This week is Tulip Time! Talking with NAFDMA Board President from DeBuck's Family Farm, Scott Debuck. DeBuck's Family Farm is hosting Metro Detroit’s largest Tulip Festival starting April 24th!

Why Tulips and how did the idea get started?

We’ve been dreaming about planting tulips for years. About four years ago, Shawn from Mazeplay approached us with an exciting idea: to create a custom tulip field, just like he’s done for our corn maze. The idea was tempting, and there were many times we almost took the leap—but as many of you know, the upfront costs and risks are much higher compared to other flower festivals.

We decided to hold off, focusing instead on completing our food projects and upgrading our infrastructure so that when the time came, we could launch our very first Tulip Festival the way we truly envisioned it—big, beautiful, and memorable.

Well… the wait was worth it. We finally did it—and what a way to kick things off! 

When did you start the Tulip festival?  

Our first Tulip Festival was held in the spring of 2024. Due to unusually hot weather, the tulips didn’t last as long as we had hoped, and we were only able to run the festival for 10 days. But thanks to solid planning and preparation, we were ready to welcome guests in a big way. Despite the short season, we were thrilled to host over 30,000 visitors—and made the most of every moment!

What is your favorite thing about the tulip festival?

Our favorite part was simply how breathtaking the tulip field turned out to be. We’ve grown many crops over the years, but wow—the tulips were absolutely mesmerizing. I’ve never seen so many of our guests smiling, taking it all in, and just looking genuinely happy. It was truly something special.

What does your tulip festival look like… what is included in the festival – food, picture areas, all the things?!

This year, we’ve planted just over one million tulips! We have two stunning show fields where picking is not allowed. One of them, featuring around 400,000 tulips, is designed in the shape of a butterfly. The second, with about 500,000 tulips, takes the shape of a hummingbird. Both are absolutely breathtaking.

We also have a U-pick field with approximately 100,000 tulips, located a short distance from the show fields to help guests easily distinguish between the picking area and the display areas. For convenience, we offer wagon rides out to the U-pick field for those who prefer not to walk the path.

Guests can also enjoy a variety of delicious food options! Our Grill house, Pizzeria, and Donut bakery is open. Our snack shacks and food trailers are set up right in the field, serving everything from specialty coffees to tasty treats. And for families, we open up about 60% of our barnyard area, filled with fun activities and play zones for kids—making it a joyful experience for all ages.