Drive out to the Dandenong Ranges and feel delighted by the visual splendour of the Tesselaar Tulip Festival. Back for its 68th year, there’s over a million spring flowering bulbs to discover, including over 900,000 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 16 to Sunday October 15.
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. 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 16-17
- Children’s Weeks – September 18-21 and September 25-28
- Dutch Weekend – September 22-24
- Food, Wine and Jazz Weekend – September 29-October 1
- Spring Fever Weeks – October 2-5 and October 9-12
- Rock the Fields Weekend – October 6-8
- Irish Weekend – October 13-15
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.
Children’s Weeks
The Tesselaar Tulip Festival is a great place to be over the school holidays, as there will be Live Interactive Experiences with Bluey and Bingo in Week One, as well as a stage show with Peppa and George Pip in Week Two. Head to Fairy Hollow and listen to tales from their resident Fairy, and learn all about Australian wildlife from Black Snake Productions. The little ones will also have fun with craft workshops, treasure hunts and garden games.
Dutch Weekend
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.
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.
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.
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, clog dancing workshops and prizes for the most fashionable.
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 across two stages. 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.