By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
joanne@wktv.org
Tulip Time Festival has announced that the 2021 Festival will take place May 1 – 9.
Events currently being planned include:
– Tulip Time Artisan Market, May 1 & 2 at the outdoor grounds of Beechwood Church on Ottawa Beach Road (previously held at Centennial Park)
– Tulip Time Run, May 1, in person or virtual
– A new Tulip Immersion Garden, May 1 – 9, at Dunton Park on Holland’s north side
– Dutch Marktplaats, including the NEW Dutch Dance Costume Exhibit, May 1 – 8, to be held at Holland Civic Center Place
Widening the festival footprint beyond Downtown Holland and introducing timed ticketing for all events will allow guests to spread out and maintain a safe, steady flow in accordance with recommended social distancing and capacity guidelines. Details on these events and additional ticket information, including on-sale date, will be forthcoming.
According to Tulip Time organizers, the health and safety of visitors, volunteers, and community are of utmost importance, and Tulip Time will continue to follow the recommendations and directives of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, the State of Michigan and the local health department. Planning during this ever-changing landscape is challenging, but organizers are optimistic.
Many festival favorites are yet to be determined, including Dutch Dance performances, the carnival, and parades. If Tulip Time can safely host a parade, it would likely be on Saturday, May 8, with no grandstand seating available. Indoor, fixed-seated events are not planned at this time.
Tulip Time has been a tradition in Holland for over 90 years. Thousands of community members have been involved in organizing and running the annual event and hundreds of thousands of visitors plan to make it a part of their spring celebration. Millions of tulips have been planted in Holland in anticipation of the annual event.
Organizers will continue to monitor national and local directives and adapt plans accordingly. For more on Tulip Time, visit tuliptime.com, follow on Facebook, and/or the email list www.tuliptime.com/about/join-mailing-list.
