Tulip Time Festival

[[Image:Holland MI Tulips 03.jpg|thumb|Tulips line the streets]] '''Tulip Time Festival''' is an annual festival held in [[Holland, Michigan]]. [[Tulip festival]]s are held in many cities around the United States of America that were founded or largely inhabited by [[Dutch people|Dutch]] [[Dutch Americans|settlers]]. It has been held every year in mid-May since [[1929]] and is currently the largest [[tulip]] festival in the [[United States]]. The festival currently runs from the first Saturday in May through the second Saturday. Activities at the celebration include three [[parade]]s, [[fireworks]], a Dutch Market, various shows and concerts, a craft fair, [[clogs|klompen]] dancing, and street scrubbing. The city of Holland has thousands of [[tulip]]s lining the streets and in special tulip gardens throughout the city. It has been ranked as America's third largest town festival and named [[Reader's Digest]]'s best small town festival. ==History== Tulip Time's roots can be traced to a [[1927]] community beautification project. Lida Rogers, a biology teacher at Holland High School, suggested Holland adopt the tulip as its flower due to the city's close ties to [[Netherlands|The Netherlands]]. [[File:Holland MI Tulips 02.jpg|thumb|left|Tulip bed in downtown]] In [[1928]], City council approved funding to import 100,000 tulip bulbs from the Netherlands and plant them in city parks. The next year, the city invited visitors to come during the week including May 15. The success prompted an annual event to be born. During [[World War II]], Tulip Time was scaled back, returning with a four day festival in [[1946]]. The [[1947]] festival was geared towards celebrating Holland, Michigan's centennial. A tradition was started that year when Michigan's governor, [[Kim Sigler]], donned a [[Dutch cap|Dutch costume]] and took part in the festivities. As America celebrated its [[United States Bicentennial|bicentennial]] in [[1976]], Tulip Time was honored with the presence of President [[Gerald R. Ford]]. In 1991, Tulip Time expanded from four to ten days. In 2001, the festival was shortened to eight days and moved up a week to better coincide with when the tulips were in bloom. A [[carnival]] was added in [[2003]]. In 2008, the outdoor concert series, renamed Tulipalooza, was moved to the Sixth Street Stage at 6th street and College Ave. The outdoor venue was perfect for bringing in many visitors and featured concerts by "That 80's Band", "Bronk Brothers", "Fun In The Sun Band", "Shirey Brothers", "Jimmie Stagger", Lakeshore Idol Winner "LaSondra Leffler" and many more. ==Performances and Appearances== The Tulip Time festival has hosted performances and appearances by many well known artists and public figures. 2000 featured a concert by pop star [[Christina Aguilera]]. 2001 had a concert by the boy band [[O-Town]]. 2006 featured performances by [[Frankie Avalon]], [[The Oak Ridge Boys]], [[Jars of Clay]] and AG Silver. 2007 hosted [[Bruce Hornsby]]. 2008 featured entertainment included [[Jonny Lang]], [[Tony Orlando]], and [[Ronnie Milsap]]. 2009 featured [[Jan Mulder]], [[1964 The Tribute]], [[Bobby Vinton]], and [[The Oak Ridge Boys]]. 2010 featured [[The Coasters]], [[Drifters]], & [[Platters]], [[Starship (band)|Starship]] featuring [[Mickey Thomas (singer)]], and a seminar by former [[Blackwater Worldwide]] CEO and Holland native [[Erik Prince]]. ==Rating== In [[2004]], ''[[Reader's Digest]]'' rated the festival as the best small town festival in the USA. ==External links== {{commons}} *[http://www.tuliptime.com Official Tulip Time Festival Website] *[http://www.tuliptime.org/festival-history/ Tulip Time History] *[http://www.holland.org Official website of Holland, Michigan] {{coord missing|Michigan}}