air Balloons: The Festival's Signature Spectacle
If there is one image that defines the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in the public imagination, it is the hot air balloon drifting over the flower fields, with the windmill and Mount Hood framed below. Portland Rose Balloons operates on-site throughout the festival, offering both tethered hot air balloon rides and sunrise balloon flights — the latter being a genuinely extraordinary way to see the farm.
Balloon rides are weather-dependent (they don't fly in rain or significant wind), so plan accordingly. To maximize your chances, check the weather forecast for clear, calm mornings and book in advance. Contact the Hot Air Balloon Hotline at 503-877-4693 for scheduling.
Wine, Food, and Dutch Treats
Wooden Shoe is more than a tulip farm — it is also a working vineyard. The Wooden Shoe Vineyards tasting room is open during the festival, serving estate-grown wines alongside local beer and cider. For visitors 21 and older, the Wine Tour ($70 per person, Saturdays and Sundays at 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM) offers a guided ride through the tulip fields and vineyard with wine pairings — arguably the most indulgent way to experience the festival.
Food vendors operate every day of the festival, with a broader and more varied lineup on weekends. Look for Dutch-influenced treats — poffertjes (mini Dutch pancakes) are a festival tradition — alongside local barbecue, Mexican food, and Deliciosa Donuts. An ATM is available on-site for vendors that prefer cash, though most accept cards. Picnic tables are provided, and visitors are welcome to bring their own food.
On select dates, the farm hosts a local winery tasting event — most recently on April 18th — featuring seven tasting tickets across a rotating lineup of family-run Oregon wineries.
Family Activities and Special Events
The festival has something for every age. For children, the play area includes rubber duck races, cow wagons, horse swings, hay bale tents, inflatables, and a sandbox. Carnival rides (an additional fee, approximately $3–$7 per ride) operate weather-permitting, Monday through Thursday from 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Friday through Sunday from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM. A balloon artist performs near the children's area on weekends.
The Tulip Tour Train offers a narrated 30-minute ride through the tulip fields and vineyard, running daily from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Tickets are purchased on-site at the farm office on a first-come, first-served basis.
Wooden shoe-making demonstrations — a nod to the farm's Dutch-themed identity — are a festival fixture, and hands-on wooden shoe-making classes are available for an additional fee. On Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays at 11:00 AM, the Iverson family leads guided farm tours, sharing the history and crops of the operation firsthand.
For guests who are colorblind, the festival offers EnChroma specialty glasses to try during your visit — a thoughtful touch that allows everyone to experience the full vibrancy of the tulip fields. The program is made available through Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory.
Annual special events include the Tulip Trail Run — a wildly popular 5K, 10K, and half-marathon through and around the tulip fields, held this year on March 21, 2026 — and Alzheimer's Awareness Weekend, typically held in early April (April 5–6 in 2026), during which the festival supports the Alzheimer's Association.
A collaborative photography workshop is offered through The Shutterbug, providing a full-day guided photography experience at the festival for those looking to elevate their skills beyond the smartphone snap.
A Global Village in the Willamette Valley
One of the lesser-known delights of the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is the people-watching. Near the farm's office and gift shop, three large maps — one of the United States, one of the world, one of Oregon — are covered in push-pins marking where visitors have come from. In a typical season, all 50 states are represented within the first week of the festival. By closing day, between 130 and 140 countries will have pins in the world map.
"The flowers just have a universal appeal for people," Barb Iverson has said. "I just hear all sorts of languages out here. You get people from all over the world. It's just fun." It is not uncommon, on a busy April weekend, to hear Mandarin, Spanish, Hindi, Japanese, German, and Portuguese spoken within a few hundred feet of each other — all with the same backdrop of Oregon tulips.
Some international visitors come in traditional dress. Others bring professional photography equipment. Others arrive with toddlers on their hips and grandparents in tow. The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is, in this way, a genuinely democratic experience: something about a field of flowers dissolves pretension and restores a very basic human sense of wonder.
Planning Your Visit: A Practical Guide
Getting There from Portland
Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is located at 33814 S Meridian Road in Woodburn, Oregon — roughly 32 miles south of downtown Portland, or about 45 minutes via I-5 South. Take Exit 271 (Woodburn) and follow the signs. Parking is included with admission. There is no public transit connection to the farm; rideshare is an option for visitors without a car. If you are flying in, Portland International Airport (PDX) is the logical entry point.
The drive itself is pleasant. Once you clear Portland's southern suburbs and cross into Marion County, the I-5 corridor opens into the agricultural flatlands of the northern Willamette Valley. On clear days, Mount Hood, Mount Adams, and Mount St. Helens are visible on the eastern horizon. The farm is well-marked from the highway.
[Photo] The drive south from Portland via I-5 through the Willamette Valley. (Licensed stock photo or map embed — insert here)
When to Go: Timing the Bloom
Mid-April is historically the sweet spot for peak bloom. This is when the widest variety of tulip types are open simultaneously, creating maximum color density across the fields. That said, the farm plants early, mid, and late-season varieties specifically to extend the visual interest throughout the entire festival run.
Early visitors (late March and early April) may encounter fewer crowds, more manageable parking, and the particular charm of a farm still waking up to spring. Late visitors (late April) can catch the final dramatic push of color, often with quieter weekdays available. The farm's bloom tracker, updated regularly throughout the season on their website, is the most reliable tool for timing your visit.
Weekday mornings — particularly Monday through Wednesday — offer the best combination of light quality and manageable crowd levels. Weekend afternoons are the busiest. If your schedule permits, aim for 9:00 AM on a Tuesday or Wednesday in mid-April. You will share the fields with a fraction of the Saturday crowd, and the morning light is exceptional for photography.
What to Wear
Oregon spring weather is famously variable. The festival runs rain or shine, so waterproof layers are a practical necessity. The fields are unpaved, and rain turns the paths muddy. Waterproof boots or sturdy, comfortable shoes you don't mind getting dirty are strongly recommended. Dress in layers: mornings can be cool (45–55°F), afternoons can warm into the 60s on sunny days. Bring an umbrella or a packable rain jacket.
For photographers and those taking family portraits, consider the color backdrop. Bright, solid colors tend to photograph well against the tulip fields. Muted earth tones can disappear into the foliage. Avoid wearing red or orange if you plan to be photographed in front of red or orange tulips.
Make It a Day Trip: Nearby Attractions
The farm's location in the northern Willamette Valley puts it within easy reach of a number of excellent regional attractions. Combine your tulip visit with a stop at one — or several — of the following.
Gallon House Covered Bridge: One of the oldest covered bridges in Oregon, a photogenic detour near Silverton for those who enjoy Oregon's covered bridge trail.
Willamette Valley Wineries: The farm sits in Oregon's famous Pinot Noir country. Dozens of world-class tasting rooms are within 30 minutes, including Sokol Blosser, Stoller, and Adelsheim Vineyard. Some visitors build an entire weekend itinerary around tulips and wine.
The 45th Parallel Sign: A quirky roadside landmark marking the halfway point between the equator and the North Pole, located just off I-5 in the area — worth a quick detour for geography enthusiasts.
Silver Falls State Park: Oregon's most visited state park, about 40 minutes east of Woodburn, featuring the famous "Trail of Ten Falls" — a stunning 7.2-mile loop past ten waterfalls.
The Oregon Garden: An 80-acre botanical garden in Silverton featuring specialty gardens, a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home, and an extraordinary horticultural collection. About 30 minutes from the farm.
Aurora National Historic District: A charming historic community about 10 minutes north of Woodburn, known for its antique shops, architectural salvage, and quaint cafes. A perfect pre- or post-festival stop.
Beyond the Tulips: The Full Wooden Shoe Experience
First-time visitors often don't realize the full scope of what Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm has grown into. The festival is the marquee event, but the operation it represents is a multi-generational agricultural enterprise that has continually reinvented itself.
Wooden Shoe Vineyards planted its first acreage of wine and table grapes in 2009 and bottled its first vintage in 2012. Today the tasting room, open during the festival and at other times of year, offers estate wines in a setting that pairs beautifully with panoramic views of the vineyard and surrounding farmland. The vineyard hosts events — weddings, corporate gatherings, family reunions — in the Wooden Shoe Gardens and Wine Tasting Room.
Red Barn Hemp, the farm's third enterprise, reflects the Iverson family's continued willingness to diversify and adapt — a quality that has characterized the operation since Ross and Dorothy Iverson first turned the soil here more than 75 years ago.
There is also a "Dig Day" event, typically held near the end of the festival season, when the display beds and large pots are opened and visitors can dig their own tulip bulbs to take home for fall planting. It is a beloved ritual for Willamette Valley gardeners looking to bring a piece of Wooden Shoe home.
A Note for Portland Area Residences
If you live in the Portland metro area, you have a particular kind of access to this festival that visitors from elsewhere do not: you can go twice. Or three times. Or buy a Season Pass and make it a ritual.
The Season Pass at $70 per person includes admission at any point during the festival season, plus early access — one hour before the general public — and access to sunrise and sunset hours. For a Portland-area family who wants to catch both the early-bloom visit and peak bloom, or who simply wants the flexibility of a spontaneous afternoon in the tulip fields, the Season Pass is excellent value.
There is also something worth acknowledging about what this festival means for the region. The Willamette Valley's agricultural identity — its farms, its vineyards, its landscape — is part of what makes the Portland area one of the most desirable places to live in the American West. The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is a rare and vivid expression of that landscape at its most spectacular. It is 45 minutes from the Pearl District, but it feels like another world.
For those exploring Oregon for the first time, considering a move, or simply reconnecting with what makes this corner of the Pacific Northwest extraordinary, there is no better single afternoon than one spent walking through forty acres of tulips in April, with hot air balloons drifting overhead and Mount Hood on the horizon.
- 40+ acres of tulip fields
- 100+ tulip varieties
- ~100,000 visitors annually
- 130–140 countries represented on the visitor world map
- All 50 states pinned typically within the first week
- Festival running since 1984–85
- Farm established: 1950
- 33814 S Meridian Rd, Woodburn, OR 97071
Come for the Tulips. Enjoy The More.
There is a particular pleasure in a tradition that earns its reputation every single year. The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival has been doing exactly that since a small Easter weekend ad in a local newspaper brought an unexpected traffic jam to a farm in Woodburn four decades ago. The Iverson family did not set out to create an institution. They set out to share something beautiful with their neighbors. The fact that those neighbors now come from 130 countries is, in some ways, beside the point.
The point is the flowers. The point is the family. The point is a warm spring afternoon on forty acres of Oregon farmland, surrounded by a color you forgot existed over the long gray winter. The 2026 Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival runs from March 20 through April 26. Tickets are available now at woodenshoe.com. Peak bloom is expected in mid-April — but any day in the fields is a good one.
Resources & Links
Official Website: woodenshoe.com
Buy Tickets: woodenshoe.com/tulip-festival/tickets/ (online purchase required; no gate sales)
Bloom Tracker: woodenshoe.com (updated throughout the season)
Hot Air Balloons: Portland Rose Balloons — (503) 877-4693
Tulip Trail Run: March 21, 2026 — runsignup.com
Instagram: @woodenshoefarm
Address: 33814 S Meridian Rd, Woodburn, OR 97071
Note: This article was written independently. We strive for accuracy but may make mistakes. We do not have a commercial relationship with Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm or Wooden Shoe Vineyards. Festival dates, hours, and pricing are subject to change; please verify current information at woodenshoe.com before your visit. Enjoy!