Again in 2025, one will not have to travel to The Netherlands to see amazing fields of tulips. The colourful sight will be right in Vankleek Hill, but at a new location.
The Vankleek Hill Tulip Fields will be open in May, as soon as the flowers are in bloom. The new location is at Ouimet Farms Adventure, located on the western edge of town on County Road 10. Previously, the fields were located at 199 Main Street East in Vankleek Hill on property owned by field owners Sandra Bebbington and Mike Block. However, there are very agricultural reasons for relocating the tulip fields in 2025.
“Tulips like any other crop need to be rotated every so often. Tulip bulbs on the scale we plant are only at their best for two to three years. After that you get a progressively diminishing product while also increasing your risk of disease,” Bebbington said.
She explained that the mild winter of 2023-2024 and a wet spring in 2024 resulted in she and Block having to fight off fungal diseases in their tulips like botrytis.
“It was pretty disheartening; we had to question if we wanted to continue. In the end, we decided to replant and in order to ensure that we are bringing our visitors and the town of VKH the best tulip festival we can, we decided it was time to relocate the crop,” Bebbington said.
The tulip bulbs from the former fields have not been dug up and replanted at the new location. Bebbington said they have planted all new freshly cultivated Canadian tulip bulbs from their supplier in Prince Edward Island. Double the number of colours were planted for 2025 which means an even more brilliant display of colour from the tulips, once they bloom.
Being located at Ouimet Farms Adventure also allows visitors to the Vankleek Hill Tulip Fields to also enjoy the other activities offered there. Those include pedal cars, duck races, a hay bale castle and more. Bebbington said they will have a larger store at the new site, and a picnic area. The u-pick option will also again be available for tulip fields visitors.
“We are really looking forward to welcoming everyone to the new location and sharing a little spring happiness!” Bebbington exclaimed.
For updates on opening and admission at the Vankleek Hill Tulip fields, go to https://www.vkhtulipfields.com, or https://www.facebook.com/vkhtulipfields.
