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Sunday, May 8, 2011

Tulip Time

This week is Tulip Time around here. Tulip Time is a festival that is held every May in Holland Michigan. It's a celebration of Dutch heritage and culture, celebrated with parades, costumes, Dutch Dancing, concerts, dutch food and lots of tulips!
It started Saturday and we braved the crowds to wander around. (People come from all over and it was crazy busy!)



The tulips weren't as pretty this year, because it's been so cold that many aren't open yet. However - these fields of tulips are still gorgeous!





There are people walking around in dutch costumes, and even some statues are in authentic gear!




I love the way these are planted, like a stream through the white ones. They'll be beautiful when they all open up!


This is the DeZwaan Windmill. It's an authentic, working Dutch windmill, that was built near Amsterdam in 1761. It was heavily damaged and the Dutch government sold it to the city of Holland in 1964. It was the last windmill to leave the Netherlands.
It was reconstructed and now sits on Windmill Island, which also has replicas of other historic Dutch buildings.


I'm sharing this picture to show you how large the windmill is, with it's blades showing over the trees.
I have more pictures of the village that I'll share with you tomorrow.

20 comments:

Jean said...

I love tulips! I enjoyed the connections to the Dutch heritage.

Karin said...

Fun place Mari! LOVE, LOVE, tulips! That is one giant windmill! I can imagine how much fun the celebrations is!! Have a great week!

Terra said...

I know I would love the tulip festival in Holland Michigan.

Kalli said...

I love Tulip Time! I am dutch dancing this year. We live so close that we could see the fireworks Saturday from our house. I hope you enjoyed the festival!

Darla said...

very beautiful tulips! thank you for checking on me. i have had so many intentions of catching up my blog, we opened our shop and it took away my free time for now. i am hoping to get back in the swing of things soon. thanks so much for checking on me.

Crown of Beauty said...

I never even knew there was a place called Holland in Michigan. The tulips are lovely. I hope you'll post pictures of them when they are all in full bloom.

Can't help but think that heaven must surely be a beautiful place where all the tulips in the world will be found!

Love
Lidj

Brooke said...

"not as pretty". Mari, my friend, I think you might be spoiled ;)

Shelly said...

Glad you made it out there. You are right with all the tulips not fully ready yet due to the cooler temps. I had so much fun out there taking pictures by myself. Relaxing!

Pat said...

HOw fun! I remember going there as a child and I even got a pair of wooden shoes!
We've taken our kids when they were young, and it is so worth seeing! Thanks for sharing!!

Hootin Anni said...

Isn't it beautiful?!!!! I bet the air is just filled with pleasant, beautiful scenes no matter which direction you turn.

LuAnn said...

Mari- I have been to Holland MI - and when I was little had my picture taken with the dutch people.
Very pretty - thanks for sharing.

Mitzi said...

I too live near Holland and all the tulips. There are lots to open yet, but with the warm weather coming this week it should be beautiful by next weekend. We love driving up and down the streets picking out which ones are our favorites. HAPPY SPRING!

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

Wow sweetie, what marvelous photos ya have of the tulips. 'Just beautiful!

I can't wait to see what the village has in store for us.

God bless ya and have a beautiful week sweetie!!! :o)

Penny said...

Oh, tulips are my favorite flower!! How beautiful!

Betty W said...

I love tulips too. There are many tulip farms where we lived in BC, so this reminds me of home. Beautiful!!

Mindy said...

Gorgeous pics! I love tulips.

Connie said...

Your pictures are very pretty.
Want to let you know my computer is still not working properly. I am going to take it in again and see what they can do. I'm not sure we will try this week though with all the added traffic.

Justabeachkat said...

Oh.my.word! I would LOVE to be able to attend in person, but your photos are amazing.

Hope your Mother's Day was extra special.

Hugs,
Kat

Short Stop said...

I miss Tulip Time! We loved it every year. They are still so beautiful, even with the cold weather. There is nothing like that festival!

Rebecca said...

I got to visit Holland one year....I believe it was an "off" year for the festival THAT year, too. I still enjoyed the activities around town.
We didn't pay the fee to go out to the island, but saw the windmill from a distance....

Thanks for stirring up some good memories with this post :)

OH! Those Mother's Day gifts from years past in your last post were amazing! They were certainly well chosen crafts, a little different from "typical".