Holland Tulip Festival

Come Early For The Tulips, Come Back For The Festival!

Holland, MI – The unprecedented warm weather in West Michigan has everything blooming well ahead of schedule – including the tulips. But instead of disappointment, the Holland community sees this as a tremendous opportunity to lengthen the annual celebration of tulips.

Come early for the tulips!
There is still no better destination than Holland, Michigan for a day-trip or weekend getaway over the next several weeks leading up to and including the week of the Tulip Time Festival. During the month of April, visitors will experience all the beauty millions of tulips has to offer. Although no one can predict the weather and its affect on the sprouting tulips, it is estimated that the flowers will peak by mid-April.

To incent early travel, Holland area attractions are opening early and some are offering special discounts. In addition, select hotels are offering deals during the month of April. Details are available by visiting www.holland.org and clicking on the Deals & Discounts button on their home page, or by calling 616-394-0000.

Come back for the festival!
All this tulip splendor is capped off by the Tulip Time Festival which runs May 5 – 12. Opening weekend of the festival includes the Tulip Time Run, the opening of the Meijer Midway Carnival, an Art & Craft Fair second to none, and festivities concluding with musical performances and fireworks. The fun and excitement continues throughout the week with national and local performances, three signature parades featuring a few surprises, and over one thousand dancers dressed in authentic Dutch costumes and wooden shoes, high-kicking their way through traditional dances. If it’s genuine Dutch souvenirs you seek, you can find them at the Dutch Marktplaats along with food, art, Dutch heritage performances and demonstrations including wooden shoe carving.

“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.” Don’t miss the chance to “Join the Dance” and be a part of the festival consistently named as one of North America’s Top 100 Events.

Tulip Time Festival 2012 is May 5 – 12. To request a brochure or purchase tickets, call 800.822.2770. Detailed program and event information, as well as online ticket purchase for the coming festival, is available by visiting www.tuliptime.com.

###