By: Jack Roach

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Tulip Festival is a staple of springtime in Northwest Arkansas. Every year, attendees get to enjoy the spring weather, food & drinks, photo ops, and many other amenities. Located at the Rivercrest Orchard, viewers can find rows upon rows of different colored tulips in dazzling patterns that create the ideal backdrop of a spring social media post. Over half a million tulips were planted The Tulip Festival has become immensely popular amongst the Northwest Arkansas population and those in nearby areas. 

But something has been different this year. The usual spring weather that attracts people from all around, has been very unusual. Severe thunderstorms have rocked the region. Hot and humid temperatures have blasted the area. And to top it off, freezing conditions have lingered much further into the new year than it has previously. Right when it should be the prime of the Tulip Festival, major problems have arisen.

Due to record breaking conditions, the fourth annual Tulip Festival has been forced to close early. With temperatures reaching well below freezing one week and close to 100 the next, many of the tulips were unable to survive the conditions. The original last day for the festival was set for April 5th, but the news was announced that March 22nd was the new closing day. 

According to the rivercrestorchard instagram – “We wish tulip season could’ve lasted a little longer, but we can’t wait to see everyone starting this weekend for our Easter Festival!”

With the early closure of The Tulip Festival, The Rivercrest Orchard got to get started on their Easter Festival. The opening weekend started on March 28th and the last weekend to go out and experience the orchard will be April 3rd through April 5th. People can expect egg hunts, Easter Bunny photos, and specialty Easter treats.