Big ‘yes’ boosts flower festivals to full bloom

For the La Conner Daffodil Festival and the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, the last two years have been all about no.

In 2020 there were no visitors to Roozengaarde and Tulip Town and almost no sales when havoc in the food supply chain canceled wholesale and retail cut-flower sales.

No Kiwanis Salmon Barbecue, no street fairs, nothing, nothing, nothing. “Don’t come” was the Valley’s message to flower lovers.

Then 2021 was all about maybe, as the festivals adopted social distancing and advance ticketing. But this year – this year is all about yes.

Yes to the ice cream social and silent auction, taking place March 17 at Maple Hall and including Irish tunes performed by Skagit Symphony members.

Yes to the new daffodil pet parade scheduled for March 26 at the La Conner High School track and featuring celebrity look-alike contests and other pet costume contests.

Yes to free collectible daffodil art postcards available at the La Conner Chamber of Commerce office and from festival sponsors. Yes to artist demos every Saturday in March at the Artist’s Gallery, 128 N. First Street.

Yes to admiring 11 nearby fields and yes to daily opportunities to buy cut daffodils in town.

“We’re so excited to just be gathering again, and looking forward to the end of masks,” said La Conner Chamber of Commerce Director Heather Carter.

Beloved events are also returning to the Tulip Festival’s calendar. In April there will be a street fair in Mount Vernon, a parade in La Conner, and art shows everywhere. The Kiwanis Salmon Barbecue at Hillcrest Park starts April 2, offered Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, reduced from daily hours, as the club rebuild its volunteer staff after the two-year hiatus.

The one remaining no is PACCAR, which will wait until 2023 to host its annual open house. The not-very-socially-distanced event can pack up to 5,000 people in very close quarters.

Cindy Verge, executive director of the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival, is happy about all of this activity.

“It’s tremendous the number of events that have come back, and how the community is organizing and getting things going,” she said. “It’s wonderful!”

January and February were mild, and Washington Bulb Company crews were cutting field daffodils before the recent cold snap. With temperatures climbing again and a few sunny days predicted next week, Mother Nature’s yes is definitely in the forecast.