See 500,000 Tulips in Bloom in Granville

The sight of 500,000 tulip blooms spread over 4 acres seems like something plucked directly from the heart of the Netherlands in the spring. But, you do not need a plane ticket to experience this bloom of color. It’s right here in the Buckeye State. For a third year, the Tulip Festival is back at Timbuk Farms & Garden Center in Granville. The festival kicks off April 12. 

Timbuk Farms & Garden Center has long been a destination for central Ohio families to select a Christmas tree each season. But after moving the off-site garden center to the Christmas tree farm, Jim Gibson was looking for a way to bring more visitors out.

“I’ve been in the greenhouse business pretty much my whole life,” says Gibson, who has owned the farm since 2005. “[The] center of all horticulture is out of Holland, so I usually go back there a couple times a year to see growers and trade shows. Over the years of going there, you see all the tulips and what they do with it, so that was always in the back of my mind.”

Now Timbuk Farms & Garden Center has its own rendition of European tulip fields. During the week, visitors to the farm can wander the tulip fields and pay a visit to the garden center to pick out plants for the upcoming growing season. Weekends during the tulip season though are where the fun really begins.

Food trucks and live music are part of the festivities, and kids will love the farm, which features an animal petting zoo, jump pad, kiddie rides, basketball and more. Visitors can even take home a memory of their visit with them by stopping by the U-pick section of the field during the festival. Well-behaved furry friends are invited to join in the celebration too. 

“We’ve done a lot of different things over the years,” Gibson says. “But [the tulip festival] we just started and people started coming and really liked it.”

The festival season kicks off April 12 and typically runs about three weeks. Dates are dependent upon rainfall and how long the blooms last. It is recommended that guests check the Timbuk Farms & Garden Center website before traveling.

To learn more about the festival and to purchase tickets, visit timbuk.com.

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