The 85th annual Orange City Tulip Festival officially begins this week in Orange City, with the Tulip Festival Night Show on Tuesday evening ahead of the festival’s traditional Thursday-through-Saturday run.
Festival Chair Jennie Droog says this year’s tulip bloom is a little different than usual because of weather conditions earlier this spring, but visitors will still have plenty of color to enjoy throughout town.
The festival comes after an unusually warm early spring that caused some tulips to bloom earlier than normal. Droog says that unpredictability is simply part of working with nature each year.
Windmill Park Renovation Adds New Attraction
One of the major additions for this year’s festival is the newly renovated Windmill Park, which features updated landscaping, sculptures, and gathering spaces.
Droog says even if some tulips in that area bloom early, visitors will still have plenty to experience.
The renovated park also ties into several new features planned for the 85th anniversary celebration, including a live painting event during ArtBurst and a new parade float connected to the park’s restoration and Diamond Vogel’s 100th anniversary.
New Features Join Longtime Traditions
Alongside the familiar parades, Dutch dancing, food vendors, wooden shoe-carving demonstrations, and nightly performances, organizers are introducing several new features this year.
Among them:
•A new regional Dutch costume for the festival court
•A new “Klederdracht Tea” cultural presentation
•A live painting event during ArtBurst
•Friday night fireworks
•New art displays tied to the 85th anniversary celebration
Droog says the festival continues to balance new experiences with longtime traditions.
That combination of heritage, entertainment, food, and community involvement is part of what continues drawing thousands of visitors to Orange City every May. Droog says the event also depends heavily on volunteers.
Noting that there are more than 1,000 volunteers involved in various aspects of the festival.
Festival Schedule Highlights
Tuesday – May 12
6:30 p.m. — Night Show: Anastasia
Wednesday – May 13
4:30 p.m. — Cruise-In Car Show
5:00 p.m. — Food Vendors Open
6:00 p.m. — Tulip Festival Ride Night
8:00 p.m. — Night Show
Thursday – May 14
Highlights include:
1:00 p.m. — Straat Feest, Street Scrubbing & Volksparade
6:00 p.m. — Evening Volksparade
Carnival Rides
Tulip Talks in Windmill Park
Dutch Dozen performances
Wooden Shoe Carving Demonstrations
Craft Show & Straatmarkt
Horse-Drawn Trolley Tours
8:00 — Night Show
Friday – May 15
Highlights include:
1:00 p.m. — Straat Feest, Street Scrubbing & Volksparade
6:00 p.m. — Evening Volksparade
ArtBurst opens
Tulip Talks
Dutch Street Organ
Klederdracht Tea
Entertainment in the Street
Fireworks
8:00 — Night Show
Saturday – May 16
Highlights include:
7:00 a.m. — Fly-In Breakfast (Sioux County Regional Airport)
1:00 p.m. — Straat Feest, Street Scrubbing & Volksparade
6:00 p.m. — Evening Volksparade
Tour de Tulips Bicycle Ride
Tulip Festival Road Race
Carnival Rides
Street Entertainment
ArtBurst
8:00 — Night Show
Sunday – May 17
Community Worship Service at 11 a.m. at Windmill Park (Rain Location: First Reformed Church, 420 Central Avenue NW)
Additional schedules, ticket information, and festival details are available through the official Orange City Tulip Festival website.
Listen to our conversation with Jennie on The Daily Grind.
