Nevada City, Calif. — Springtime at Ananda, one of Northern California’s most beloved spring traditions, returns in 2026 at the Crystal Hermitage Gardens at Ananda Village. The annual tulip festival is scheduled to open April 10 through May 10, 2026, with peak bloom expected mid-April, weather permitting.
Set on a hillside overlooking the Yuba River Canyon and the Sierra Nevada foothills, the Crystal Hermitage Gardens feature more than 20,000 tulips planted across terraced flower beds, along with flowering cherry trees, wisteria, dogwoods, azaleas, and rhododendrons. Visitors stroll winding paths past pools, waterfalls, statuary, and a chapel inspired by the Little Church of St. Francis of Assisi.
Springtime at Ananda has grown from a small community gathering into an internationally recognized destination, welcoming more than 20,000 visitors annually. Many guests return year after year, making the tulip gardens a cherished family tradition and a signature spring experience in Nevada County.
The 2026 season coincides with Swami Kriyananda’s 100th birth anniversary, a milestone being celebrated worldwide by Ananda communities. Swami Kriyananda founded Ananda as a living expression of the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda, emphasizing spiritual growth through beauty, meditation, and service. More information about Swami Kriyananda’s centennial can be found at https://www.ananda.org/swami-100.
In addition, Ananda’s Living Wisdom School is inviting the public to attend two events Saturday, April 25. A bake sale is scheduled 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on the Master’s Market green near the Ananda Village entrance. A school open house is 2 p.m.- 4 p.m.
Tickets must be purchased in advance online and are $15 for ages 13 and up, $5 ages 3-12 and $36 for a season pass. Bloom timing varies each year, and visitors are encouraged to check the Tulip Watch, a daily online update that tracks garden conditions throughout the season.
For tickets, visiting hours, and updates, visit www.crystalhermitage.org.
About Crystal Hermitage Gardens
Crystal Hermitage Gardens are part of Ananda Village, an intentional spiritual community founded more than 50 years ago. The gardens were created as a place of beauty, inspiration, and quiet reflection, and are cared for year-round by dedicated gardeners and volunteers.
About Ananda Worldwide
Ananda Worldwide is a global nonprofit spiritual movement founded by Swami Kriyananda and inspired by the teachings of Paramhansa Yogananda, author of “Autobiography of a Yogi.” Ananda has centers, meditation groups, and retreat communities around the world.
In Nevada County, Ananda’s footprint includes Ananda Village, Crystal Hermitage Gardens, The Expanding Light Retreat, and a wide range of educational, spiritual, and community programs that serve thousands of visitors each year. Together, these offerings contribute to Nevada County’s cultural, spiritual, and tourism landscape.