Ever since I was a baby, I’ve attended the annual Bluebonnet Festival in Ennis, Texas when it rolls around in April. It’s one of my favorite weekends of the year, and I’ve enjoyed so many happy family memories there.

If you live in North Texas and you’ve never been out to Ennis during bluebonnet season — trust me — you have been missing out! Here’s my guide to all the fun in Ennis: The Bluebonnet Capital of Texas.

The History of The Ennis Bluebonnets

In 1951 the Ennis Garden Club established its first Bluebonnet Trail of Texas, mapping out the best locations to see the bluebonnets and other wildflowers that grow in abundance around town.

Over the years Ennis rose to fame as a Texas tourist attraction because of the endless fields of bright blue flowers in the area. In 1997 Ennis was designated by the State Legislature as the home of the “Official Texas Bluebonnet Trail” and was designated the “Official Bluebonnet City of Texas.”

According to the Ennis tourism website, from April 1-30, Ennis showcases over 40 miles of mapped driving Bluebonnet Trails sponsored by the Ennis Garden Club. These trails are the oldest such trails known in the state, and tens of thousands of visitors make the short trip to Ennis to view this beautiful display of wildflowers. The Ennis Garden Club will drive the trails to check the bloom status each week starting in April. The Club then reports to the Ennis Welcome Center about the latest status of the bluebonnets so that visitors can be well informed where the best flowers are on the trails at the time of their visit.

What to Expect at the Ennis Bluebonnet Festival

Since the bluebonnets typically peak on the third week of April, the Ennis Bluebonnet Festival is always held on the third weekend of that month.

If you’re planning to drive an hour from Dallas to photograph these beautiful wildflowers, you might as well visit when they’re in their prime. We attend the festival each year before hitting the trails and driving around through the Ennis countryside.

The festival always includes live music, carnival foods, and a market with bluebonnet-themed crafts and merchandise. This year we indulged in some potato twirls and fried oreos while a cover band played onstage. The atmosphere is so much fun! It only costs $5 to get into the festival, and a disposable wristband grants you access to mainstreet all day in case you want to go back and forth from the trails.

If you’re wondering about your four-legged friends, dogs are allowed and welcome at the Bluebonnet Festival too! My parents always bring their loyal companion Bean and take his picture with the bluebonnets.

Where to Find Bluebonnets in Ennis

I wish I could provide a tried and true guide with the best locations for bluebonnet photos. But the truth is, the flowers bloom a little bit differently every year!

One year a particular area might have thick, luscious fields of blooms and the next it could be really sparse. So how do you figure out where to go?

Thankfully, the Ennis Garden Club makes it super easy for you. On April 1 each year you can find a downloadable map on the Bluebonnet Trails website that will indicate the best places to spot bluebonnets. It will also tell you where you can take pictures, and where you shouldn’t get out of your car to trespass.

If you’re planning on visiting in 2021, go as soon as you can! The bluebonnets are at their peak right now, and you won’t want to miss it. We found that this year Ennis Veterans Memorial Park had the most bluebonnets on the trails and worked the best for our family pictures. We also enjoyed a stop along highway 813 on the North Trail where you can get out of your car and feed horses! That was probably the highlight of my whole day.

Tips for Visiting The Ennis Bluebonnets

1. Wear closed-toed shoes.

I love to wear cute, frilly dresses any time I’m going to take pictures with flowers. But when you’re going to be frolicking among the wildflowers, skip the sandals. Since the flowers basically stem from a big field of weeds, you never know what you might step on as you wander. 

2. Think before you pick.

There’s an urban legend that it’s illegal to pick bluebonnets anywhere in the state of Texas, but that isn’t true! It is, however, illegal to pick them on someone’s private property. It’s better to be safe than sorry, but if you want a bloom to take home or use for some pictures, see if you can find one that already got trampled. I hunted one down and used it as a prop in our pictures, and I loved how they turned out!

3. Ask the locals for tips.

If you’re wondering which spots on the map really have the best bluebonnets that year, ask one of the locals in downtown Ennis. Anyone working the festival (and probably most shopkeepers) will be able to point you in the right direction.

I hope you’ve added the Bluebonnet Capital of Texas to your bucket list! 

If you’re looking for more places to see beautiful flowers in Texas, check out my post about the Georgetown red poppies.

If you’re looking for more fun things to do in the Dallas area, check out my Local page or follow along on Instagram.