Drive out to the Dandenong Ranges and feel delighted by the visual splendour of the Tesselaar Tulip Festival. Back for its 70th year, there’s over a million spring flowering bulbs to discover, including over half a million beautiful tulips. On top of the flowers, there will be food, drinks and entertainment to keep the good times blooming. The Tesselaar Tulip Festival will run from Saturday September 13 to Sunday October 12.
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 coming back with their iconic tulip display. Wander around the fields and take gorgeous photos, then, see the biggest clog in Australia, go on a tractor train ride, visit the Fairy Garden, try traditional Dutch food, browse through market stalls 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 13-14
- Spring Fever Weeks – September 15-19 and October 6-10
- Dutch Weekend – September 20-21
- Kids Weeks – September 22-25 and September 29-October 3
- All That Jazz Weekend – September 26-28
- Rock the Fields Weekend – October 4-5
- Irish Weekend – October 11-12
Turkish Weekend
Contrary to popular belief, tulips originated from Türkiye, 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.
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
Source: Tesselaar Tulip Festival
The festival will transform into a mini-Holland over one fun weekend. Listen to Dutch and European songs, take part in a clog dancing workshop and see how Dutch cheeses were bought and sold at the historic cheese market performance. There will also be plenty of traditional Dutch food for you to try.
Kids Weeks
The Tesselaar Tulip Festival is a great place to be over the school holidays, as there will be live shows with The Octonauts in Week One, as well as a visit from PAW Patrol in Week Two. Head to Fairy Garden and listen to tales from their resident Fairy, and learn all about Australian wildlife from Black Snake Productions. There will also be free dance workshops, craft workshops for an additional fee, and other cool activities to keep the little ones busy.
All That Jazz Weekend
Over the Grand Final long weekend, there will be live jazz all weekend long. While you’re there, indulge om delicious food and drink from the Yarra Valley and Dandenong Ranges. Browse through the market stalls and relax among the flowers.
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 and prizes for the best dressed.
Irish Weekend
The festival will end with an Irish weekend. Celebrate springtime with music, dancing and Leprechauns. Sip on a Guinness and enjoy live music. There will also be Irish Pipers roving the fields, as well as Irish dancing performances.
Tickets for this delightful festival are on sale now. 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. Find more details here.
