San Francisco, CA — The return of Spring and Summer in San Francisco’s Union Square will officially arrive on Saturday, March 22, when the Union Square Alliance hosts San Francisco Tulip Day 2025, an event that will transform Union Square into a tulip garden with 80,000 colorful American-produced flowers grown from Dutch bulbs. 

“Union Square is the beating heart of downtown. Events like Tulip Day, that kicks off Union Square in Bloom, give people an opportunity to experience one of the unique annual community gatherings our city has to offer. I am pleased to have this beautiful event return for another year, and I look forward to all the other great upcoming attractions as part of Union Square in Bloom. We will continue to show the world what makes San Francisco so special," said Mayor Daniel Lurie. 

Held traditionally in honor of International Women's Day, San Francisco Tulip Day kicks off San Francisco's annual Union Square in Bloom initiative, in which businesses celebrate the arrival of Spring and Summer with floral displays, food, cocktails, and events, to celebrate Union Square’s rich floral tradition. A full list of Union Square in Bloom events can be found here.

"With the arrival of Tulip Day in Union Square, we are welcoming the changing seasons and celebrating San Francisco’s continued growth and revitalization at the heart of the city,” said Marisa Rodriguez, CEO of Union Square Alliance. "These flowers represent vitality and growth, and with Spring now upon us, we can look forward to the future with confidence and positivity. We are honored to host this event once again with our partners from the Netherlands, and we can’t wait to showcase another beautiful Tulip Day in Union Square.”

Tulips handed out in honor of International Women's Day are grown in the United States but originate in the Netherlands. On Tulip Day, the public is invited to pick a free bouquet of tulips (eight tulips per person) for themselves or as a gift to a woman who inspires them. 

America is the biggest export market for Dutch tulip bulbs. Hundreds of millions of tulip bulbs are supplied to professional growers in America to produce world-famous tulip flowers. In 2023 Dutch American economic ties supported 1 million jobs in the US.

“Tulip Day has become a beloved tradition and a symbol of the friendship between the Netherlands and San Francisco,” said Theo Peters, Consul-General of the Kingdom of the 

Netherlands in San Francisco. “We are proud to be working with Union Square Alliance to bring this celebration to life for the seventh time. As we celebrate International Women’s Day this year, the bloom of springs reminds us of the strength, resilience and contributions of women in our communities and around the world. We are delighted to share this moment of joy with tens of thousands of visitors and celebrate this special occasion with San Francisco again. 

“Events like Tulip Day help more and more people rediscover Union Square – its local shops, restaurants, and hotels,” said Sarah Dennis Phillips, Executive Director of the Office of Economic and Workforce Development. “There’s something special about experiencing the seasons in Union Square, and Tulip Day will launch San Francisco’s Spring, following other seasonal initiatives like Union Square in Bloom, Winter Walk and the array of weekly programming presented in partnership with Biederman Redevelopment Ventures. We are proud to continue working with the Union Square Alliance and our partners to sustain these traditions.”

“Tulip Day is more than just a celebration of spring—it symbolizes the renewal of Union Square and all of downtown. It highlights our city’s dedication to creating spaces where nature, community, and culture can flourish,” said SF Rec and Park General Manager Phil Ginsburg. “It’s inspiring to see this event continue to bring life and color to the Square year after year. And best of all—it’s free!”

“As a San Francisco employer with offices downtown and operations nearby, Amazon is committed to the revitalization of the City,” said Stephanie Gaywood, Amazon Senior Public Policy Manager for Community Engagement.  ”For the third consecutive year, we're honored to support Union Square in Bloom—a celebration that captures the vibrant spirit and beauty of this iconic city, while bringing our community together in meaningful ways."

“JPMorganChase is proud to support Tulip Day,” said Marisabel Torres, Vice President, Community Engagement for JPMorganChase. “We believe in investing in the communities where we live and work by creating dynamic public spaces that drive connection, commerce, and civic pride. We look forward to seeing Union Square in full bloom and sharing this special experience with the city.”

San Francisco Tulip Day 2025 is presented by the Union Square Foundation, Union Square Alliance, the Office of Mayor Daniel Lurie, the San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development, Amazon, JPMorganChase, United Airlines, van Hoekelen Greenhouses, Inc., and the Consulate General of the Netherlands in San Francisco. 

Along with those sponsors, 10 families from the Booker T. Washington Community Service Center will take part in the Tulip Day festivities on March 22.

“We at the Booker T. Washington Community Service Center are honored to be special guests at Union Square's Tulip Day,” said Shakirah Simley, Executive Director of Booker T. Washington Community Service Center. “Participating in this vibrant community event allows our families to engage in the beauty and unity that Tulip Day represents. We look forward to joining our fellow community members in celebrating the spirit that defines Union Square.”

The event celebrates the women in our lives and symbolizes the spring renewal of Union Square, along the business and retail hub of downtown San Francisco.

About the Union Square Alliance:

The Union Square Alliance serves members and creates a high-quality visitor experience by managing and activating public spaces, attracting new investment, and advocating for the district's future success. Union Square is the vibrant heart of San Francisco and an international destination where visitors come to enjoy exceptional retail experiences, luxury hotels, world-class cultural institutions, and great public spaces found only in the City by the Bay. A lively 27-block community surrounding Union Square Park in the heart of San Francisco makes up the Union Square Alliance. It is bordered on the north by Bush Street, on the east by Kearny Street, on the south by Market Street and the west by Taylor Street. For more information on the Alliance, go to www.visitunionsquaresf.com.

About The San Francisco Office of Economic and Workforce Development

The Office of Economic and Workforce Development advances equitable and shared prosperity for San Franciscans by growing sustainable jobs, supporting businesses of all sizes, creating great places to live and work, and helping everyone achieve economic self-sufficiency. For more information, please visit www.oewd.org.

About The Netherlands

The Netherlands and the US: a partnership that works. The United States is the largest importer of Dutch bulbs, with over $120M worth of flower bulbs imported annually. Royal Anthos represents the companies that trade in flower bulbs and nursery stock products in Europe and abroad. For more information, please visit http://www.anthos.org/for-and-by-the-trade. More than 955K jobs in the United States result from the strong economic relations with the Netherlands. The Consulate General of the Netherlands in San Francisco connects California to the Netherlands and empowers Dutch entrepreneurs and talent to innovate and scale in the U.S. 

Learn more at United States | Netherlandsandyou.nl.