(PELLA, Iowa) – While the air is still brisk, the tulips are working their way upward and the 83rd annual Tulip Time Festival in Pella, Iowa is not far off. This year’s festival is Thursday, Friday and Saturday, May 3, 4 & 5, 2018. The entire family is invited to Pella for “Tulips, Treats and a Blooming Good Time!”
Tulip Time will feature two parades every day, delicious food, thousands of residents in Dutch costumes, flower shows, auto displays, antique implements, city tours, the Dutch Craft Market and of course, tulips.
This year, the parade will feature three new floats focusing on Pella schools, history and business. In addition, the Hairy Nation Boys, an authentic-minded Civil War living history group will bring the Civil War experience to the Pella Historical Village during Tulip Time. See how soldiers lived in the field, including the food and equipment volunteers were issued. Experience a musket-shooting demonstration (using blanks), and company drills at the Historical Village.
Activities begin each day around 9 AM and continue until the lighted evening parade ends around 10 PM. Each evening, the Feesthouden show features live and free special entertainment on the Tulip Toren stage, courtesy of Vermeer Charitable Foundation in honor of Vermeer Corporation’s 70th Anniversary. Feesthouden begins at 7 PM Thursday and Friday and at 6:30 PM on Saturday. Special entertainers at Feesthouden include The Bridge Worship Praise Band on Thursday, Central College Jazz Combos on Friday. Saturday features Faculty Lounge, Des Moines’ premier ten-piece, horn-driven, all-teacher, multi-hyphenated old school funk machine.
Throughout each day, visitors can see the sights from a guided city tour, experience the sights and sounds of the Historical Village, learn about Dutch foods and costumes in our Dutch demo sessions, see Dutch dancing around the town and during grandstand shows, and much more. For a complete schedule, visit www.pellatuliptime.com.
For Tulip Time tickets, call 641-628-4311 or contact businessoffice@pellahistorical.com.
