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Tulip Time 2023 will be held May 6-14. View the 2023 Tulip Time website here!
Where: Holland, MI
When: Mid-May
Fees: Free to view the public tulip displays. Various fees for extras, such as preferred seating, food/beverage, tours, etc. Find more information on the Tulip Time website.
Each May since 1929, the city of Holland, MI, has blossomed into a colorful tapestry of tulips. The city boasts tulips of every color and variety you can imagine. Literally millions of tulips line the streets, burst out of every park, and greet you on every single corner of this enchanting little town. The Holland Tulip Time Festival is quite simply a feast for the eyes, and as we have found, an experience that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and interests.
Before you assume a flower festival is only something for your sweet little grandmother or the botanically inclined, consider the fact that this festival, while certainly gorgeous, offers a lot more than just beautiful flowers. Some of the other experiences include:
- multiple parades
- Dutch dance demonstrations
- kids activities
- live music
- handmade crafts and artistry
- photography walks
- a carnival
- Dutch cuisine
There really is a little something for everyone at Tulip Time. Continue reading to learn everything you need to know for a fantastic trip to Holland’s Tulip Time festival!
Our first experience at this event was in 2019, which just happened to be the event’s 90th anniversary. We really didn’t know what to expect, so we didn’t plan too much ahead of time, other than our hotel, which was the Holiday Inn Express. We have attended the festival since then and usually choose to stay at the Holiday Inn.
We usually stay two nights and explore for about two and a half days, which is plenty of time to see numerous attractions. However, we also know others who spend the entire week and participate in almost all of the activities throughout the week. There is plenty to keep you busy, trust us. Our travel group has included all adults on occasion as well as trips with young children, including infants and preschoolers. There is always plenty for each age range to see!
We like to arrive on Friday morning for a long weekend stay. It does tend to be busier on the weekends, though, so keep that in mind if you are looking for less crowds. When we first arrive, we drive around town a bit to get a feel for things, check into the hotel, and eat lunch at a local restaurant such as Big Lake Brewing. Big Lake is conveniently located about a 10-minute walk from Riverview Park, a great stop to see the flowers. Another delicious lunch location we have enjoyed is Hops at 84 East.
One of our first stops whenever we explore Tulip Time is Riverview/Window on the Waterfront Park. This was our first real glimpse at the sheer expanse of tulips that blanket Holland, and it is spectacular to see! Fields of tulips shine from every corner of the park, in every color and variety you can imagine.
In 2019, we also had fun searching for the various sets of Dutch clogs around town that were decorated by local artists, known as Klompen Garden. In 2022, world renowned Dutch horticulturist, Ibo Gülsen, presented the Tulip Immersion Garden. Art installations and special exhibits vary from year to year, so it’s always a good idea to check out the Tulip Time website before your trip! Another fun pastime is seeking the lovely statues perched around town.
After perusing the tulips, another nearby stop in the Window on the Waterfront Park is the boardwalk area overlooking Lake Macatawa. The view is spectacular.
A must-see of any trip to Tulip Time is Windmill Island Gardens. It’s about a 20-minute walk from Riverview Park to the inside of Windmill Island Gardens, and walking can sometimes be necessary if the parking lot is full at the gardens. The walk can be a little awkward, as some of it consists of just walking on the side of their entry road, with cars passing and not too much to look at. The gardens can be very busy on weekends and peak times of day. We would definitely suggest strollers for children.
Windmill Island Gardens is a seasonal attraction that features tulip gardens, a 250-year-old windmill, a carousel and various other celebrations of Dutch heritage. The park is generally open seven days a week, mid-April through early October, from 9:30 am to 6 pm, with last tickets sold at 5 pm. They have extended hours during Tulip Time as well.
Before our first visit, we were not sure if this experience would be worth the cost, but we were pleasantly surprised at the lovely and relaxing atmosphere of the gardens. The carousel is free to ride as many times as you would like, and there is also a nice playground located behind it. The rest of the park is filled with flowers, Dutch-themed buildings, and employees dressed in Dutch attire. There are also a few stands selling food and drinks, as well as various shops. Be sure to stop into a shop and purchase a bouquet of wooden tulips or clogs to take home as souvenirs. The wooden tulips are a beautiful reminder of your trip!
Another prime location for tulip viewing is downtown’s Centennial Park. We drive the Tulip Lanes, specific streets throughout Holland lined with tulips, before parking near Centennial. The Tulip Lanes feature more than 250,000 tulips planted along six miles of Holland’s most picturesque neighborhoods.
Centennial Park is a well-kept, Victorian-era park with brick paths, a gazebo, a Dutch fountain, and a little pond. As you walk, you may see tours make their way through the parks. The tours are excellent opportunities to get a little taste of Holland trivia while taking in the sights.
In addition to the beautiful tulips, Holland also offers several child-oriented parks, such as the playground at Kollen Park and the playground at Holland State Park. While visiting Holland State Park, take a stroll up to the Big Red Lighthouse and admire the lovely view of the beach and lake.
Another non-tulip site that is worth a visit while you are in town is Mount Pisgah. The top of the mount sits 157 feet above Lake Michigan and is accessible via boardwalk and wooden stairs—quite a few of them, but they are worth the climb! The worthy climber enjoys breathtaking views of Lake Macatawa, Lake Michigan and the Big Red lighthouse.
Be sure to check out a Tall Ship Dockside Tour, if you get the chance. The ships are located at the Boatwerks East Dock (which also offers a lovely Mother’s Day brunch, if you happen to be visiting over that weekend). The ships look just like you imagine they would have looked when the originals were built. Various guides offer a lot of knowledge about what it would have been like to travel on one.
At some point during your trip, you will want to make your way back downtown to scope out a place to watch a parade. We like to grab lunch somewhere nearby, such as New Holland Pub on 8th street. The pub’s outdoor patio is spacious and lively, with a convenient patio bar. We really enjoy the food here, and we are also grateful for a good-sized kid’s menu.
Before the parade starts, it’s also nice to shop around downtown for a while, enjoying the local attractions and of course more tulips! Make your way through the gathering crowd to a nearby souvenir boutique. Cherry Republic is always a must-visit. We also like to grab some fudge to snack on at Kilwins or chocolates and roasted nuts from the Holland Peanut Store.
After strolling downtown, take time to rest for a while and enjoy Dutch dancing and a parade. The parade route can become pretty crowded, but you should be able to find a comfortable spot to watch, even if you arrive late. We suggest finding a spot near where the dance demonstrations will be taking place. Tulip Time offers numerous chances to see Dutch dancers and parades. We have attended the final parade of the week, the Muziekparade or “Music Parade,” which features bands, colorful floats, and Dutch dancers. The dance demonstrations are really neat. The participants are fully decked in traditional Dutch attire, and they all seem very skilled at the dances.
The parade is lively and entertaining. One parade tip: you will not be able to cross the street once the parade begins, and the parade goes on for quite a while. Be sure you sit on the same side of the street that you parked on in case you need to leave early or want to get a head start driving out of town! We didn’t think about this while we were shopping and ended up finding a spot to sit on the opposite side of the street from where we parked. When a few of the children in our group started to get cranky and wanted to leave, we weren’t able to get to our car until after the parade was over.
If you have any extra time after visiting the tulip-related festivities, some of our favorite diversions include wine slushies from Warner Vineyards, drinks at Our Brewing Company, and even a game of bowling at BAM! Entertainment Center.
Before bidding farewell to Holland, we suggest you enjoy a delicious breakfast at Deboer Bakkerij, a local favorite with generous portions and delectable sweet and savory breakfast entrees. We love waking up early the Sunday we leave and making this our last meal in Holland. Then we bid those beautiful tulips farewell, until our next trip to Tulip Time!
There is so much more to do in Holland, and visitors could definitely spend more time should they wish. Some of the activities on our bucket list for our future Tulip Time experiences include:
- Tulip Time Photo Walk (these book up quickly!)
- Festival Art Exhibit
- A beer-related festival event
- Taste of Holland Dinner
- Lindy Lou Cruise
- Artisan Market
Other area attractions we would like to see:
- Plan Ahead: Some events and activities fill up quickly, like the photo walk and grandstand reserved seating for the parades. For your Tulip Time visit, you may want to reserve some of these things in advance.
- Book Early: The Tulip Time festival draws more than 500,000 people annually, so hotels and rental houses fill up quickly. We recommend booking about 6-12 months in advance to be sure you can stay in Holland, as opposed to a suburb.
- Enjoy the Free Attractions: Tulip Time offers so many different activities and experiences, but one of the best aspects is that so much can be done for free. From the parades to the Dutch dancing to, of course, the tulips themselves, you can really enjoy so much while spending very little.
- Know Where to Skimp and Where to Splurge: Because we are there mainly to see the tulips, it makes sense for our group to skip the Tulip Time carnival and grandstand seats at the parades, which both cost us extra. Instead, we decide to spend our money on a trip to Windmill Island Gardens, dinners and drinks, or purchasing lovely souvenirs.
- Pick Your Transport: The free tour buses/trolleys seemed really handy, but we actually haven’t need them. We are able to find parking throughout most of the city and just park the car and walk the rest of the time. However, if you think you will want to use these services, you will want to research the routes ahead of time and know where to catch the bus.
- Don’t Miss the Golden Hours: If you enjoy taking photos, or if you are just looking to experience the tulips in the best light, get out in the early morning or evening when the light is soft and the flowers are beautifully lit!
- Take a Taste of The Netherlands Home: After experiencing the unique culture and beauty of Holland, be sure to take a little piece of Tulip Time home with you. We fell in love with the wooden tulips we found at Windmill Gardens, but there is certainly a wide array of Dutch and tulip-themed merchandise available throughout the city.
We hope you enjoy your visit to Tulip Time!
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