Are you trying to decide if it’s worth making the drive out to Agassiz for the Harrison Tulip Festival’s Night Garden?
I was fortunate to get a sneak peek this week and wanted to share my experience with you to help you decide. As someone who regularly visits the annual tulip festival, I was excited for this new take on a local flagship event.
Driving To The Harrison Tulip Festival
We opted to take the Loughheed out to the Harrison Tulip Festival, which made for a beautiful drive through Mission and Agassiz. Conversations were interrupted as we pointed out mountains and farmlands as we passed, building anticipation for the festival with every kilometer. Six of us in the car, laughing and chatting, buzzing with excitement — until we pulled up to the fields and then the attention shifted, “We’re here!” And we quickly parked the car, and were off to the Night Garden.
Location: 5039 Lougheed Highway, Agassiz, BC
Pro Tip: We wish we had arrived earlier. Aim to get there at least one hour — ideally ninety minutes — before sunset. The golden hour light over those fields is something photographers dream about, and you’ll want that time to wander the fields before the night garden experience begins.
Welcome to Night Garden
The Harrison Tulip Festival Night Garden experience is not what you expect. And that’s exactly the point.
Running on select evenings in April 2026 from 6–10 PM, The Harrison Tulip Festival’s Night Garden is the festival’s brand new after-dark offering, launching as part of its 20th anniversary celebrations. Tickets are $35 per person and include access from 4 PM — giving you that precious golden hour window before darkness falls.
As you walk through the gates, you’re welcomed into an open outdoor patio area where you can navigate the evening entirely on your own terms. Head out into the massive tulip fields while there’s still light — row upon row of vibrant blooms stretching toward a stunning mountain backdrop. Or make your way to the food trucks, browse the local vendor market, or settle in to listen to live music.
The evening unfolds seamlessly as you move through the experience at your own pace. The transition from day to night is gradual and unhurried. And that slow shift is exactly what makes it so special.
The Flower Crown Experience
One of the most unexpected highlights of the evening was the flower crown station — and honestly, it deserves its own section.
Using fresh tulips, baby’s breath, hyacinths, and tiny fairy lights, all wound around a base of twigs and wire, guests can create their own wearable piece of art. The hyacinths add a delicate pop of color and fragrance. The fairy lights make the crowns glow. And the whole experience — hands busy, creative energy flowing, soft live music drifting over from the solo guitarist nearby — creates a moment of genuine connection to the place.
Pro Tip: Get a flower crown for everyone in your group. We wish we had. And if you’re looking for a truly magical experience for young girls who love fairies, gardens, and flowers — this is it. Picture a little girl in a beautiful dress, wearing a glowing flower crown, traipsing through the tulips at dusk. That’s the kind of memory that lasts forever.
The Food Trucks at The Harrison Tulip Festival
The food truck at the Harrison Tulip Festival Night Garden is an indulgence in all the deep-fried treats we love. The smell of cinnamon sugar sasquatch feet, the classic Canadian favourite that is poutine, the Dutch food. The smells from the food truck mingle with the sweet fragrance of fourteen million blooms — and somehow it works, it oddly works! Here are some of the photos of the yummy food we shared:
Local Vendors at the Night Garden
Beyond the food trucks, roughly twenty local vendors were set up offering meats, cheeses, fresh salmon, craft beer, handmade indigenous art, moccasins, jewelry, soaps, jams, teas, and more. I love supporting local small business (also because I am one) and love seeing artists share their craft. I wanted to go back to some of the vendors after taking photos in the garden but I didn’t make it as we stayed until the whole event shut down! Here are just a few of the vendors I visited:
Lawn Games at The Harrison Tulip Festival
Come for the festival, stay for the games. Throughout the property, you’ll find fun ways to extend your farm visit, including ladder ball, corn hole, and more. This was the first time I brought a group of friends to the farm, as I’ve always gone with my Mom or just one friend, but this was so much fun having a bigger group. And with games… the perfect addition!
Farm Store at Harrison Tulip Festival
One last stop to make before you head home is their farm store. With local products, food, and fashion items – like a tulip-shaped purse, make sure to allocate some time for pursuing the aisles. Also, please don’t make the same mistake I did and buy tulips to take home! I can’t believe I forgot.
When the Stars Come Out
As the sun dips below the mountains and the sky transitions from blue to black, the Harrison Tulip Festival Night Garden begins to illuminate. Slowly at first — a glow here, a shimmer there. Like the first star appearing in an evening sky. Then another. Then another. Until suddenly the whole garden is alive with dancing lights.
Lanterns hang from the trees. Tulips glow from the ground. And above it all, the actual stars emerge between the mountains in the night sky. Fairy lights dance through the blooms below while the real thing twinkles overhead. It’s intimate, it’s unexpected, and it’s fairy approved.
We Closed the Place Down
The vendors were packing up. The food trucks had shuttered. The flower crown station was closed. It was ten o’clock at night.
And we were still traipsing through the tulips.
Six women in glowing flower crowns, lanterns in hand, dancing through a fairy tale garden long after everyone else had gone home. If that tells you anything about the quality of the Night Garden experience, let it tell you this: we had to be there at the end. We couldn’t imagine leaving sooner.
Is The Night Garden At The Harrison Tulip Festival Worth It?
To be transparent, we were invited as media to attend, so we didn’t have to pay full price for this experience. So after our visit, I asked my 5 friends what they thought, and some right away said, “Yes, this was 100% worth it.” If you like flowers, celebrating Spring, photography, local artisans, live music, and a fun night, this was a good value and a fun festival.
Some were concerned about the price point, with the entry fee being $35 an extra charges for the flower crowns. When I compare it to other events, I do think it offers good value, but of course, I’m always looking for good deals!
Overall, I know I’ll be going back to the festival as I had so much fun taking photos, and I want to capture more. I can hands down recommend it to you, my family, and friends as long as you can understand the distance and the cost! For me, it’s a wonderful Spring adventure and a great way to explore the Fraser Valley!
Lessons Learned (So You Don’t Miss a Thing)
- Arrive early. One hour before sunset, minimum, ninety minutes if you can. The golden hour light over the fields is stunning and not to be missed.
- Get flower crowns for everyone. Don’t let anyone in your group skip this.
- Bring a tripod. You’ll want group photos, or long exposure shots, and you’ll regret not having one.
- Buy the tulips to take home. They’re available on site, and we completely forgot. Don’t make our mistake.
- Stay late. If you can close the place down, do it. The garden is magical with a crowd, but it’s something else entirely when it’s just you and the lights.
Harrison Tulip Festival Night Garden Event Details
- Dates: April 16, 17, 18, 24, and 25, 2026
- Hours: 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM (access from 4:00 PM)
- Location: 5039 Lougheed Highway, Agassiz, BC
- Tickets: $35 per person (Flower crowns, lights, tulips, and food are additional)
- Website: harrisontulipfestival.com
Photography Tips For Shooting Flowers At Night
I’m new to night photography on a flower field and made some SILLY mistakes at the Harrison Tulip Festival so here are some tips and tricks to help you get the best photos possible. If you’re just using your iPhone, I have one piece of advice: make sure your lens is clean!
Camera Settings
- Shoot in RAW format so you have maximum flexibility in editing
- Use a wide aperture (f/1.8 to f/2.8) to let in as much light as possible
- Keep your ISO as low as possible to avoid grain — start at 800 and adjust (I made this HUGE mistake and you can see the grain in my photos!)
- Use a slow shutter speed (2–10 seconds) and a tripod to avoid blur
- Turn on your camera’s long exposure noise reduction if available
Gear to Bring
- Tripod — non-negotiable at night, absolutely essential (Yup, I’m putting it here so you don’t make the same mistake as me!
- Remote shutter release or use your camera’s 2-second timer to avoid camera shake
- A small portable LED light or even your phone flashlight to add subtle fill light on blooms
- Extra batteries — cold nights drain them fast
Composition Tips
- Get LOW — shooting from ground level up through the flowers with lights behind them creates that magical glowing effect
- Look for backlit blooms where the light source is behind the flower — it makes petals glow like stained glass
- Include the sky and mountains in wide shots for depth and drama
- Use bokeh to your advantage — a shallow depth of field turns background lights into soft dreamy orbs
Lighting Tips
- The blue hour (just after sunset) is your golden window — you get deep blue skies AND the garden lights are visible
- Look for flowers positioned near light sources — they’ll be naturally illuminated
- Try light painting — use a small flashlight to gently illuminate a single bloom during a long exposure
- Don’t underestimate your phone — Night Mode on modern iPhones and Androids is genuinely impressive
Editing Tips
- Boost shadows carefully to reveal detail without washing out the mood
- Increase clarity and texture on petals for detail
- Keep blacks dark and rich — the contrast is what makes night photos magical
- A slight warm tone on the highlights mimics lantern light beautifully
Bonus Tips Specific to Night Garden
- Arrive before sunset and stay through full dark — you get completely different photos at each stage
- The lit-up tulip fields with mountains behind them are your wide hero shot
- The lantern-in-hand shot is your intimate detail shot
Where To Stay Close To The Harrison Tulip Festival
If you’re looking to make it an overnight adventure I recommend you stay at Rowena’s On The River. From simple rooms to cozy cabins for the whole crew, this would be the perfect place to sneak away to after the festival! I love Rowena’s so much that I have an article all about it, read it here.
The Harrison Tulip Festival Night Garden is a brand new experience at one of BC’s most beloved spring festivals. Whether you’re planning a girls’ night out, a birthday celebration, a date night, or a magical outing with little ones — this one is worth the drive.
While we were hosted to attend this event by Serena PR and The Harrison Tulip Festival, the photography and this article was crafted without compensation and words and stories are a reflection of my own experience.
