One of San Francisco’s most popular spring traditions is Flower Bulb Day, where thousands of tulips transform Union Square into a beautiful garden this weekend. On Saturday, March 21, San Franciscans are invited to the urban tulip garden to pick a free bouquet of flowers, ushering in spring in the city.
The event has become a beloved tradition to kick off spring, with hundreds lining up early in the morning to pick free bouquets. The best part of the event is that the tulips still have bulbs, so you can plant them in your garden (or in pots) for them to continue growing. The urban garden has over 80,000 tulips, an impressive sight that covers Union Square for the day. Each person may select 6 tulips before exiting the garden, with wide, colorful varieties.
“Tulip Day is always such a special event in Union Square,” said District 3 Supervisor Danny Sauter. “It’s amazing seeing the crowds of people lined up to select their favorite flowers. It proves once again that Union Square is not just a shopping district — it’s a place for people to congregate, connect and celebrate all that’s great about San Francisco.”
How to get a free tulip bouquet
Flower Bulb Day officially opens to the public at 1 pm and closes by 4:30 pm, as all the tulips will be picked by the afternoon. While the garden will open at 1 pm, many San Franciscans wait in line for hours to have first pick of the tulips. If you plan to attend, we recommend being prepared for long lines and crowds, as the event has grown in popularity. Past attendees have reported waiting in line for 3 or more hours to pick tulips, and you will only have a limited time inside the garden.
The weather for Saturday is predicted to be sunny and in the 70s, so we recommend preparing for warmer weather and bringing water for the line.
Even if you don’t want to wait in line for tulips, it’s still a very charming sight to see Union Square filled with tulips, and you can expect to see people walking around Downtown SF with their freshly picked bouquets throughout the afternoon.
Union Square isn’t the only place you can see spring flowers in San Francisco. We recommend venturing to the Queen Wilhelmina Garden in Golden Gate Park, which blooms with tulips every year, or the beautiful Magnolia trees in the San Francisco Botanical Garden, which are currently blooming.
Flower Bulb Day in San Francisco is on March 21, 2026, at 1 pm. Due to the crowds expected at the event, we recommend taking public transit to Union Square. The event is organized by San Francisco Recreation and Parks, the Union Square Alliance, and the Office of Economic & Workforce Development.
You can learn more about Flower Bulb Day here.
See also: A Major Art Fair With Over 180 Artists Will Take Over Fort Mason Center This Weekend
