The tulip fields that brighten up the Fraser Valley every spring won鈥檛 be open to the public this year.
Both Chilliwack鈥檚 Tulips of the Valley, and Abbotsford鈥檚 Bloom Tulip Festival announced on Friday, April 3, that their popular annual events would be cancelled. Both drew thousands of visitors, and even required pre-booked times to avoid over-crowding of the fields.
Kate Onos-Gilbert, founder and operator of Tulips of the Valley said their festival will not take place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
鈥淭he decision to cancel this year鈥檚 festival adheres to measures issued by BC鈥檚 Provincial Health Officer prohibiting events greater than 50 people,鈥� their website reads. A springtime tradition in the Fraser Valley, this year would have marked the 14th annual Chilliwack Tulip Festival. Typically, the festival takes place over a four-week period, usually in April, sometimes into May, depending on the weather.
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鈥淭he health and safety of our guests, staff, and community, is very important to us,鈥� says Onos-Gilbert. 鈥淚 wish everyone the very best during this challenging time. We hope we will be able to welcome guests back to our fields this summer for the annual Chilliwack Sunflower Festival, currently slated to commence in August.鈥�
Bloom made the statement on their Instagram account.
鈥淎t this time, the best advice we can follow is that of B.C.鈥檚 health and government officials, to simply 鈥榮tay home,鈥� wrote owner Alexis Szarek-Warmerdam. 鈥淧lease remember, even through the cloudiest days we will all bloom again.鈥�
The tulips will still be blooming, of course, as the festivals are off-shoots of the tulip businesses.
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jpeters@theprogress.com
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