(not) Tulip Time

Posted on by farlane

early tulips in downtown Holland

early tulips in downtown Holland, photo by Alissa Holland

The Tulip Time website says that there are 31 days until the annual festival celebrating the city of Holland’s Dutch heritage and the beautiful tulip. The festival runs May 5-12, 2012, but nobody told the tulips. As the photo shows, some of Holland’s 100,000+ tulips are beginning to bloom. They are expected to peak by mid-April, and the city is encouraging tulip lovers to visit now and then come back for the festival. They add that the festival will proceed as planned and even hold out a little hope:

“The city plants mostly late blooming varieties of tulips,” explains Gwen Auwerda, Tulip Time Festival Executive Director. “We’re hoping these late bloomers live up to their name and last into the festival. But, either way, if those arriving in Holland for the Tulip Time Festival take advantage of all the great events, they will not be disappointed.”

Check this photo out bigger and see more in Alissa’s Spring slideshow.

There’s a garden-full of Tulip Time pics on Michigan in Pictures.

It’s Tulip Time Again!

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

It's Tulip Time Again

It’s Tulip Time Again, photo by Mi Bob.

Holland’s annual Tulip Time celebration kicks off today and runs through May 14. Fireworks! Vintage Base Ball! Tulipalooza! Kinderplaats! Volksparade! Klompen! …and of course more than a million tulips and almost that many visitors!

Check it out bigger and in Bob’s Tulip Time slideshow.

More Tulips on Michigan in Pictures

Almost Tulip Time in Holland!

Posted on by farlane

It's like a dream

It’s like a dream, photo by cae3 – Anita

Tulip Time in Holland is just around the corner! The annual celebration of Holland’s Dutch heritage and tulipular beauty takes place May 7-14, 2011 and features parades, music, dancing and much more. They explain that:

This year is a particularly special celebration as we recognize the bicentennial anniversary of the birth of the founder of the Holland, Michigan: Reverend Albertus C. Van Raalte, who led his congregation of Dutch Calvinists in founding our city in 1847. To commemorate his birth, a Bilateral Conference will take place in Holland, Michigan and the Netherlands in the fall of 2011. For more information, visit www.dutchheritagewestmichigan.com.

Like most celebrations, the Tulip Time Festival started as a relatively small event, which was proposed by Miss Lida Rogers, a high school biology teacher. In 1927, Miss Rogers presented the idea of commemorating Holland’s Dutch heritage, history and culture to the Women’s Literary Club. Her proposal was accepted, and in 1929, the City of Holland planted its first crop of 100,000 tulips. The overwhelming number of visitors to our small town resulted in the community’s decision to repeat the event. As thousands of spectators soared to hundreds of thousands, the celebration lengthened by days, and pageantry, costumes and parades and the popular Dutch Dancers were added to produce a week-long festival that is now over 80 years old.

“Tulip Time” on Michigan in Pictures has all kinds of photos & information about this festival!

Check this out bigger and in Anita’s Explored slideshow.

Windmill Island is ready for Tulip Time

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Windmill Island

Windmill Island , photo by Kiran Bhat..

It’s Tulip Time in Holland! The annual Tulip Time Festival takes place May 1-8, 2010. The festival is a celebration of Dutch heritage and culture that has something for everyone including 3 parades, Dutch Dance performances, concerts, theatre, Dutch attractions, Dutch food, children’s events, trolley tours and more.

You can follow along with what they’re up to on the Tulip Time Facebook. The Michigan Archives have more about the history of Tulip Time. There’s a bunch (bouquet?) more Tulip Time on Michigan in Pictures.

Check it out bigger in Kiran’s Tulips again slideshow.

Houston, We have Tulips!

Posted on by farlane

We have tulips!

We have tulips!, photo by StormchaserMike Photography

Holland’s 2009 Tuliptime Festival starts today and runs May 2-9, 2009. In addition to parades, music, celebrations of Dutch heritage, kids events and fireworks and somewhere around 6 million tulips, they are celebrating the 80th anniversary of Holland’s signature celebration this year. All who attend are entered to win all kinds of prizes including a trip to Mexico, $1000, dinner for 6 at the B.O.B., a night at the JW Marriot and a party at New Holland Brewing!

You can get Mike’s photo bigger or check out his whole Flower set (slideshow).

If you’re still feeling tulip mania, check out past tulip posts from Michigan in Pictures, the tulip slideshow from the Absolute Michigan group and Absolute Michigan’s tulip page.

More spring wallpaper on Michigan in Pictures

Tulip Time Two Thousand (and Eight)

Posted on by farlane

Growing UP by luna.nik

Growing UP, photo by luna.nik

Despite the best efforts of a seemingly endless winter not to end, the bulbs are once again bursting forth with colorful goodness, to be celebrated most especially in Holland this weekend ( May 3-10, 2008 ) with the annual Tulip Time festival.

Much more today (including a tulip slideshow) on Absolute Michigan: Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan.

Time again for Holland’s Tulip Time Festival

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

214_1469

214_1469, photo by pablohart.

As someone who lives near a city (Traverse City) that is inextricably tied to an event (Cherry Festival), I imagine that the approach of Tulip Time can be a bittersweet thing.

According to the Tulip Time Festival web site…

The idea of Tulip Time was introduced in 1927 at a Woman’s Literary Club meeting. Miss Lida Rogers, a biology teacher at Holland High School, suggested that Holland adopt the tulip as its flower because of its close ties to the Netherlands, and set aside a day for a festival. She titled her talk that day “Civic Beauty” and spoke at length about the area’s unique sand dunes, its fine trees, safe water supply, pure milk, and ample playgrounds. She advocated planting more trees, and because the Chamber of Commerce was seeking something appropriate, suggested planting tulips in every yard. She concluded with reading a poem, “Come Down to Holland in Tulip Time.”

In 1928, City Council, under Mayor Ernest C. Brooks, appropriated funds to purchase 100,000 tulip bulbs from the Netherlands. These bulbs were to be planted in city parks and other areas. Initial plans called for a “Tulip Day.” Bulbs were available to Holland residents at one cent a piece…

Tulip Time Festival will be held May 3-10, 2008 and features many musical acts, parades, trolley tours of Holland, an art & craft fair, fireworks and of course, klompen dancing.

For more Holland Tulip goodness…
…Tulip Time, Holland Michigan from last year on Michigan in Pictures
…The Tulip Time group and the Holland Michigan group, both on Flickr
…Tulip Time Festival photo gallery from the Holland Sentinel

Black Tulip

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

Untitled, photo by purplephilia.

The photographer, purplephilia, says the tulip was a really, really beautiful dark purple but she lost the color version. (no wait, she found a small color version)The structure in the background is Henry Ford's Fair Lane Estate.

In case anyone is interested, Henry Ford is one of the 12 inaugural inductees to the Michigan Walk of Fame.

Tulip Time :: Holland Michigan

Posted on by Michigan in Pictures

2005 Tulip Time 09

2005 Tulip Time 09, photo by msprague.

Tulip Time is coming! Holland, Michigan may not have fields as big as those in the region it is named for, but they do have windmills and wooden shoes.

Tulips are neat because there are pink tulips and white tulips and tulips that aren't sure what color they are. You can find tulips that are elegant in their simplicity, tulips that are extravagant and wild and tulips on fire. You can watch people on parade or tulips on parade.

The Archives of Michigan have a great photo from Tulip Time in 1931 and say that on April 26, 1927, Lida Rogers spoke before the Woman's Literary Club of Holland suggested planting tulips in every yard to enhance the beauty of Holland. Today, Tulip Time is one of the 5 largest festivals in the United States!

May 6-13, 2006 is Tulip Time in Holland … have fun, but don't succumb to tulip mania.

If you have a photo of Holland's Tulip Time that isn't linked here, please add a link in the comments below!!