HOLLAND, Mich.(WZMQ) – Millions of tulips are almost ready to blossom in Holland, Michigan. May 2-11, the city will welcome over 600,000 visitors for a week full of Dutch dance performances, guided tulip tours, and artisan markets for guests to browse.
The flower beds are still looking a little green in downtown Holland, but in just one month, they’ll be blossoming with millions of colorful tulips.
Gwen Auwerda, the executive director of Tulip Time, said planning for this year’s festivities began before last year’s festival even started. Auwerda and her team work year-round to organize parade routes, secure vendors, and plan the events for the week-long spring celebration. Even the star of the show, the colorful tulips, are planted nine months in advance.
Holland’s parks and recreation department orders the bulbs in from the Netherlands in June. They arrive in mid-September and take 3 months to plant with the help of hundreds of volunteers.
The city showcases about 90 different varieties around downtown and throughout its parks. As planners wait for warm weather to open up the tulips, they are wrapping up the final details to ensure a smooth week for the over 600,000 expected visitors.
The Tulilp Time organizers recommend buying any tickets in advance and securing your plans to see this year’s crop of beautiful tulips.
You can find a list of events and purchase tickets online at tuliptime.com.
