The wait is over: Skagit tulips starting to bloom

The tulips are finally starting to bloom in Skagit Valley Tulip Festival fields, and there's an upside to this spring's very cool weather, according to festival director Cindy Verge. "The daffodil fields are still spectacular," she reports.

Most years, the daffs are done by the time the tulips bloom, but this year "the weather is holding them like the cooler in a florist shop," Verge said. This weekend, most tulip fields will be showing some color, with areas of early blooming varieties and some fields still waiting. The picturesque tulip fields are the Tulip Festival's main event but far from the only attraction. The entire Skagit Valley is busy with activities including art shows, tours, and open-house events at farms, wineries, nurseries, museums and more.

In La Conner, shops and eateries along the scenic waterfront, the Skagit County Historical Museum and the Quilt and Textile Museum offer lots of opportunities for a day excursion. The Outlet Shoppes in Burlington are an option for bargain browsing. Wineries in Mount Vernon, Conway and Sedro-Woolley offer tasting and sales, and the Kiwanis Club celebrates 20 years of its popular Tulip Festival salmon barbecue, daily through April 20 at historic Hillcrest Lodge in Mount Vernon.

With so much going on, be sure to allow plenty of time for your Tulip Festival visit. Traffic can get congested on two-lane roads near popular venues, especially on weekends, and the occasional slow farm tractors on the road are part of the country ambience. The main tulip growers have gift stores and indoor displays, and Tulip Town offers a trolley ride, but if you're venturing to the outdoor displays, be prepared for wet, muddy terrain.

The tulips offer lots of great photo ops. Add style to your photos with warm tones of morning or early evening, scenic barns and cloudy skies.

Cut or potted tulips are available at many venues to take a little bit of the festival home with you, and Tulip Town and Roozengaarde gardens offer bulbs to order now for fall planting for your own tulip garden.

Events and attractions

Skagit Valley Tulip Festival

ONGOING Tulip fields, farms, art events, tours, daily through April, field maps and information available at Skagit Valley Tulip Festival Office, 100 E. Montgomery St., Mount Vernon (360-428-5959 or www.tulipfestival.org).

Clipper Tulip Tours

FRI, SAT, SUN Day-trip tour of tulip fields with stops at two farms and time in La Conner, Friday, Saturday, Sunday and April 18-20, Victoria Clipper, Pier 69, Seattle; $25-$47 (206-448-5000 or www.clippervacations.com).

Early Day Gas Engine

and Tractor Association

National Show

FRI, SAT, SUN Displays of antique machinery, gas and steam engines in operation, blacksmithing, classic farm tractors, antique vehicles, 8 a.m.-dusk Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Skagit County Fairgrounds, 1410 Virginia St., Mount Vernon; $3, ages 9 and younger free (360-336-9453).

Not-So-Impromptu

Tulip Parade

SAT Everyone welcome to join in a wacky parade with farm animals, clowns, bands, mascots and pets, day-of-parade entries welcome, 2 p.m. Saturday, along First Street, La Conner.

Tulip Frolic

SAT Music, kids' activities, noon-3 p.m. Saturday; wine garden, noon-4 p.m. Saturday, downtown La Conner.

PACCAR Open House

SAT See Kenworth, Peterbilt and DAF trucks and how they're developed and tested, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, one mile north of Highway 20 on Farm to Market Road, Bow; free (360-757-8311).

Roozengaarde Tulips

ONGOING Part of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, tulip fields, 3-acre display garden, gift shop with cut and potted tulips and other flowers, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through April, Roozengaarde, 15867 Beaver Marsh Road, Mount Vernon; admission $3/person, $2/military with ID, ages 10 and younger free (360-424-8531 or www.tulips.com).

Tulip Town

ONGOING Part of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, tulip field with 60 varieties of tulips, International Peace Gardens, trolley rides with elevated view for photography, garden shop with tulip bouquets and potted tulips, indoor tulip and garden display, 9:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. daily, later when weather permits, through April, Tulip Town, 5002 Bradshaw Road, Mount Vernon; admission $5/person, $4/military with ID, ages 16 and younger free; trolley rides $2, ages 12 and younger free (360-424-8152).

Cow Town

ONGOING Historic, third-generation family farm with museum, 104-year-old barn, barn owls, petting area with chicks, calves, cows, horses, rabbits, goats and cats, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday through April 20, 15925 Fir Island Road, Mount Vernon; $4/adults, $3/seniors and children (360-445-6681).

WSU Discovery Garden

ONGOING Showcase of plants that thrive in local climate, Master Gardeners often available for information and advice, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, Memorial Highway, Mount Vernon.

Kiwanis Club

Salmon Barbecue

ONGOING Alder grilled salmon with baked potato, coleslaw, garlic bread, beverages and ice cream, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. daily through April 20, Hillcrest Lodge, Hillcrest Park, 1717 S. 13th St., Mount Vernon; $12/adults, $10/children and seniors (360-420-9610).

Art in a Pickle Barn

ONGOING Paintings, prints, photography, cards, jewelry and sculpture by more than 40 artists, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through April, 15379 State Route 536, Mount Vernon (360-428-8576).

Art at the School House

ONGOING Stanwood Camano Arts Guild arts and crafts for home and garden in historic 1888 school house, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through April 27, Christianson's Nursery, 15806 Best Road, Mount Vernon (360-466-3821 or www.stanwoodarts.com).

Skagit Artists Together

ONGOING Gallery display and sale with work by 18 artists, gift shop, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, entertainment after hours come weekends, call for info, Conway Muse Old Auction Barn, 18844 Main Street, Conway (360-445-3000).

Skagit Valley Gardens

ONGOING Flower displays, greenhouse, hanging baskets, cafe, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily, 18923 Johnson Road, Mount Vernon (360-424-6760 or www.skagitvalleygardens.com).

Alpacas of Misty Ridge

ONGOING U-pick tulips, alpacas, antiques, gift shop, spinning demonstrations, 19889 Cedardale Road, Mount Vernon (360-424-0501 or www.alpacaranch.com).

ONGOING Easy recreational bike tour along the Tulip Route with stops at display gardens, local attractions and for lunch at a garden cafe, approximately 15 miles total, bikes, helmets, tour guide, lunch and entry fees to events included, 10 a.m. every Friday, Saturday and Sunday during April, Tulip Country Bike Tours, 13391 Avon Allen Road, Mount Vernon; $60-$75 (360-424-7461 or www.countrycycling.com).

Tulip Festival Boat Tours

ONGOING Tulip Festival tour aboard the 36-passenger catamaran Island Whaler, hourly 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays through Mondays, Deception Pass Bridge, 160 E. Cornet Bay Road, Oak Harbor; $19-$21 (888-909-8687 or www.deceptionpasstours.com).

Anacortes Quilt Walk Show

ONGOING Fidalgo Island Quilters display of hundreds of colorful quilts at participating merchants along Commercial Avenue, Anacortes.

Downtown Mount Vernon Street Fair

PLAN AHEAD Arts and crafts, music, children's activities, food, April 18-20, Mount Vernon (360-336-9277 or www.downtownmountvernon.com).