HOLLAND, Mich. — May 4 marks the opening of Tulip Time in Holland and 550,000 tulips are now in full bloom as the city prepares to welcome up to 600,000 visitors for nine days of celebration.
"We have a theme this year called Bikes and Blooms as our 95th anniversary theme," said Gwen Auwerda, executive director for Tulip Time. "It's celebrating the biking industry in The Netherlands and in our own community here, where we're really starting to have many more bicycle routes downtown, as well as an extensive bike paths and roadways on the north side of town."
Bikes are playing a key role in this year's Tulip Time, with free family bike rides and bike decorating events for children taking place on Sunday, May 5, as this year's festival will have its first ever free bike valet at 10th Street and Central Ave.
"This year, with tulip time having a bike theme, we thought it'd be a great time to introduce a bike valet," said Emily Bierma from Velo Kids, a Holland-based non-profit that looks to help children have access to bikes, and build community around bike riding and outdoor activities.
"People can leave their bikes for free, and we will have coaches and staff watching the bikes and you'll get a ticket so we can secure that your bike is there, and you'll be able to go enjoy the festivities," said Bierma. People can also make donations to support Velo Kids.
"One thing I really like to encourage people to do is to go check out our tulip immersion garden that's out at Beachwood Church on the north side of town," said Auwerda, as the attraction displays 80,000 tulips from Central Asia, adding that the location may be a prime spot for avid photo takers as the tulips are planted four feet off the ground.
Opening events on Saturday, May 4 include the Tulip Time Run, the Tulip City Open Pickleball Tournament, carnival, artisan market, along with Dutch dancing performances and lessons.
The Gentex Kinderparade will be taking place on Thursday, May 9, and the Quality Car Wash Volksparade will be on Saturday, May 11.
While the festivities have yet to fully begin, visitors from around the country and the world have begun to arrive in Holland, taking in the views early on.
"We said okay, let's go around and see what is happening, and it was a perfect time," said Rajesh Gore.
Gore was with his wife Darsjna at Windmill Island. The couple had come from Texas, and said they decided to take a trip through West Michigan on their way to pick up their daughter from university. They said the views are similar to what they saw when visiting The Netherlands.
"This is beautiful," said Richard Garrett who was visiting from Toledo, Ohio. "If you stop and think about what it would take to plant each one of these bulbs one at a time, and then the windmill itself is it's almost unbelievable."
Tresa Buskirk and Kimberli Steckbeck were visiting from Indiana and were also seeing Tulip Time for the first time.
"Beautiful, absolutely gorgeous," said Steckbeck when asked what her first impressions were. She said that it was more beautiful that what they had seen online.
"I love this park, and all the tulips and the people are so friendly here so far. Just a very beautiful place," said Buskirk.
Tulip Time will run until May 12.
More information can be found here.
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