Albany tulips extend far beyond Washington Park

Discover Albany is inviting you to track tulips.

Albany’s annual Tulip Festival is returning in-person to Washington Park this weekend and #518TulipTracker will celebrate tulip season throughout May.

Using the hashtag #518TulipTracker, new blooming flowers will be featured across the city for "Tulip Tuesdays." Viewers can enjoy the self-guided Tulip & Garden driving tour available on Discover Albany’s website. The tour includes flowers at nearly 40 historic sites, attractions and parks. Viewers are also encouraged to share their own photos on social media using the hashtag.

Discover Albany is hosting a giveaway to encourage visitors and residents to embark on the self-guided Tulip & Garden Driving Tour.

You can visit five spots featured in the driving tour and a take a photo of the tulips at each spot.

Email the five tulip photos and the corresponding locations to info@albany.org by Thursday, May 12 to be entered into a random drawing to win an Albany-themed prize!

"We are happy that #518TulipTracker has become an Albany spring tradition," said Jill Delaney, President and CEO of Discover Albany. "We are absolutely thrilled for Tulip Festival to return in-person this year but are excited to continue to engage those both near and far virtually with #518TulipTracker."

Tulip Festival is a 72-year-old Albany tradition held every spring at Washington Park. Its origins date back to July 1, 1948, when Mayor Erastus Corning II passed a city ordinance declaring the tulip as Albany’s official flower.