75,000 gorgeous tulips await at The American Village Festival of Tulips
Melanie Poole is among The American Village employees who welcome visitors to the Festival of Tulips. The first annual event is drawing guests from near and far, with many folks buying an assortment of colorful blooms to plant at home. (Donna Cope / Alabama NewsCenter)
If you’re yearning for a breath of spring, a visit to The American Village will fit the bill. 
The village grounds in Montevallo are awash with the color of 75,000 tulips coming into bloom. An explosion of red, yellow, purple, white and pink tulips awaits, including ruffled and striped varieties. Indeed, you won’t know where to start at this “you-pick” tulip field.
Washington’s birthday on Feb. 20 kicked off the season. Several hundred visitors showed up to buy tulips and visit the Montevallo campus, inspired by some of America’s most historic places. The American Village is a museum of ideas, where visitors step back in history and experience the power and drama of America’s struggle for independence and self-government.
How you can enjoy the Tulip Festival at The American Village in Montevallo from Alabama NewsCenter on Vimeo.
“We’ll have a great abundance of colors whenever you come,” said Melanie Poole, Communications officer – Marketing and Communications, American Village Citizenship Trust. “We have early, mid- and late bloomers, and should have a great variety through early April.”
Thanks to a warmer than normal winter, tulip season kicked off early, Poole said. The idea for the Festival of Tulips came during a visit to Haymarket, a vintage town in Virginia.
“We wanted a signature project for spring, and we thought we could replicate those efforts here at the village,” she said. “Tulips aren’t really a Southern flower, and they add a different dimension to the village.”
Before Christmas, The American Village planted top-quality bulbs from Holland. Tulips need six weeks of cold, winter temperatures for successful growth. The bulbs used at the village were chilled for six weeks before planting.
“The Festival of Tulips if the perfect spring outing for clubs, church groups and families,” said Poole, who has worked at American Village since 2000. “Lots of schools come during the spring for field trips.”
“We really enjoyed the Tulip Festival,” visitor Theresa Veasey said. “So many beautiful choices. The grounds are lovely, and the staff and actors are very hospitable and entertaining. It was just a wonderful outing.”
Enjoy the Festival of Tulips at American Village
American Village is located at 3727 Hwy. 119 in Montevallo, 30 minutes south of Birmingham and an hour north of Montgomery on I-64, Exit 234. Click here for field conditions before your visit. www.americanvillage.org. For information about group tours and catering, call Jodie Wasyluka at 205-665-3535, Ext. 1045.
Festival Dates: Through March 25.
Flower price: Tulips are $1 per stem and bulb.
Admission: Weekday admission is $10, and weekends is $4. Veterans and children 4 and under are free.
