Spring Grove’s Richardson Farm is at it again. Home to the world’s largest corn maze in the fall months, in spring and early summer the farm offers a kaleidoscopic spectacle with its annual Richardson Farm Tulip Festival.
This year will be the farm’s third annual tulip festival and hundreds of thousands of tulips are currently pushing their way skyward in time to show off their breathtaking ethereal elegance.
The day is finally upon us as Richardson Farm has opened its doors today (Thursday, April 27) so visitors can witness the 300,000 tulips in full bloom.
“With hues ranging from fiery coral to snowy white, pale yellow, and plum-drenched purple — some with fringed petals, others smooth, all visually striking — this year’s array is sure to bedazzle,” said George and Wendy Richardson, who operates Richardson Farm along with Robert and Carol Richardson and Ryan and Kristen Richardson.
The farm’s first two tulip festivals in the spring of 2021 and 2022 drew over 40,000 guests from various parts of Illinois. Last year’s array, again designed by Shawn Stolworthy of MazePlay.com, featured a series of gentle arches and narrow waves showing off over thirty different varieties of tulip bulbs planted — everything from Apeldoorn’s Elite and Border Buddies Blend to Banja Luka, Jaap Groot, and Snowboard.
This year there will be an extra 300,000 bulbs alongside the 600,000 from each of the previous 2 years. The setup hopes to showcase over 900,000 colorful blocks of stunning tulips, though the farm notes that with over 30 different varieties it is unlikely that all 1 million will be blooming at the same time.
Located at 909 English Prairie Road, Spring Grove, the tulips will be on show in a northwesterly field of the 500-acre farm, adjacent to a picnic area around Richardson Lake.
The festival will be open from 11 am to 6:30 pm every day of the week except Mondays. There will also be yard games and live music on weekends.
Admission to the Richardson Farm Tulip Festival is $12 on weekdays and $15 on weekends which includes one cut-your-own tulip per person. Those aged 3 and younger are admitted free.
More information can be found at richardsonfarm.com.
[Featured image courtesy of Richardson Farm]