How One Idea Bloomed: The Story Behind the La Conner Daffodil Festival

Every spring, fields across Skagit Valley burst into color, drawing thousands of visitors eager to experience the iconic Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. But long before the tulips steal the show, the Skagit Valley is awash in a golden glow of blooming daffodils—a quiet, stunning preview of the season to come. Thanks to Julie Burgmeier, founder of Skagit Marketing – Pacific Northwest Marketing, those early blooms have had their own moment in the spotlight since 2015 when Julie founded the La Conner Daffodil Festival.

Planting the Seed of an Idea

Julie, a longtime advocate for local tourism and community-driven marketing, recognized an opportunity while working closely with the successful Skagit Valley Tulip Festival and Skagit Tourism. She saw that daffodils—just as beautiful and grown in abundance throughout the valley—were being largely overlooked by the tourism calendar. The fields of yellow that bloom each March were ripe not only with flowers, but with potential.

That insight led her to create the La Conner Daffodil Festival, a celebration of the earliest signs of spring that would draw visitors to La Conner before the rush of tulip season. What began as a local tourism experiment quickly grew into a beloved tradition that celebrates not just flowers, but the charm and community of La Conner.

A Festival That Means Business (and Beauty)

Since its founding, the La Conner Daffodil Festival has become a key part of the region’s spring tourism economy. Visitors come from all over the Pacific Northwest and beyond to stroll the daffodil fields, take scenic drives, enjoy local food, and shop in La Conner’s boutique stores—all well before the tulip season officially kicks off.

The economic impact has been especially meaningful for La Conner’s small businesses, giving them a spring boost in what was once a quieter time of year. Hotels see earlier bookings, restaurants stay bustling, and galleries welcome new faces. Beyond business, the festival offers locals and visitors alike a way to connect with the land, the farmers who tend it, and the beauty that defines the Skagit Valley.

Growing Community Connections

What sets the La Conner Daffodil Festival apart is its deep sense of place and community. From photo contests and flower drives to local events and school projects, the festival has inspired both locals and visitors to engage with the region’s rich agricultural heritage in a fresh, meaningful way.

Julie’s vision was more than just about flowers—it was about creating moments that connect people to the land and to one another. And in that sense, the La Conner Daffodil Festival has bloomed into something far greater than its original purpose. It’s now a cornerstone of La Conner’s identity and a shining example of what’s possible when creativity, community, and local pride come together.

So next March, when you see the daffodils begin to bloom, know that you’re not just witnessing the start of spring—you’re experiencing the legacy of a simple but powerful idea that has forever brightened La Conner and the greater Skagit Valley.