Weekend Trip Advice for Tulip Festival Holland, Michigan

History: Tulip Festival at Holland Michigan is named Reader's Digest's "Best Small Town Festival"! Visitors from all over the world come to see millions of tulips planted in parks, gardens, and lanes throughout the Holland community. It is one of the top 5 safest cities in US as per Forbes magazine. Also, voted as the Happiest city in US.

When: First week of May. For the year 2010 Tulip Festival is May1-8.This is a festival where they celebrate their culture, heritage and beauty. This festival is being celebrated from past 80 years.

What to expect: Millions of Tulips in varied colors at Farms and in Tulip Lanes and throughout downtown. Trolley tours which last about 75 minutes to various locations, Parades, Dutch dance performances at multiple times at multiple locations, Theatre, Concerts, Dutch Food, Children's Events, Art and Craft Fair, Carnival, Fireworks, Lot of people and lot of things to do.

Visitor Center: Holland Area Convention & Visitors Bureau at 76E. 8th Street Holland, MI 49423 Contact Wendy Link, Director of Sales at wendy@holland.org for Tulip Time festival planner,lodging information, and Holland's official visitor guide is also available. Phone 800-506-1299 or 616-394-0000 fax 616-394-0122

www.holland.travel

Event Calendar:

tuliptime.com/events

Restaurants:

tuliptime.com/dining

Dining Options in Downtown area: holland.org/sections/32~1 Do not forget to enjoy Dutch delicacies like Saucijzenbroodjes (pigs in a blanket), Erwtensoep (pea

soup), and Speculaasjes (spiced cookies)

Online Brochure:

tuliptime.com/files/brochures/TulipTimeSpring2010.pdf

Holland Visitor's Guide

http://hollandsentinel.mi.newsmemory.com/special.php?pSetup=hollandsentinel_allaboutholland

Area Map:

http://holland.org/assets/0000/5466/Tulips_in_Holland_2010.pdf

Weather:

weather.com/weather/weekend/49423

Things to do at the Tulip Festival

-Trolley Tours

Tickets are sold on a same-day basis, beginning 30 minutes prior to the first run. Purchasing tickets early in the morning of, is highly recommended. Tours depart approximately every half hour and are 75 minutes in length. Some trolleys are handicap accessible. Adults $13, Children $6 (ages 5-12).

For more on trolley tours visit tuliptime.com/tulip-trolley-tours

holland.org/locations/75-tulip-time-festival-inc

tuliptime.com

-Where to see Tulips :

1. Biggest farm Veldheer Tulip with about 5.5 million tulips at 12755 Quincy Street, 49424, 40 acres. 4 Miles North of Holland, Michigan on U.S. 31 Open 8am to 7 pm. You can also see Wooden Shoe factory and the only original Delftware factory in US. For more information veldheer.com

2. Windmill Island Gardens 150,000 tulips at 1 Lincoln Avenue 49423. You must see the 249 year old windmill DeZwaan, magnificent gardens and do not forget to check out the trade fair held in the shadow of DeZwaan during the first weekend of the festival. Tulip time timings 9am to 6pm, Entrance fee $7.50 for Adults and $4.50 for Youth 4-15.An authentic Dutch Lunch will be served during the Tulip Time Festival on May 1, and May 3-8. Lunch includes a choice of 2 soups, 3 breads, and 3 desserts. The cost is only $5.00 For More information go to windmillisland.org

3. Tulip Lanes 143,600 tulips Six miles of curbside plantings wind through Holland's

neighborhoods, including the historic district. There are several small parks and special plantings along the route.The most picturesque portion of the lanes features 25,500

tulips nestled under beautiful flowering kwanzan cherry,crab and plum trees along the boulevards of Washington Avenue and 12th Street.

-Dutch Dance Schedule: http://www.tuliptime.com/dutch-dance-schedule

-Neli's Dutch Village -Dutch Village Theme Park: At Corner of US-31 at James 12350 James Street Holland, Michigan 49424. Admission fee: Adults $10.00, Seniors $9.00, Children (3-15) $7.00It has buildings of authentic Dutch architecture, brick walkways, canals , gardens , special presentations showing life in Netherlands in 1800s. It also has shops having unusual items including Dutch Delftware. Candle carving and peting zoo are among other attractions in this Dutch Village Theme Park.

dutchvillage.com/park/activities.html

- Tulip Time Arts and Craft Fair: Free admission to 130 juried exhibitors displaying original crafts at Centennial Park 250 Central Ave. Holland, MI 49423 May 1^st : 10:00am to 5:00pm For more information on this go to http://www.tuliptime.com/art-amp-craft-fair

-Downtown Holland

If you have time check out the Holland Museum, Cappon House, and Settler's House, shopping at the Dutch MarktPlaats and explore authentic Dutch architecture.

-Parades You can enjoy3 parades :The street-scrubbing Volksparade; the

Kinderparade with thousands of children dressed in Dutch costumes; and the Muziekparade

with over 40 marching bands. Check out the time and venue at event calendar mentioned above.

-Live Band and Fireworks

Enjoy the live Band (6.30pm to 10.00pm and then 10.30pm-11.00pm) and spectacular fireworks (10pm) at Kollen Park. Musical performance by "Inner Disance". FREE. Food is available at park. West 10th Street And Van Raalte Avenue, Holland, MI, 49423 or 240 Kollen Park Dr. Holland, MI 49423 Admission: Free

http://holland.org/locations/322-kollen-park

Places to Stay

Lot of options of stay are available in terms of hotels, bed and breakfast and camping.

http://holland.org/sections/21-bed-and-breakfasts

http://holland.org/sections/19-stay

Eventhough there are lot of options for stay, but if you are planning last minute you might want to check vacation rentals at http://holland.craigslist.org/vac/ as other things might have been already booked.

Festival Videos

Still need more information, check this out. The Holland-based Grooters Productions produced this 4 minute video. It will give you a quick glance of what to expect there. http://holland.org/sections/75-holland-video

This will definitely make your weekend very entertaining and eventful.

Other Attractions while you are there

If time permits you might want to see Holland State Park,Holland's Big Red, the most often photographed lighthouse in Michigan, GRAND RAPIDS area - (31 miles east of Holland) Frederik Meijer Gardens,Gerald R. Ford Museum, Van Andel Museum, Grand Rapids Art Museum,and Van Andel Arena.Saugatuck area -Saugatuck dunes ride. Lovely beaches. The world's largest freshwater dunes line the shores of Lake Michigan.

Road trip advice

planning-fun-road-trips.com/free-road-trip-plan-summer1.html

Remember Holland is in Eastern time zone.

Tune your dial to CB/Channel 9 or 530 AM for information about local traffic patterns. For both entering and touring the area, it is recommended to use 16th, 24th or 32nd Streets rather than 8th Street. Use Pine or Van Raalte Avenues to exit town.

Mileage to Holland Michigan

Chicago, IL:146 miles
Detroit, MI: 173 miles
Grand Rapids,MI: 31 miles
Indianapolis, IN : 220 miles