The Midwest Tulip Fest at Kuipers Family Farm is a toddler’s paradise.
Several tots, not much taller than the long-stemmed flowers, were happily taking advantage of their proximity to the plants Saturday.
Among the explorers was 2-year-old Evie Geem, of Vernon Hills, who was spotted among a row of dark pink beauties that nearly matched her outfit.
“She loves it,” said her mother, Jennifer Chan, 41. “She was smelling them all.”
Another adventurer was 2-year-old Lila De Leon, of Bolingbrook, who was taking part in a family photo shoot among vibrant, yellow “Big Smile” tulips. The little one also bravely mounted a green tractor — one of the many photo props on the 230-acre farm in Maple Park in Kane County.
“She’s just been pointing out the colors so far,” said her mother, Jessica De Leon, 32, who was dressed in a striking traditional Vietnamese Áo dài dress for the occasion. The fest “is really great for family pictures, and it is nice to sit in nature for a little bit.”
But flower-lovers will need to move fast. The fourth annual fest, which opened Wednesday, only runs through mid-May, depending on the blooming season. Not just fun for the kids, the event showcases 700,000 tulips, including 30 varieties, spread over 8 acres. And with food, dozens of attractions and live entertainment, it’s easy to spend a full day at the farm without getting bored.
The Kuipers family, who are of Dutch heritage, import tulip bulbs from the Netherlands and plant them around November. They bloom in stages beginning in March (visitors can track the progression via the “Bloom-O-Meter” on the website). This year’s plantings include tomato-colored Red Impressions and red and yellow Esta Bonita tulip varieties. In the late-bloom stage, visitors can expect to see dark purple Paul Scherer tulips, a favorite of the farm’s general manager, Joe Kuipers.
For $14.99, visitors can grab a carrier and pluck six to 10 tulips of their choice to take home.
The farm hasn’t felt the effects of the Trump administration’s tariffs on imported products, but the price of tulip bulbs has increased due to challenging growing conditions, Kuipers said.
“The Netherlands has had some hard seasons,” he said. “Last year, we paid a little over 17 cents a bulb, which doesn’t sound like much, but when you do the math on 700,000, it adds up pretty quick.”
Tulips are not the Kuipers family’s only crop, the farm is also known for its pumpkins and apple orchard. Tulip fest visitors will also see a variety of animals, including chickens, rabbits, sheep, goats, an alpaca and a popular, shaggy Highland cow.
But the farm’s events are a significant source of income, Kuipers said.
“Our crop is bringing an experience to people,” he said.
On Saturday, people posed for pictures at photo stations featuring bikes, cars, a windmill house and even a giant pair of clogs. Food and beverage options included Chick Fil-A, pizza, kettle corn, coffee, apple cider slushies, donuts and much more.
Kids had their choice of jumping on a giant inflatable pillow, sailing down the huge Tree Top Tube Slide, climbing a mountain of tires or riding in a train of cars pulled by a tractor.
But for some visitors, the tulips are enough of a draw.
Tagging along with her mother and brother, Natasha Markoutsis picked a batch of tulips, which she planned to display in her kitchen. She said the fest got her excited for the warmer seasons.
“I’ll definitely be posting them on like Instagram,” said Markoutsis, 21, of Yorkville. “This is so cool. I had no idea we had a tulip farm in Illinois. It’s a hidden gem.”
