Drive out to the Dandenong Ranges and feel delighted by the visual splendour of the Tesselaar Tulip Festival. There’s nearly one million bulbs spread across five acres to discover. This breath-taking festival is a Victorian heritage destination event, and is back for its 67th year. On top of the tulips, there will be food, drinks and entertainment. The Tesselaar Tulip Festival will run from Saturday September 10 to Sunday October 9.
Tesselaar Tulip Festival
If the Tesselaar name rings a bell, it’s because earlier this year, they threw a whimsical Festival of Flowers. And now they’re back with their iconic tulip display.
“It is an honour and a privilege to be able to continue the amazing work of my grandparents and share the glory of the tulips,” said Paul Tesselaar. “It has been a joy over the years to welcome people to the farm and see them appreciate not just the sensational tulips but also enjoy time out with family and friends as they reconnect with nature. I have really missed this for the past couple of years and can’t wait to reopen the gates this spring.”
There’s over a million spring flowering bulbs on display throughout the festival, including over 900,000 tulips. Wander around the fields and take gorgeous photos, then, see the biggest clog in Australia, go on a tractor ride, visit the Fairy Garden, try traditional Dutch food and more.
To keep you on your toes, there will be themed weeks and weekends over the season.
Here is the festival schedule:
- Turkish Weekend – September 10-11
- Spring Fever Weeks – September 12-15 and October 3-6
- Dutch Weekend – September 16-18
- Children’s Weeks – September 19-22 and September 26-29
- Food, Wine and Jazz Weekend – September 23-25
- Rock the Fields Weekend – September 30-October 2
- Irish Weekend – October 7-9
Turkish Weekend
Contrary to popular belief, tulips originated from Turkey, not The Netherlands. So, what better way to kick off the festival than with a special Turkish Weekend? Discover a showcase of Turkish culture among the tulips, and see demonstrations of art, dance, music and gourmet food. There will be over 100 performers over this opening weekend.
Spring Fever Weeks
Enjoy the festival with discounted ticket prices during the off-peak times. The festival may be less busy, but there will still be plenty of flowers and entertainment to discover.
Dutch Weekend
The festival will transform into a mini-Holland over one fun weekend. The festival will recreate a performance of the Alkmaar Cheese Market in Amsterdam, with cheese carriers and clog dancing displays. There will also be fun competitions, and delicious Dutch treats.
Children’s Weeks
There will be heaps of live entertainment and activities for the little ones, including a petting zoo, face painting, circus performers, Kung Fu Panda live and PAW Patrol Live.
Food, Wine and Jazz Weekend
Listen to music and indulge in produce from the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges. Enjoy complimentary tastings from local wineries, distilleries and breweries, browse through tasty market stalls and enjoy live jazz all weekend long.
Rock the Fields Weekend
Dance your way through the field and listen to live music from the 50s and 60s. There will also be food trucks, dancing demonstrations and prizes for the most fashionable.
Irish Weekend
The festival will end with an Irish weekend. Celebrate springtime with music, dancing and Leprechauns. There will be Irish Pipers roving the fields, as well as Irish dancing performances.
Tickets for this delightful festival will go on sale on August 1. Children aged 16 and under are free, and well-behaved dogs are welcome to come along too, as long as they are on a leash.