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Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Tulip Time

Since 1927, Holland, Michigan has hosted the Tulip Time Festival, which celebrates it's Dutch history and culture. People come from all over the country to see the tulips, dutch dancers and have fun. Today Cheri, Heather and I went to Holland and took pictures to share with you.
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There are thousands of tulips lining the streets and in planters throughout the city. They plant them to bloom at various times to ensure that there will be blooms during the festival.





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There are different things going on all over. This man was playing his banjo on the side of the street. The Dutch dancers are always popular. These are mostly high school students who do authentic Dutch dancing in full costume, which includes wooden shoes. We didn't see them today.
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Where else would you see a sign like this on a store entry?


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One of my favorite things is seeing people of all ages in the Dutch costumes.


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Our last stop was the DeZwaan Windmill. We didn't tour it because we were too cheap to pay the $7 apiece for the entry, but it is neat to see. It's an authentic working windmill and is the only one in the US that was exported out of the Netherlands. It's 245 years old and is 12 stories high.

We had fun at Tulip Time - hope you did too!


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25 comments:

Unknown said...

Wow so pretty . I love tulips so much , I have some but these ars so very pretty . I wish I could have been there , would have been fun . The way they dress up is great . We have a Swiss Festable in out state , people dress up swiss style . Even a lot of homes are Swiss style . It's in Sugercreek , Ohio . I'd love to go there some day again .
Mary

Unknown said...

Would you believe I have never been to this event?? I guess I'm really not very Dutch. Glad you had fun

LuAnn said...

Me again, did you buy any wooden shoes? ha ha

Anonymous said...

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I'm going to personally extend that to the mothers of single soldiers as well. Hugs to you and yours.

Bonnie said...

That is a really neat festival !! Plenty of opportunity to take flower photos !!!

Andrew Bruins said...

How come we never went to the tulip festival when I was home but the minute I leave you decide it would be fun to do. I see how it is.

Lara said...

I would love to go to that festival. And I love tulips. I've never been to the Netherlands but I have a cousin living there and she has sent us beautiful photos.
I'm sure you had a good time.
And I didn't know Michiga had so much Dutch people and history. A new lesson to be learned: the history of Michigan!!!

Hootin Anni said...

My mother in law was born in Michigan, and I've been to Holland Michigan....and I KNOW just how beautiful the town is in the Spring.

Your photo share is super Mari.

Susan said...

One of the highlights of our travels was attending the Tulip Festival in Pella, Iowa.
Susan

Raise Them Up said...

Oh, I love that windmill! I would love to visit there and see all the flowers sometime. Sounds like a neat place!

Cheri said...

It was a very fun day. I can't find my cable so I can't get my pictures off my camera :(

septembermom said...

What a fun and interesting event! You know how I love tulips. I wish I could have gone too :) Thanks.

Diane said...

You probably already know this but I grew up in Drenthe, went to Zeeland Chr. School, then on to Holland Chr. HS, and yes... danced two years while in HS and I think 2 years in alumni. It was a lot of fun and I enjoyed living in Holland while we were there but I sure don't miss the traffic and the crazy drivers!!!! :)

Do you remember if that store with the sign had carpeting? Wooden shoes are nasty on carpeting since they leave splinters! Oh yeah... when I wore wooden shoes I also wore about 9 pair of socks! :)

Cherdecor said...

That has to be the prettiest festival ever!

All My Blessings said...

How brave of you ladies to go to the festival. I do believe that I would have spent the $7 for the windmill tour....I'm glad you guys had a good time. :) Kae

Growin' With It said...

love all that heritage!

Brooke said...

that windmill would be awesome to tour - but i agree $7 is expensive!

Sandra said...

How awesome, I LOVE tulips. LOL love the wooden shoes sign.

Justabeachkat said...

I'm finally back from my blog vacation and having fun catching up with everyone.

I sure would love to attend this festival. What fun!

I loved seeing the video of the Sound of Music. It put a smile on my face.

Hugs!
Kat

Anonymous said...

Probably won't make it, but I do love the dancers and the tulips. We went with Lindsey and Beto a couple of years ago and Beto was amazed at the costumes and dutch dance.

Thanks for sharing your photos!

Cindy said...

what a great time-love the tulips! Also the pictures of the different people are great!

A Stone Gatherer said...

Steve and the kids went to the fireworks last friday! He wants to do something else there before it ends! I think I would just like to see the tulips!

Kathi~Lavender, Lace and Thyme said...

What an amazing, fun time! I am half German half Dutch :). I have wooden shoes but not to wear :)

Kim said...

I loved the Tulip Festival! Loved seeing the photos...brought back some very happy memories :-) I just flat like western Michigan. Saugatuck is a lot of fun too. But my absolute favorite place is Ludington. Friends have a cottage on the lake that they let us use and just thinking about it lifts my spirits.

Megan Cobb said...

Beautiful! And next time go ahead and pay the $7 and write it off as a business expense. Your readers (namely this one) would love to have seen pictures from that tour. What a beautiful windmill it is though. And the tulips - just breathtaking. :)