Salem Keizer Living  ·  Local Events  ·  Things To Do  ·  Spring 2026

There are a handful of springtime experiences in the Pacific Northwest that genuinely live up to their reputation. The Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival is one of them. Every year, from late March through late April, 40 acres of the Willamette Valley floor explode into color — millions of tulips in hundreds of varieties, stretching as far as you can see, with hot air balloons drifting overhead and the quiet satisfaction of being somewhere that looks almost too beautiful to be real.

For those of us living in Salem and Keizer, this isn't a road trip — it's a 30-minute drive up I-5. That proximity is one of the best-kept secrets of living here, and it's one of the many reasons the Mid-Willamette Valley is such a remarkable place to call home. Oregon calls it one of the state's most beloved springtime traditions — and after one visit, you'll understand why people come back year after year.

This guide covers everything you need to know to plan a great visit: what's there, when to go, how to time the blooms, what tickets to buy, and what not to miss. Read it, then go.

🌷 Quick Details

What: Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival — 40 acres of blooming tulips, hot air balloons, wine, food, craft market, and more

When: Tentatively March 20 – April 26, 2026 (dates subject to bloom conditions)

Where: Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, 33814 S. Meridian Rd., Woodburn, OR 97071

Admission: Starting at $12 — children 12 and under free with ticketed adult

Tickets: Online only — must purchase in advance

Peak bloom: Typically mid-April, weather dependent — keep plans flexible by 7–10 days

Bloom updates: woodenshoe.com/bloom-status

About the Farm & the Festival

The Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm has been a Willamette Valley institution since 1950, when the Iverson family first put down roots on this stretch of farmland between Woodburn and Canby. The farm grows over 100 different crops, but tulips are what it's known for — and the story of the festival itself starts in 1984, when the family first opened their fields to visitors over Easter weekend. The response was immediate and overwhelming. The rest, as they say, is history.

Today the festival draws visitors from across Oregon, Washington, and beyond — people who plan their spring calendars around the bloom window and return season after season. What keeps them coming back isn't just the flowers, though the flowers are genuinely extraordinary. It's the whole experience: the scale of the fields, the unhurried pace, the sense of being somewhere that feels both grand and deeply local at the same time.

The Iverson family is still here. When you visit, you're likely to encounter family members on the grounds — and that continuity of stewardship is part of what makes the farm feel different from a commercial attraction. It's a real farm, open to share something real with the community.

The Tulips: What to Expect & When to Go

Forty acres of tulips is a number that doesn't fully register until you're standing in the middle of it. The fields stretch across the valley floor in long rows of color — deep reds, soft pinks, bright yellows, dramatic purples, delicate whites, and dozens of varieties you've never seen outside of a photograph. The designated pathways wind through the fields so you can get close, linger, and take it all in without feeling rushed.

The honest truth about timing is this: tulips bloom on their own schedule. The farm describes peak bloom as typically occurring in mid-April, but that window shifts by a week or more depending on the year's weather — how cold the winter was, when the ground warmed up, how much rain fell in March. The farm strongly recommends keeping your travel plans flexible by about seven to ten days in either direction of mid-April.

The single best tool for timing your visit is the farm's Bloom Status page, which is updated regularly throughout the season with real field photos and written updates from the farm team. As of mid-January 2026, the tulips had just begun emerging from the ground — the countdown to spring was officially on. Check this page in the weeks before you plan to visit and use it to fine-tune your timing. It's genuinely useful and regularly updated — not just a generic landing page.

Timing tipEarly in the season (late March to early April), you'll find fewer crowds and the first early-blooming varieties in color. Mid-April brings the fullest overlap of blooms — the most dramatic display — but also the largest crowds. Weekday visits are notably quieter than weekends, and the farm's weekday hours run 9 AM to 6 PM. If peak bloom falls on a weekday and you can make it work, go then.

Festival Hours

Mon – Thu9 AM – 6 PMFriday9 AM – 7 PMSaturday8 AM – 7 PMSunday8 AM – 6 PM

Note that some vendors and activities may not be available Monday through Friday. Sunrise and sunset access is available with certain ticket types, though food and activity options are more limited during those hours.

Hot Air Balloons: The Unforgettable Part

If there's one feature that elevates the Wooden Shoe Tulip Festival from "beautiful" to "bucket list," it's the hot air balloon experience. In partnership with Portland Rose Balloons, the farm offers two distinctly different balloon options — one for the adventurous, one for everyone else.

Sunrise Flights

For the full experience, sunrise hot air balloon flights launch directly from the tulip fields every morning of the festival (weather permitting). The flight itself runs 45 minutes to an hour, taking you up to 2,000 to 3,000 feet above the valley floor — high enough for panoramic views of the fields, the Willamette Valley, and the hills beyond. The entire adventure, including pre-flight preparation and a post-flight champagne toast, runs about 2.5 hours. Festival admission is included with the purchase of a sunrise flight.

Sunrise flights require advance reservations through Portland Rose Balloons — these do not walk up on the day of. If this is on your list, book early.

Tethered Balloon Rides

For a shorter but equally memorable experience, tethered balloon rides lift you 50 to 75 feet above the tulip fields — high enough for stunning aerial photography without the full flight commitment. No reservations needed; these run on a first-come, first-served basis on Fridays through Sundays from 9:30 AM to 3:00 PM (weather permitting). Festival admission is required.

Both balloon options are weather-dependent — no rain and winds under 8 miles per hour. Check the Portland Rose Balloons Facebook page for daily updates on whether flights are operating.

Don't miss thisEven if you don't ride, watching the balloons float above 40 acres of tulips is one of the most photogenic scenes in Oregon. Arrive early on a clear morning for the best light and the best chance of seeing the balloons in the air.

Food, Wine & Shopping

The festival is a full day out — and the food, drink, and shopping options are more than adequate to sustain it. The Wooden Shoe tasting room pours estate-grown wines alongside local beer and cider, making it easy to settle in with a glass and let the afternoon unfold at its own pace. The food and craft market brings together local vendors with handmade goods, artisan foods, and seasonal products.

Before you leave, stop by the fresh-cut and potted tulip stand. Taking home a bouquet of tulips you picked out yourself — in colors that don't exist at your local grocery store — is one of the small pleasures that makes the visit feel complete. The farm also has a specialty gift shop for anything else that catches your eye.

Tickets: What You Need to Know

This is the most important practical detail in this entire post: all tickets must be purchased online in advance. There is no walk-up ticket sales at the gate. If you show up without a ticket, you will not get in — regardless of how long you drove. Don't let that happen to you.

Buy your tickets at woodenshoe.com before you go. Tickets are date- and time-specific, so you'll select your visit date and a timed entry window when you purchase. Arrive within 30 minutes of your selected time. Parking is included with all general admission tickets.

Adult GeneralStarting at $12 (weekday/weekend pricing varies)SeniorAvailable — see ticket page for pricingChildren 12 & UnderFree with ticketed adultSunrise TicketsEarly access — limited food & activitiesSeason PassUnlimited visits, valid even on sold-out daysDual Events PassTulip Festival + Summer Flowers — new for 2026

Tickets are non-refundable but can be rescheduled for an equal or lesser value without additional fees, or upgraded to a more expensive date for an added charge. Contact support@aftontickets.com for rescheduling.

⚠️ Sold-out days are real. Peak bloom weekends — especially mid-April Saturdays — regularly sell out well in advance. If you're planning a visit during peak bloom, don't wait until the week before to buy tickets. If you want flexibility, the Season Pass is worth considering: it allows unlimited visits throughout the entire festival window, including on sold-out days.

What to Wear & What to Bring

The farm's own Know Before You Go page has the full rundown, but here are the essentials. Oregon in March and April means one thing above all else: layers. Morning temperatures can be genuinely cold, afternoons can be surprisingly warm, and rain can arrive at any moment without much warning. A waterproof outer layer and comfortable walking shoes — or rain boots if you want to be fully prepared — are the right call.

The fields have designated pathways, but this is still a working farm — you'll be walking on grass and soil, some of it uneven. Heels are a bad idea. The farm provides a complimentary shuttle to designated locations throughout the grounds, which is useful for families with young children or anyone who needs a break from walking.

Who Is This Festival Perfect For?

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 FamiliesChildren under 12 are free, the children's play area keeps little ones happy, and the scale of the fields is genuinely awe-inspiring for kids and adults alike.💑 Date DayThere are few more romantic settings in the Pacific Northwest than a tulip field in full bloom with hot air balloons overhead. Pack a blanket and plan to stay a while.📸 PhotographersThis is one of the most photographed locations in Oregon for good reason. Early morning light over the fields, balloons in the air, and endless color combinations make it a photographer's dream.🌿 Out-of-Town GuestsIf you have family or friends visiting Salem this spring, this is the day trip. It's a 30-minute drive and an experience they'll genuinely remember.

Getting There

The Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm is located at 33814 S. Meridian Rd. in Woodburn — about 30 minutes north of Salem on I-5. Take exit 271 from I-5 and follow the signs; the farm is well-marked and easy to find. Parking is included with your general admission ticket and is available on site.

On busy peak-bloom weekends, traffic on the roads near the farm can back up — especially in the late morning and early afternoon. Arriving when the gates open (8 AM on weekends) gives you the quietest experience, the best light for photos, and first access to the tethered balloon rides before lines form.

Plan Your Visit — But Buy Tickets First

All tickets are online only. No walk-up sales. Peak weekends sell out.
Children 12 & under free · Parking included · Season passes available for unlimited visits

Buy Tickets at Wooden Shoe →

Before you finalize your date, bookmark the Bloom Status page and check it in the week or two before you plan to go. The farm updates it with real field photos and written bloom reports — it's genuinely the best way to time your visit for peak color. And if you're the kind of person who wants to see the fields from above, don't forget to book your sunrise balloon flight well in advance. Those spots go fast.

For local Salem and Keizer residents, this is one of those springtime rituals that makes you proud to live where you live. Go, take pictures, buy tulips, drink wine, watch the balloons, and come home a little lighter than you left.

For more of what's happening this spring in the Mid-Willamette Valley, explore our guide to local Salem shops and businesses worth supporting — and if you've been thinking about what it would mean to really put down roots here, we'd love to talk.

Thinking About Making Salem or Keizer Home?

Living 30 minutes from one of Oregon's most beloved springtime traditions is just one of the perks of calling this region home. I'm Hannah Fouts-Sparks with Sparks Property Group, and I help people find their place in this community every day. Whether you're just exploring or ready to make a move, I'd love to be a resource for you.

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