Bow: Blueberry Tradition and Fall Harvest

Bow combines agricultural history with experiences that shift with the seasons. At Bow Hill Blueberries, the focus is on blueberries and a long farming tradition; in the fall, the Skagit Valley Festival of Family Farms brings participating farms together in Bow. To the west, the saltwater coastline at Padilla Bay and the history of Chuckanut Drive add to the picture. When planning your trip, consider these different themes and choose your dates based on your interests.

Blueberry Tradition in Bow

Bow Hill Blueberries is home to the oldest family-owned blueberry farm in the agriculturally rich Skagit Valley. The farm was founded in 1947. It was certified organic in 2011 and grows the heirloom varieties Rubel, Stanley, Jersey, and Bluecrop. Here, a long history of farming meets a diverse selection of crops.

U-pick is available only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays in August. Exact dates and availability may vary from one harvest year to another. If you plan to visit, check what is available for that year. This lets you make the seasonal farm tradition a focus of your trip while keeping the limited timeframe in mind.

Fall Harvest and Farm Visits

The Skagit Valley Festival of Family Farms is an annual fall event featuring participating family farms in Bow. In 2026, the festival celebrated its 28th year. Visitors can explore the participating farms at their own pace during the fall harvest. The event spans two days; individual activities may vary depending on the year and weather.

The festival includes free samples and agricultural products to take home, although individual offerings may vary. As part of the festival, Taylor Shellfish Farms’ visitor program also offers insights into shellfish farming and clean water protection. Visitors can meet shellfish farmers and view photos and educational exhibits on a tour of the facilities. The program combines samples with information about the work involved in shellfish farming.

Coast and Regional Perspectives

Bay View State Park is located west of Bow. The 25-acre campground has 1,285 feet of saltwater shoreline along Padilla Bay. This coastal landscape offers a different focus from the agricultural experiences: here, the park and its stretch of coast take center stage instead of farm history and harvests.

The history of the Chuckanut Drive Scenic Byway offers another perspective. The route follows State Route 11 between the Skagit Valley and Bellingham. It opened in 1916 and is considered one of Washington’s earliest scenic highways. This makes the coastal landscape and the history of a scenic highway distinct interests to explore.

If you’re traveling with family, use your preferred focus as a starting point for planning: blueberries and u-pick are available in August, while the festival takes place during the fall harvest. When looking for a vacation rental in Bow, check the specific u-pick availability for the harvest year and the festival dates before settling on your travel dates.

Explore more destinations: Anacortes, Mount Vernon, La Conner, Sedro-Woolley, Burlington.

Back to the main travel guide: Skagit County.