An annual tulip festival in Chilliwack is returning this spring, and with it comes a brand-new name.
Botanica Tulip Festival is set to bloom at the same venue as the former Chilliwack Tulip Festival on Yale Road in April.
The owners are calling it a “re-imagined” festival.
“This year, there will be some new and exciting attractions on-site that we’re keeping as a surprise until closer to the date,” said festival co-owner/co-operator Jen Giesbrecht (nee Pauls).
The former Chilliwack Tulip Festival was organized by the Onos family, and operated on the Pauls’ family farm from 2017 to 2023. Last year, the Onos family relocated and began their own individually operated flower festival in Agassiz. Meanwhile, the Pauls family renamed its newly envisioned spring festival, which will remain on the original Chilliwack Tulip Festival farm location on Yale Road West.
Every year, guests from throughout the Fraser Valley and Lower Mainland flock to the 13-plus acres of fields to explore the pathways, tulips and other attractions in a charming country setting.
This year’s festival will include 1.5 million bulbs and 59 unique varieties of tulips.
“There’s something magical about the vibrant blooms that captivate everyone who sees them. Tulips have a unique charm that symbolizes renewal and the arrival of spring, reminding us that even after the darkest winter, there’s always a new beginning waiting to bloom,” Giesbrecht said. “There’s also such a sense of community and joy surrounding the tulip festival. People from all walks of life come together to celebrate these beautiful flowers.”
New this year is an enhanced stay-and-play area, an expanded you-pick field where folks can pick their own tulips straight from the field, creative photography opportunities, and a farm store.
“Our family has been farming on the land for over 75 years, spanning generations and we are excited to return as the Botanica Tulip Festival and breathe some new life into a much-loved Fraser Valley event,” she added.
The Pauls Family is a multi-generational farming family. Their history in Chilliwack began in 1948 when the grandparents of the current owners moved here following the Second World War.
“Over the years, adjacent properties were added, and the farm diversified its offerings, cultivating chickens and eggs alongside seasonal crops such as corn, peas, potatoes, hops, and (of course) bulbs,” reads a write-up on the Botanica Tulip Festival’s website.
The tulip fields are tentatively scheduled to open in early April and run through May, but the final date will be determined by nature.
The Botanica Tulip Festival is located at 41310 Yale Rd. Learn more at botanicaflowerfestival.com.
READ MORE: Photos from 2023 Chilliwack Tulip Festival