Nothing says spring in Michigan like Holland’s annual Tulip Time Festival! Did you know it’s been happening since May of 1929?

Holland is well known for it’s Dutch heritage. Throughout the city, there are over a million tulips planted. The festival is more than just beautiful blooms, there are parades, concerts, shows, tours, workshops, exhibits and more fun.

Depending on the weather, there is typically a 21 day window in mid-April and mid-May to see the tulips in full bloom. The weather could be warm early on and we could have an early bloom, or, if the weather keeps cool in the evenings, the blooms will usually last longer and extend the bloom time. The city intentionally plants tulip varieties that bloom early, mid and late season with the hopes of constant color.

History

Tulip Time was first proposed in 1927 by Lida Rogers, a Holland High School biology teacher, at a Woman’s Literary Club meeting. She suggested adopting the tulip as the city’s flower and creating a festival to celebrate Holland’s Dutch heritage. In 1928 the City Council funded the purchase of 100,000 tulip bulbs from the Netherlands, planting them throughout the city. When thousands of tulips bloomed in 1929, Holland invited visitors for a weeklong celebration, establishing Tulip Time as an annual event. The festival incorporated Dutch traditions, costumes, and wooden shoes, becoming a charming and unique attraction.

By 1933, Tulip Time had gained national recognition, and the first festival office was established. That same year, Ethel Perry introduced Dutch folk dancing, a tradition that continues with over 1,400 Klompen Dancers today. The festival grew into a nine-day event until World War II halted its festivities. However, interest remained through flower shows and musical events, leading to its revival in 1946 as a four-day celebration. The core elements—tulips, parades, folk dancing, and music—have remained central to the festival’s enduring success.

Tulip Time Dutch DancersDutch dance

People in the community and local students have the opportunity to be Dutch Dancers. These dancers perform a traditional Dutch dance in traditional Dutch costumes and wooden shoes. Each of the costumes are handmade and carefully inspected before they can be worn. You can see these dancers perform at various times and various locations including Centennial Park, 8th street between College & Central and 8th street between College and River. You can see the dance schedule here. 

Parades

Overall the parades highlight the community’s pride in its Dutch heritage and cultural traditions.

The Tulip Time festival features two parades:

  1. The kinderparade, where dignitaries and residents, in Dutch attire, clean the streets with pails and brooms before entertainment begins. Then the elementary schoolers and teachers march in Dutch costumes accompanied by bands and floats.

  2. The volksparade features a procession of local guests and residents dressed in Dutch costumes as well as bands & floats.

The parades are the busiest days during the festival, so we suggest that you arrive downtown early in hopes of finding a place to view the action. We also recommend you reserve bleacher seating here.

Tulip Time ParadeGuided Tours

Looking for more direction and a guided experience? See the options below!

  • Historic Walking Tours: This 75 minute tour gives you the opportunity to learn about Holland’s unique history from a costumed guide. You’ll see historical sites and local icons. Make sure to wear your comfortable walking shoes!

  • VIP Tours: This is a 7 hour curated tour. It offers VIP access to all the festival highlights. This is a great way to get an insider’s view of Holland! This tour will be by bus with occasional walking.
  • Photo Walk: This is a 2 hour experience curated for the avid photographer. Local photographers will guide the walk around Windmill Island garden’s 40 beds of tulips and offer tips and tricks to capture the breathtaking landscape and architecture.

Find more information & buy tickets at tuliptime.com/events.

Where to see tulips around town:

Off the beaten path…

Check out this page for all the tulips planted!

Windmill with yellow tulipsLodging

At the Tulip Time Festival, being close to the action enhances the experience. With a wide variety of accommodations within eight miles or less of downtown Holland, you'll be sure to find the right place to stay. Check out our hotels page to see the extensive list of hotels!