Brilliant colours: Three-year-old Alex gets among the tulips at the Tesselaar Tulip Festival in Silvan with mother Wendy Barnes. Picture: Ted Kloszynski
AS the winter chill begins to disappear, the sun is shining on the blossoming tulips at the Tesselaar Tulip Festival in Silvan.
The festival began almost 60 years ago and is the ideal outing for the whole family.
Publicity co-ordinator Wendy Barnes said there were more than a million spring flowering bulbs at the farm and some 100 tulip varieties.
The month-long festival opened at the weekend and is the biggest of its kind in the state, with up to 60,000 visitors expected.
"Every year we're adding things — more entertainment, different days, there is something for everyone," Ms Barnes said.
The festival is the only time the tulips are available for the public to see because they require a cool climate to blossom.
"They don't last that long," Ms Barnes said.
Along with the kaleidoscopic display of flowers, there will be live entertainment, market stalls, sculpture competition and theme days.
And like any good tulip festival, Dutch treats such as poffertjes and croquettes will be available to purchase.
All things Dutch will be celebrated this weekend, starting from Friday, as the festival is transformed into a 'mini-Holland'.
Traditional dancers will show off skills in clogs and attractions feature costumes, windmills, historical exhibitions and games.
Some of the other theme days include Turkish, seniors, children, and a food, wine and jazz weekend, which Ms Barnes said was "always popular".
She said organisers were hoping the weather would be kind to them, but said as long as visitors have boots, a coat and umbrella they would be OK.
The Tesselaar Tulip Festival in Silvan runs until Tuesday, October 9, from 10am-5pm. Cost: Adults $18, concession $15 and children under 16 are free. Details: tulipfestival.com.au.