Countdown to Tulip Time 2024

According to this 2024 The Grand Tourist interview with tulip expert Polly Nicolson, there are more than 2,500 tulip bulbs on the market at any time. Her new book, “The Tulip Garden,” describes the many colorful varieties as well as the history of tulip gardens and how the Netherlands became the biggest producer of the flowers. Each tulip color offers up a special meaning: red equals love and yellow symbolizes sunshine and happiness, while a pink tulip offers good wishes. But for those interested in tulips, nothing beats seeing them for yourself and taking in their dazzling colors with your own eyes. And what better place to see a tulip’s beauty than at Iowa’s own Dutch celebration — Tulip Time! and yellow symbolizes sunshine and happiness, while a pink tulip offers good wishes. But for those interested in tulips, nothing beats seeing them for yourself and taking in their dazzling colors with your own eyes. And what better place to see a tulip’s beauty than at Iowa’s own Dutch celebration — Tulip Time!

Tulip Time Events

The Tulip Time Festival in Pella, Iowa takes place each spring, welcoming many visitors to its Pella Historical Village along Franklin Street. This year’s event takes place Thursday, May 2 through Saturday, May 4, and the celebration is where “Everything’s Coming Up Tulips!” This year’s schedule of events includes tickets for the Historical Village and Vermeer Windmill Tour, where visitors can see the Vermeer Windmill, Wyatt Earp’s boyhood home, the Dutch Bakery, more than 45,000 tulips planted throughout the Village and so much more. Check out the Pella Historical Society website for all of the details.

This year, hear live musical acts like Bridges 2 Harmony Gospel Choir, Pella Community High School Jazz and even country music artist Jason Brown. Don’t forget to attend two parades each day of Tulip Time, including at 2:45 p.m. (the Volks parade) and 8:30 p.m. (the lighted parade), or catch a performance at Klokkenspel every 30 minutes during the festival.

Other activities taking place during the festival include city tours, an all-ages show at the Pella Opera House, a Flower Farmer Speaker Series, organ recitals at Second Reformed Church and more. There are pop-up performances, a “Greetings from Tulip Time” mural, a Dutch Craft Market taking place at West Market Park and an opportunity to try Dutch items at food booths across the festival area, too. For the most up-to-date information, see the Tulip Time schedule or purchase your tickets here.

You can also learn more at visitpella.com.

Don’t miss these three days of color and beauty in Iowa!

The Greater Des Moines Partnership calendar of events is a one-stop resource for activities taking place throughout the region. Find networking information for Greater Des Moines (DSM) businesses, including Chamber luncheons, roundtables and ribbon cuttings. You can also find live music happening each week thanks to the “Live Music This Week in DSM” blog series.