Swedesboro, New Jersey
April 2023
I recently visited the Tulip Festival at Dalton Farms with my friend Jordana. The Tulip Festival 2023 runs from March 30th through April 21st. If you are reading this article before April 21, 2023, there is still time for you to visit! If not, look into next year's festival, you will not want to miss it, again! Dalton Farms is a 99-acre family owned and run farm in southern New Jersey, just across the way from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dalton Farms is partially wooded and hosts a 6-acre lake. The farm has family ties dating back to 1790. Throughout the years, the farmers have been innovative with different ways to support themselves and their family. The farm has ventured into the businesses of beehives, bootleg whiskey, Civil War re-enactments, coal, festivals, peaches, sunflowers, and tulips.
For the U-Pick Tulip Season, admission is $12 online (plus taxes and fees) and $16 walk up (if tickets are still available). The tulips are priced at $2 per stem or $10 for 10 flowers. The hours of operation are from 10 AM to 7 PM daily. On weekdays, the timeslots are divided into three sessions: Morning 10 AM - 1 PM, Afternoon 1 PM - 4 PM, and Evening 4 PM - 7 PM. On weekends, the timeslots are hourly. On Saturdays and Sundays, there is a featured beer garden (11 AM - 5 PM), farmers market, food vendors (11 AM - 5 PM), live music (1 PM - 4 PM), and wine tasting (12 PM - 5 PM). Jordana and I were so focused on the flowers that we did not look into any of the other offered weekend activities but for my next visit I will definitely make sure to check them all out!
There are over 150 species with 3,000 varieties of tulips. The Netherlands is the largest producer of tulips in the world, exporting about 3 billion tulip bulbs annually. Tulips are a symbol of charity, love, and rebirth. Pink tulips mean affection, caring, and good wishes. Purple tulips signify elegance and royalty. Red tulips stand for eternal love and passion. White tulips symbolize forgiveness, purity, and respect. Yellow tulips mean cheerfulness and hope. Tulips are not only beautiful and meaningful, but the petals are also edible for humans and make for great garnishes. Tulips are known to make for a good onion substitute in recipes and can be a great addition to wine. However, disclaimer, I am by no means a tulip expert and I recommend verifying that your tulips are safe to consume before indulging. With all this in mind, tulips have a long history. Back in the 17th century, tulips symbolized wealth, and one single bulb was worth more than diamonds.
There is something so special about tulips from their color to their versatility to their rich history (literally). I find them to be breathtaking. I was awestruck at Dalton Farms with their beautiful (what seems like) endless rows of tulips of all different colors, shapes, and sizes. I had the best time wandering the fields and carefully selecting my very favorite flowers. I made two bouquets of 10 tulips each for $20 total. I made a bouquet for myself and a bouquet for my boyfriend's family for the Easter holiday. Each bouquet had an array of colors. Please enjoy my many photos below of my tulip festival adventures.
Overall, I really enjoyed Dalton Farms and I would definitely visit again for their Tulip Festival and maybe even for their upcoming Sunflower Festival (in the fall). The environment was relaxed and calming. Everyone at the farm seemed to be in their own world, just happy to be there in the moment. It is a widespread area so I would highly recommend comfortable walking shoes. I think that the U-Pick Tulip Season is appropriate for all ages as long as young ones are closely watched to keep the flowers safe from trampling feet or grabbing hands. The restrooms at the farm consist of porta potties, which I did not use. The farm was clean, organized, and the flowers seemed to be healthy and well cared for. I had a wonderful experience at Dalton Farms, and I think it well worth a visit or two.
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