Tesselaar Tulip Festival

The Tesselaar Tulip Festival runs from 12 September to 11 October 2026 at Tesselaar Flower Farm in Silvan. Open daily from 10am to 5pm, the festival combines colourful spring gardens with cultural celebrations, live music, family entertainment, Dutch traditions and seasonal food.

Visitors should expect a smaller tulip display in 2026. Unusually warm and wet growing conditions have resulted in later blooms and less densely covered fields. Admission prices have been reduced to reflect the conditions, but the gardens, daily entertainment, themed weekends and family activities are continuing.

The best day to attend depends on the experience you want. Families can visit during the children’s program, music lovers can choose one of the themed weekends, and visitors with flexible schedules can take advantage of discounted Spring Fever weekdays.

What to Expect at the Tesselaar Tulip Festival

Tesselaar is a working flower farm with spring gardens, sloping fields, food courts, market stalls and outdoor entertainment areas. Visitors can walk through the gardens, photograph the displays and plan their day around performances and activities.

Dutch influences feature throughout the festival. Attractions include replica windmills, wooden clogs, Dutch food, clog-dancing workshops and historic cheese-market performances. The tractor train provides another way to see the farm while learning about its history and flowers.

Allow about three to four hours for a relaxed visit that combines the gardens, lunch, and entertainment. Families attending several performances or activities may prefer to spend most of the day at the farm.

The formal flower fields are roped off to protect the plants. Visitors should remain on the designated paths and use the arranged crossings and photography areas. Promotional photographs showing people within the fields generally feature performers or models and do not indicate unrestricted visitor access.

Tesselaar Tulip Festival 2026 Program

The festival has a different theme across its four-week season:

• 12-13 September: Turkish Weekend
• 14-18 September: Spring Fever Week 1
• 19-20 September: Dutch Weekend
• 21-24 September: Children’s Week 1
• 25-27 September: All That Jazz Weekend
• 28 September-2 October: Children’s Week 2
• 3-4 October: Rock the Fields Weekend
• 5-9 October: Spring Fever Week 2
• 10-11 October: Irish Weekend

Turkish Weekend

Turkish Weekend opens the festival with Turkish music, dancing, food and creative activities. The program includes live bands, belly dancing and a performance by a traditional Mehter band.

Optional art activities include Turkish marbling, ceramic painting and mosaic lamp workshops. These workshops attract additional charges and are not included with general admission.

Dutch Weekend

Dutch Weekend celebrates the festival’s Dutch heritage with music, food and traditional activities. Entertainment includes the Van Tongeren Sisters and the Accordion Accents Ensemble.

Clog-dancing workshops are scheduled for 11am and 1:30pm, while cheese-market reenactments take place at noon and 2:30pm. A Dutch shuffleboard competition runs from 11am to 3pm on both days and costs $2 to enter.

Children’s Weeks

The Octonauts appear from 21 to 24 September, followed by Peppa Pig from 28 September to 2 October. Performances are scheduled for 11am, noon and 1:30pm.

The family program also includes wildlife talks, drumming workshops, fairy storytelling, clog dancing and cheese-market performances. Headline entertainment is included with admission, although face painting and craft activities cost extra.

Arriving near opening time gives you enough time to find the performance areas before the first shows. Rather than attempting every activity, families may find it easier to choose one headline show and leave time for the gardens, lunch and other entertainment.

Jazz, Rock and Irish Weekends

All That Jazz Weekend runs from 25 to 27 September and features the Daryl McKenzie Jazz Ensemble. It is well suited to visitors looking for a relaxed day combining music, gardens and lunch.

Rock the Fields takes place on 3 and 4 October. Jukebox Rock performs at 10:30am, 12:45pm and 2:45pm, alternating with The Treblettes at 11:30am, 2pm and 3:45pm.

Irish Weekend closes the festival on 10 and 11 October. The program includes The Kerrys, The Galway Rovers, roving pipers and performances by the Victorian Irish Dancing Academy.

Spring Fever Weekdays

Discounted Spring Fever sessions run from 14 to 18 September and again from 5 to 9 October.

These quieter weekday sessions feature live musical entertainment, clog dancing and cheese-market performances. They are a good choice for visitors with flexible schedules who want lower admission prices, but they do not include the advertised school-holiday character shows.

Tickets and Admission Prices

Discounted 2026 general admission prices are:

• Adults: $27.50
• Concession: $24.50
• Children aged 3-16: Free with an accompanying adult, but a ticket is required
• Children aged 0-2: Free, with no ticket required

Spring Fever admission is available from 14 to 18 September and 5 to 9 October:

• Adults: $19
• Concession: $17
• Children aged 16 and under: Free with an accompanying adult

Additional charges apply to food, shopping, selected workshops, face painting, craft activities and the tractor train. Visitors with limited mobility and their carers can use the tractor train free of charge.

A $40 Yarra Valley Floral Day Pass is also available on selected weekdays from 18 September to 2 October, excluding weekends and public holidays. It combines admission to the Tesselaar Tulip Festival and CherryHill Orchards’ Blossom Festival, a Tesselaar tractor ride and a cherry spritzer at CherryHill. Visitors must arrange their own transport between the two venues.

Food, Weather and Accessibility

Food stalls offer Dutch favourites such as poffertjes, croquettes and kibbeling, as well as a variety of meals, snacks and drinks. Visitors may also bring their own picnic.

Wear practical footwear and bring clothing suitable for changing spring weather. As the festival takes place on a working farm, grass and unsealed paths can become wet or muddy after rain.

The upper garden has flatter sealed paths, accessible facilities, shops, food outlets and a performance stage. The main flower fields are on sloping ground with grass, mulch and loose-rock paths.

A complimentary tractor train is available for visitors with limited mobility and their carers. However, its boarding point is reached by a downhill gravel path, and only one wheelchair can be accommodated per trip. Visitors with specific access requirements should contact the festival before travelling.

Getting to Tesselaar Flower Farm

Tesselaar Flower Farm is located at 357 Monbulk Road, Silvan, approximately 40 kilometres east of central Melbourne. Free on-site parking is available, including limited bus spaces.

Visitors using public transport can take the train to Lilydale or Belgrave station, then take route 663 to the festival. The bus stops directly outside the property. Check both the outward and return connections before travelling, particularly on weekends.

Allow additional travel time on themed weekends and during the school holidays. If you want to attend an early performance, aim to arrive when the gates open rather than immediately before the advertised show time.

Tesselaar Tulip Festival FAQs

When is the Tesselaar Tulip Festival in 2026?
The festival runs from 12 September to 11 October 2026.

What are the festival’s opening hours?
Tesselaar Tulip Festival is open daily from 10am to 5pm during the advertised festival dates.

How much are Tesselaar Tulip Festival tickets?
Discounted general admission costs $27.50 for adults and $24.50 for concession-card holders. Lower Spring Fever prices apply on selected weekdays, and children aged 16 and under enter free with an accompanying adult.

Can I bring my dog to the festival?
Yes. Well-behaved dogs are welcome but must remain on a lead and under their owner’s control.

Does the festival open when it rains?
The festival generally continues in wet weather, although dangerous conditions may require closure. Wear suitable shoes and bring rain protection.

Is Tesselaar Flower Farm wheelchair accessible?
Accessibility varies across the farm. The upper garden has flatter sealed paths, while the main fields have slopes and uneven surfaces. Contact the festival before visiting if you require specific assistance.