The show still will go on, but 2020 Tulip Festival expects changes due to coronavirus
Even Northwest Washington’s most iconic springtime event won’t escape the grips of the novel coronavirus pandemic this year.
Though the 2020 Tulip Festival in Skagit County is still planned to be held, according to a website post on Tuesday, March 17, the festival will likely look quite different in April with changes and a number of events already canceled or rescheduled.
“The COVID 19 virus has caused unprecedented changes in the festival operations,” the post read. “Our tulip gardens, RoozenGaarde and Tulip Town, are working to see what they can do.”
In a message posted to Facebook Tuesday, RoozenGaarde said it planned to take the following actions:
▪ Close its retail shop through March 31.
▪ The Tulips.com staff will continue to fill flower and bulb orders over the phone or online.
▪ The garden will remain open, but capacity will be reduced to 50 persons at a time to promote social distancing.
▪ Garden visitors will be asked to limit their time in the garden to not more than 60 minutes.
“This is not a decision that we made lightly,” RoozenGaarde said in the statement. “We are well aware of the economic impacts caused by the virus and by how our response will significantly affect our local community. However, we believe the social welfare of everyone demands enormous priority during this present crisis.”
RoozenGaarde also wrote that it will continue to work with the the Skagit County Health Department and Skagit County Commissioners and follow mandates set by Gov. Jay Inslee.
Tulip Town will be updating its plans soon, the Tulip Festival release said.
“These are trying times for a farm that makes 95% of our annual revenue in the next (four to five) weeks,” Tulip Town said in a Facebook post Monday, March 16. “That being said, we may be in uncharted waters, but we have an amazing crew and a sturdy ship. We are looking at every possible opportunity within our business model to share the value we have created with everyone that loves tulips and connecting with small farms and farmers.”
Tulip events
The Tulip Festival already announced the cancellation or rescheduled, the release said, as the festival works to comply with local, state and federal recommendations.
According to the events and attractions page, those canceled and rescheduled festival events include:
▪ 2020 Gala: (Originally March 19) canceled.
▪ SICBA 40th Annual Home and Garden Show: (Originally March 27) canceled.
▪ Tulip Days Basketball Tournament: (Originally March 27) canceled.
▪ Rexville Grange Art Show: (Originally April 3) canceled.
▪ Kiwanis Salmon Barbecue: (Originally April 4) canceled.
▪ Skagit Chili & Chowder Cook-Off at Farmstrong Brewing Co.: (Originally April 4) canceled.
▪ 2020 Garage Sale, Antiques & More: (Originally April 10) canceled.
▪ Anacortes Spring Wine Festival: (Originally April 11) canceled.
▪ PACCAR Technical Center Open House: (Originally April 11) canceled.
▪ 35th Annual Tulip Run: (Originally April 11) canceled.
▪ WaFd Bank Tulip Parade: (Originally April 11) canceled.
▪ Fidalgo Island Quilters Quilt Show: (Originally April 17) canceled.
▪ Bethany Covenant Spring Concert: (Originally April 25) canceled.
▪ Spotlight on Skagit 2020: Rescheduled to June 16.
▪ 2020 Downtown Mount Vernon Street Fair: Rescheduled for June 26-28.
▪ Skagit Farm to Pint Festival: Rescheduled to June 27.
The Tulip Festival’s release also reported that restaurants in the area also are complying with Inslee’s order to close, though they are offering “to go” items.
The Tulip Festival office in downtown Mount Vernon is also closed to the public, though festival merchandise can still be ordered online, the release stated.
This story was originally published March 18, 2020 at 12:43 PM.
