HOLLAND, Mich. — The hottest day of the year so far did not stop crowds from arriving in Holland for the opening day of this year's Tulip Time.
At Centennial Park, locals and visitors alike took photos with the beds of tulips as many people dressed in traditional Dutch attire and iconic wooden shoes.
"All of our costumes are unique," said Heidi Allen, one of the adult performers for the Dutch Dance who was born and raised in Holland. "They're all tailor-made to that dancer, so there's really no two alike."
With Saturday marking the first official day of Tulip Time, attractions such as the carnival and the Tulip Immersion Garden opened to the public. People flocked to areas such as Centennial Park and Windmill Island to stroll around the beds of bright tulips.
For some, the Tulip Time dances and festivities may be a once-a-year thing, but for many, it's a decades-long tradition.
"This my 32nd year dancing and we just love all the all the busyness of it, and just watching everybody come down and hang out and eat good food and take pictures of our beautiful town," said Allen.
Celebrating 95 years, the theme "Bikers and Blooms" looks to honor the Dutch biking industry, featuring bike-themed sculptures, free family bike rides, and the event's first free bike valet run by local non-profit Velo Kids.
It is not lost, however, that the stars of the festival are still, of course, the tulips.
"They were absolutely beautiful," said Tiffany Curtis from Otsego. "It's a beautiful day out and we're just having a great weekend."
Organizers have said they expect over half a million people to visit Holland during the festival's nine days, as visitors from across the country began to arrive even before events officially began to get an early look.
"It's definitely interesting seeing how many people think our hometown is kind of cool," said Taylor Tilton, a Holland native who is on her third year dancing at the festival.
Holland native Kori Sheldon said her favorite thing about Tulip Time is the way it brings families together.
"All the families, all the kids that have grown up and do all the stuff they do down here, and then probably the Dutch dancing, I think that's my favorite," Sheldon said.
Allen said even wooden shoes have become an enjoyable staple for the event.
"Our shoes are just awesome, and everybody comes just to watch us," said Allen. "If you wear enough socks...I wear six pairs of socks, some people were more, some people were less, but yeah, they're they're not bad."
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