San Francisco’s annual Flower Bulb Day is set to return to Union Square on Saturday, March 21, 2026.
This beloved spring event celebrates International Women’s Day and draws tens of thousands of visitors each year, many of whom arrive hours early for the chance to take home a free bouquet of tulips.
How to get free tulips at Union Square
For about three and a half hours on Saturday, Union Square will transform into a vibrant pop-up tulip garden open to the public, where each visitor can pick up to eight flowers to take home.
Entry is free with no tickets or RSVP required, but the event draws large crowds, so plan to use public transit and expect long lines, which may start forming as early as 9 a.m.
Dutch company Royal Anthos produces the event with support from the European Union, which is also hosting a similar celebration in Washington, D.C. While the tulips are grown in the U.S., their bulbs originate from Europe.
Local partners include JPMorgan Chase, the San Francisco Office of Economic & Workforce Development, the Union Square Alliance, and San Francisco Recreation & Parks.
Union Square in Bloom
Flower Bulb Day always kicks off the city’s annual Union Square In Bloom programming, which celebrates spring and summer with floral activations at local businesses. Here are some more spring events to put on your calendar:
- May 8th: Bloom Fashion Show
- April 13th-19th: Sustainability Week in the Local Garden
- May 18th-24th: Beauty Week in the Local Garden
- June 22nd-28th: Restaurant Week in the Local Garden
- July 20th-26th: Bars Week in the Local Garden
- August 17th-23rd: Arts & Theater Week in the Local Garden
- August 27th: Bloomie Awards
2026 event details
📍 Location: Union Square, San Francisco, CA 94108
🗓️ Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 1 pm to 4:30 pm
🌐 Website: Flower Bulb Day
