Pella, Ottawa, Holland Celebrate Tulip Festivals This Spring

Tulip festivals across North America are ushering in spring with celebrations of Dutch heritage, community spirit, and historical remembrance. In Holland, Michigan, the 96th annual Tulip Time Festival offers ten days of events, Dutch dancing, and millions of tulips throughout the city, culminating in a concert by Rodney Atkins. Pella, Iowa's 90th Tulip Time begins with the coronation of the Tulip Queen and features parades, tours, and festivities despite downtown road closures. New York City's West Side Community Garden showcased over a hundred tulip varieties during its April festival, emphasizing community renewal and volunteerism. Ottawa's Canadian Tulip Festival, running May 9–19, commemorates the 80th anniversary of VE Day and Canada's role in liberating the Netherlands, highlighted by participation from Canadian war veterans and representatives from the Dutch royal family, though Princess Margriet had to cancel her visit due to health reasons. The festival features concerts, vintage military vehicles, and a 1945-themed closing party, reinforcing the tulip as a symbol of international friendship and remembrance.