When the ‘Tulip Day Washington’ Event was announced less than two weeks ago on Friday, February 20th, anticipation for the event seemed to spread like wildfire!
However, when the registration portal for tickets to the free event finally launched this morning, most Washingtonians were immediately blocked by a broken link.
What was an event that many Washingtonians were quickly getting excited about, being the first major event to signal the start of spring after a historically frigid winter, quickly devolved into frustration and disappointment for many across the DMV area.
What happened to the ‘Tulip Day Washington’ website?
Unfortunately, when the ‘Tulip Day Washington’ ticket registration page was about to go live at around 8 am this morning, the website was overloaded by the number of people attempting to reload the same page at the same time.
As a result, the website seemed to crash immediately and block access for most Washingtonians hoping to secure a spot at the free floral festival.
To remedy the unexpected situation, the organizers of the ‘Tulip Day Washington’ shared a new registration link on their social platforms.
Unfortunately, tickets to the free event sold out just moments later.
Other places around the District where you can spot tulips for free
While the ‘free-to-pick’ tulip event may have sold out before you even had a fair shot at getting tickets, there are still plenty of places around the District where you can stop to admire blooming tulips for free!
Now, these might not be tulips you can take home with you, and their bloom is more up to Mother Nature, which means that they might need a few weeks to hit their peak bloom.
Here are a few spots around the District where you can stop to smell the flowers this spring:
- The Netherlands Carillon in Arlington
This small monument symbolizing the friendship between the people of the Netherlands and the U.S. is surrounded by hundreds of tulips that bloom every spring and provide an incredible view of D.C.’s iconic monuments from across the Potomac.
- The Navy – Merchant Marine Memorial
Located in Lady Bird Johnson Park on Columbia Island, this striking monument is flanked by hundreds of blooming tulips every spring, creating one of the most underrated views of the Washington Monument, perfect for a romantic moment away from the crowds.
- Enid A. Haupt Garden
The gardens by the Smithsonian Castle often have an array of blooming flowers throughout spring, as well as some iconic magnolia trees that create a stunning atmosphere that only comes around once a year for a few weeks while they are in bloom.
- Floral Library on the National Mall
Also called the ‘Tulip Library’, this small garden next to the Tidal Basin is filled with 93 unique beds, each with its own variety of blooming flowers.