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Bloom, The Abbotsford Tulip Festival

April 10-May 7, 9 a.m. to dusk | 36737 Parallel Rd., Abbotsford

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Tickets and info:$15 weekends and holidays/$8 weekdays atabbotsfordtulipfestival.ca

1. Tulip mania. Fun fact: Between 1634 and 1637, in the Netherlands, the enthusiasm for tulips — native to Eurasia and north Africa and introduced to western Europe in the 16th century — triggered a “tulip mania.” Tulip bulbs became so expensive that they were treated as a form of currency.

Today, enthusiasm for the flowers has triggered the Abbotsford Tulip Festival, which is the vision of tulip farmer Alexis Warmerdam. Going into its second year, the festival boasts more than 2.5 million of the flowers from over 40 varieties (currently, 75 wild species are accepted by botanists) over 10 acres. It’s estimated that more than 100,000 people came out to Abbotsford for the festival’s first year.

2. It’s outdoors. After one of the rainiest winters on record, who isn’t looking forward to getting some fresh air? However, organizers are encouraging visitors to check out abbotsfordtulipfestival.ca before making plans in case the festival is delayed for a week due to the cold weather.