Flower Bulb Day in 2025. Photo by Dana Flynn
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Senior Staff Writer
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March 3, 2026
San Francisco’s annual Flower Bulb Day returns to Union Square this month on Saturday, March 21st, 2026!
The popular springtime event traditionally honors International Women’s Day, drawing tens of thousands of people each year who often line up hours early for a chance to pick a free bouquet of tulips.
80,000+ free tulips
For just three and a half hours, San Francisco’s Union Square will transform into a colorful, sprawling pop-up tulip garden open to the public. Each attendee is permitted to pick a maximum of 8 tulips to take home.
Access to the garden is free, and there are no tickets or RSVP required, but the SF event is known to attract enormous crowds. Consider taking public transportation and be prepared to wait in long lines. Lines may begin forming no earlier than 9 am.
The tulips at Flower Bulb Day are grown in the United States, but the bulbs are originally from Europe. Dutch flower bulb company Royal Anthos produces the event with financial backing from the European Union. This year, they’re hosting a similar celebration on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. on March 15th.
San Francisco’s event is presented by JPMorganChase, the San Francisco Office of Economic & Workforce Development, the Union Square Alliance, and San Francisco Recreation & Parks.
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:
Friday, 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
Flower Bulb Day 2026
📍 Location: Union Square, San Francisco, CA 94108
🗓️ Date: Saturday, March 21, 2026, from 1 pm to 4:30 pm
🌐 Website: Flower Bulb Day