Tulip Time 2021 Blooms After 2020 Postponement
HOLLAND - Holland’s famous Dutch heritage festival makes it’s return after being postponed last year due to the pandemic.
A family takes pictures of two young boys walking through a tulip patch, May 2020.
Tulip Time is well known for it’s parades and Dutch dancers klopping in wooden shoes and traditional dress and of course, tulips. But changes to the classic lineup were made to make the festival possible this year. Large events like the dance performances and parades had to be postponed again. But the carnival and dock side tours of the tall ship “Friends Good Will” returned with other events going online. Executive Director Gwen Auwerda shared the adjustments over email.
“We have a few virtual events this year, Princess Lida, Tulip Time Run, artisan market. All had to be modified due to the capacity restrictions from MDHHS (Michigan Department of Heath and Human Resources),” she said.
New events were added this year that gives guests the opportunity to get up close and personal with the city’s tulips.
“New this year are walking tours. These are 16 people, walking two miles in two hours with a costumed guide. This replaces our trolley tours which we couldn’t hold due to the capacity restrictions. We also added a VIP walking tour with our mayor which ends at a local restaurant with cheese and wine tasting,” she said
Visitors can also participate in a new free scavenger hunt this year that they can get from the website and includes a self guided tour that reveals clues throughout downtown.
Auwerda said that the reaction has been positive from guests and residents excited to see the festival return after a long 2020.
“People are thrilled to participate in the festival and see the beautiful tulips. Many guests have come this week to see the tulips and avoid the crowds. We have an enthusiastic group of volunteers who also are excited to be volunteering in many capacities,” said Auwerda.
Tulip Time runs from May 1st to May 9th this year . To find out more information on Tulip Time and a list of events, visit https://www.tuliptime.com/ .