Tulip Time - Holland, Michigan
N 42° 47.419 W 086° 06.434
16T E 573015 N 4737916
Tulip Time Festival is an annual festival which has been held every year in May since 1929.
Waymark Code: WMNY19
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 05/21/2015
Views: 12
The idea of Tulip Time was introduced in 1927 at a Woman’s Literary Club meeting. 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 The Netherlands.
In 1928, City council approved funding to import 100,000 tulip bulbs from the Netherlands and plant them in city parks. Because of interest shown, it was decided to make Tulip Time an annual event with Mrs. Ethel Telling as the first chairman. Under Mrs. Telling’s leadership, the Festival was organized emphasizing Dutch costumes and wooden shoes. The revival of old Netherlands customs and traditions naturally followed, and visitors and townsfolk found the Festival both unique and picturesque.
It was in 1933 that Ether Perry, a high school girls gym teacher, trained the Dutch Villagers, later known as Klompen Dancers, to perform Dutch folk dances. There were 12 dancers that first year, and they danced to “Where, Oh Where, Has My Little Dog Gone?” The number of dancers has grown to around 1,400, including approximately 675 alumni dancers.
Authenticity of the dancers Dutch Costumes has been a major priority since the early years. One of the early operettas had costumes of the musical comedy type, delft blue skirts, bodices, white organdy caps and aprons. The switch to authentic costumes, many of them with black skirts and aprons, seemed dull at first, but costumes of other provinces with more colors were added providing much more diversity.
How many days does the festival last?: 8
Admission Price: 0.00 (listed in local currency)
National, County, or City Festival?: City
Coordinates Location:: 8th street and Central avenue (Evening Dutch Dansing location)
Website:: [Web Link]
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Visit Instructions:
You must visit the festival at the time of the event. You must post a picture of the festival as it is going on, or a picture of a sign or banner promoting the festival.