Visiting the Colorful Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Oregon

If you dream of frolicking through never-ending fields of tulips, I’m about to show you why you cannot afford to miss the ultimate tulip festival in Oregon — the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival!

The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is a beloved tradition for many locals from the greater Portland area and visitors alike. Every year, like clockwork, my husband and I make the 45-minute drive from Portland, Oregon and arrive at the doorstep of this beautiful farm. 

Read on to learn everything you need to know about Oregon’s Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival, I hope you enjoy!

The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival

Featured above: Sunrise at Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Woodburn, Oregon.

Best time to visit the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival

To make the most of your visit, try to visit the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival during peak bloom. Exact peak times vary from year to year, but, generally speaking – the first few weeks of April are a safe bet.

Best time of day to visit Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival: Early Morning is by far the best time to visit Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival before the crowds swarm in from Portland and the surrounding areas. I know it sounds crazy but if you can get to Wooden Shoe for sunrise then do it. Sunrise is stunning to witness through the tulip fields.

The Wooden Shoe website has a helpful tool called a field report that provides real-time status updates of the tulips. Click here for the field report.

Good to know before you go

Bring rain boots! The tulip festival is open rain or shine, so bring your boots because the fields get muddy! I love these.

To avoid crowds, go early in the day. By midday, the tulip fields are flooded with visitors. If you want some reprieve from crowds, sunrise is a great time to come. It’s mostly photographers at that time.

During peak bloom the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival gets busy. So busy, in fact, that the line leading to the parking lot was 3 miles long last year.

I urge you to arrive as close to sunrise as possible, and to turn a blind eye to the extra activities offered and head straight to the tulip fields after parking your car. This will ensure you have some time to yourself because these tulip fields get busy!

The fields start to fill around 8am and you’ll be hard-pressed to find a corner to yourself because this farm is lovely and everyone wants to enjoy it. The early bird gets the worm indeed!

Bring your camera. The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is world-renowned for its beauty so grab some snaps! This is the camera & gear we use.

Pick up a souvenir on your way out. Tulip bulbs and fresh cut flowers are available for sale from the Tulip Market located in the middle of the main blue building.

If you take photos during your visit, the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm would love to see them. Make sure to tag them online @woodenshoefarm.

Featured above: A hot air balloon begins to rise over the tulip fields at Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Oregon.

Hot Air Balloons at the Tulip Festival

There’s no guarantee that hot air balloons will be out at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival  when you visit because they are weather-dependent. The farm will confirm if hot air balloons will be out on a specific day by posting information on their Facebook page.

And if you’re wondering – yes, the hot air balloons at the tulip festival most definitely live up to the hype. Seeing them is always a highlight for us.

If you’d like to fly in a balloon, you can contact that Hot Air Balloon Hotline at 503-877-4693.

Featured above: Yours truly wearing a fun floral dress.

Admission & Price to the Tulip Festival

How much does the tulip festival cost? Tickets to the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival may be purchased online or at the gate entrance. Both cash and credit cards are acceptable forms of payment.

Admission packages listed below:

• Full Season Pass $40 | Unlimited visits for the duration of the festival, may arrive one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset.
• Individual Admission $5 | One day access for an individual, tickets required for anyone older than 13
  • Note: You cannot arrive an hour before sunrise with this ticket, therefore you cannot take sunrise photos.
• Family Car One Day Pass $20 | Access for all people in vehicle for one day.
• Sunrise Entrance Pass $15 | Access for an individual one hour before sunrise.

Photographer’s tip: If you plan to visit the tulip fields for sunrise or sunset, you must purchase either the Sunrise Entrance Pass ($15/person) or the Full Season Pass ($40/vehicle).

• Address: 33814 S Meridian Rd, Woodburn, Oregon 97071
• Phone: 503-634-2243

What’s included with admission?

Admission includes the following amenities and activities:

• Vehicle parking
• Visiting the tulip fields
• Tulip display beds
• Wooden shoe gardens
• Tram and Hay wagon ride
• Children’s play area
• Photo cut-out boards.

Featured above: Hot air balloons rise above the tulip fields at the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival in Oregon.

Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival FAQs

Does the farm close when it rains?

• No, the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is open rain or shine. Some weather dependent activities (kid’s events) may close if it rains, but the tulip fields will remain open.
• Don’t forget to bring your cute rain boots (here’s my favorite)!

Are dogs allowed?

• Yes, dogs are allowed in the tulip fields. Just be mindful that other families might bring their pups as well.

Can I show up for sunrise/sunset?

• If you want to visit the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm for sunrise, you must purchase the Season Pass because it allows entry one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset.
• If you’re just looking to catch sunrise, an early morning sunrise pass is offered as well.

Can I buy food at the festival?

• The tulip festival features food vendors which are out every day with even more options on the weekends. Food is what you’d expect for a festival.

Can I bring my own food to the farm?

• Yes, guests are welcome to bring food to the tulip festival and picnic tables are provided.

Things to do at the tulip festival in Oregon

Daily activities

• For kids: take the cow train ($3/person) around the tulip fields – weather dependent.
• Tulip Tour Train ($5/person) around the tulip field – weather dependent.
• Enjoy a glass of wine at Wooden Shoe Vineyards Tasting Room.

Weekend activities

• Wooden Shoe Making Demonstration
• Steam Tractor Demonstration – weather dependent
• Wine Wagon Tours
• Pony rides for kids (max 80 lbs.) – weather dependent.

History of the Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm

The Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm was opened in 1950 by Ross and Dorothy Iverson who began expanding the farm as a means to get their six kids through college.

They started growing tulips in 1974 and officially started the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival (as it is known today) in 1983.

As of today, the farm boasts 40 acres of indulgent tulips for visitors to enjoy.

Closing Thoughts

We eagerly await the tulip festival months in advance. There’s no better way to kick off the (often long awaited) sunnier season than by frolicking through never-ending fields of tulips!

Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is downright lovely and such a great way to spend half a day with family and friends. It’s also fun to check out the Woodburn Outlet Mall just a few miles away.

I hope you enjoy your time at the lovely tulip fields in Oregon!

I hear that Amsterdam is known for their tulip fields as well. How lovely would that be?

Meet you there next year?

Further reading:

• Local’s Guide to Cherry Blossoms in Portland
• Local’s Guide to the Portland Rose Garden

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Until next time,

Antonina

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