Tulips, Emily Iverson says, are fussy. She would know: As a third-generation member of the family that owns Wooden Shoe Tulip Farm, Iverson grew up among these blooms. Even as a child, she fluffed flowers for the annual festival, which turns 42 this year.

“They’re just a little finicky,” says Iverson, now a manager for the Woodburn farm. “They’re too wet, they won’t grow. They’re too dry, they abort. They like the perfect conditions.”

This year, things in the field are relatively stable. With such a warm winter, some expected an earlier tulip crop—not so, it seems. Instead, Wooden Shoe is expecting a “normal season” with flowers beginning to open around March 20. Peak bloom should fall around mid-April, which is the most popular time to visit these 40 acres of rainbow rows and their casually stunning Mount Hood backdrop.

Want to see these beauties for yourself? Here’s what you need to know.

What’s the story behind the festival?

The Iverson family’s farm dates to 1950, when Ross and Dorothy Iverson—Emily’s grandparents—purchased this plot of land in Woodburn, about 30 miles south of Portland. They began planting tulips in 1974 after receiving bulbs from an Indiana farmer; 10ish years later (family accounts vary), they welcomed the public. Today, the farm is Oregon’s largest tulip producer, and the festival attracts about 100,000 visitors annually.

When does it happen?

The fest generally begins in late March and runs through the end of April, but dates are always going to be tentative, considering they rely on the life cycle of a flower. (This year, it should wrap by April 26.) Peak bloom tends to occur in mid-April, but the Iversons plant more than 100 varieties, which open at different times over the course of the season (a $70 season pass is available for those who wish to check in regularly). Find bloom status updates on the farm’s website.

Why tulips?

We can thank the climate of the Pacific Northwest, with a cool spring that allows tulips to bloom slowly, followed by a summer warm enough for the bulbs to dry out. Our rich soil doesn’t hurt, either.

What’s there to do at the festival?

Do not underestimate the sheer visual impact of these blooms, from the bubblegum Pink Impression to the red and yellow fringes of the Fabio to the purple-black Queen of the Night, which Iverson says is a fan favorite. (Least popular? Yellow.) Cutout boards for goofy photo-ops speckle the fields, and the farm hosts a full-blown agritourism operation spanning a café, a tasting room pouring flights from Wooden Shoe Vineyards, a selection of farm-grown hemp products, a food and craft market, and a gift shop and field-side retail market for buying your own stems and bulbs.

On the weekends, you’ll find carnival rides, additional food vendors (kettle corn, caramel apples), and wooden shoe–making demonstrations. If weather allows, Portland Rose Balloons offers hot-air balloon flights: free-flying at sunrise, tethered during the day. For a tipple among the tulips, visit the farm on April 18 for an in-field tasting event featuring wineries from around the Cascade Foothills.

Glasses specifically designed for those with color vision deficiency (a.k.a. color blindness) will be available for checkout. They come in a few styles, with different sizes to fit both adults and kids.

What do I need to know about tickets?

Tickets are available online only, and entry is timed (though once you’re in, you can stay till closing). Weekend dates can sell out and traffic can back up on Meridian Road, so be sure to carpool and swing a midweek visit if you can. Also, if you plan to hop in the bounce house or hit up the carnival rides, be prepared to spend a few dollars more once you're there.