10 U.S. Flower Festivals to Visit This Spring
Brimming with color, life and beauty, flower festivals provide one of the most wonderful ways to spend a warm spring afternoon. If you’ve never attended one, you definitely need to put it on your bucket list for the season. Here are 10 of our top choices for flower festivals to attend across the United States this year.
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1. Skagit Valley Tulip Festival
April 1-30, 2023
Mount Vernon, Washington
If you live in the Pacific Northwest and haven’t been to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, mark your calendars for the month of April. The event is held throughout the entire month, though you’ll need to keep an eye on Mother Nature to determine just when the tulips begin to bloom. When they do, get ready to act fast. You’ll see literally millions of these beautiful bulbs bursting into a spectacular array of color throughout the valley. So fill up the tank, take the driving tour and explore a few of the open gardens (Tulip Town, Garden Rosalyn and RoozenGaarde) to celebrate the arrival of spring.
2. North Carolina Azalea Festival
April 12-16, 2023
Wilmington, North Carolina
Youth art shows, fun runs, luncheons and live musical performances may be some of the top reasons people flock to the North Carolina Azalea Festival in the spring. But the flowers are the reason they stick around a while. An absolute abundance of these gorgeous flowers grows around Wilmington, which makes this the perfect location for any flower lover (or history buff) to explore extensive private and public gardens with about 60,000 other visitors.
See more: Top 10 Most Beautiful U.S. Flower Fields to Visit
3. Tennessee Iris Festival
April 29-May 6, 2023
Dresden, Tennessee
We have the Dresden Business Association to thank for this beautiful annual festival. When they decided to drum up ideas for promoting business within the community, the Iris Festival was born. This year marks their 44th annual event, complete with an abundance of fragrant flowers, a fireworks extravaganza, bingo games, a baking contest and pancake supper, fun runs and plenty of quality, foot-stompin’ music.
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4. Bluebonnet Festival
April 7-9, 2023
Burnet, Texas
Affectionately known as the most exciting small-town festival in the great state of Texas, the Bluebonnet Festival is held every second weekend in April. More than 30,000 people attend this shindig, so be prepared to rub shoulders with a few other flower-loving friends while you’re enjoying live music, parades, fun runs and dachshund races.
5. Portland Rose Festival
May and June, 2023
Portland, Oregon
Do you like the sound of a Grand Floral Parade? What about a Rose Festival Court? The Queen’s Coronation? You can enjoy all of this and more at the annual Portland Rose Festival. This event has been going strong since 1907, so don’t expect it to slow down any time soon. Because this festival runs for an awfully long time, you’ll want to check the event calendar to determine what you want to see most and make your travel plans from there.
See more: 12 Flower Varieties to Plant This Spring
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6. National Cherry Blossom Festival
March 20-April 16, 2023
Washington, D.C.
Save the date for this year’s National Cherry Blossom Festival in Washington, D.C. You’ll want to keep an eye on when the National Park Service predicts peak blooms (defined as when approximately 70% of the cherry blossoms open) so you can linger in the majesty and beauty of the gorgeous Yoshino cherry trees around the Tidal Basin. In addition to enjoying the blooms, you can take in the Blossom Kite Festival, parade, live music, walking tours and more.
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7. Mackinac Island Lilac Festival
June 9-18, 2023
Mackinac Island, Michigan
If ever there was a time to attend the annual lilac festival, it’s this year. Why? 2023 marks the 75th Annual Mackinac Island Lilac Festival, which means the city is going all out to celebrate the beauty, history and tradition of cultivating lilacs on the island. From walking tours and races to planting seminars and live music, there’s something at this event for everyone – and every age.
See more: Business Is Blooming for Cut Flowers in Michigan
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8. Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival
April 28 -May 7, 2023
Winchester, Virginia
The Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival has been a staple in the community for 96 years, so it’s not surprising that it draws a lot of attention from residents and tourists alike. There are so many activities and events at this festival that you’d be hard-pressed to list them all. Musical performances, craft beer, a community fish fry, parades and fireworks are just a few of the countless ways to savor the weekend.
9. Nantucket Daffodil Festival
April 27-30, 2023
Nantucket, Massachusetts
There’s no mistaking the star of the show at the Nantucket Daffodil Festival. This year is the 46th annual event, and you will spot these beautiful flowers everywhere you look. The flower show is the height of the event and will be hosted at Bartlett’s Farm on April 23 from 2 to 5 p.m. and April 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. If you can’t make that event, don’t write this one off. There are still plenty of fun events to enjoy, from antique car parades to children’s events (Daffodil Hat Parade, anyone?) and plenty of live music and delicious food.
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10. California Poppy Festival
April 21-23, 2023
Lancaster, California
Did you know the poppy is California’s state flower? Their annual Poppy Festival is held each April to celebrate the bounty of these gorgeous orange flowers in Lancaster. They generally pull out all the stops for this event, so get ready to enjoy everything from world-class entertainment and attractions to incredible food, live animal exhibitions and monster truck shows.