If you want to see endless fields of colorful tulips in bloom head to Michigan’s Holland Tulip Festival this spring! This celebration of the area’s Dutch rootsis the highlight of spring in west Michigan, and has been named one of the best flower festivals in the country!
2023 Holland Tulip TimeFestival
May 6 – May 14, 2023
Downtown HollandMI
Table Of Contents
- Complete 2023 Holland Tulip FestivalGuide
- Tips for VisitingTulip Time: Tulip TimeEvents, Activities and Best Things to See and Do
- Where to See the Most Tulips at the Holland's Tulip TimeFestival
- Drive Tulip Lane
- Use the Tulip Tracker to Watch as the Holland Tulips Bloom
- Where to Eat During the Holland TulipFestival
Complete 2023 Holland Tulip FestivalGuide
It’s one of the top annual eventsin Michigan and one you won’t want to miss, especially in 2023. The tulips in Holland Michiganpromise to be prettier than ever, thanks to a wet early spring!
The popular festival attracts visitors from all over the world, who flock to this charming town to see more than five million tulipsblooming in a sea of color.
PRO-TIP: Sure, you”ll be able to see tulips in downtown Holland, but you’ll also want to head to other spots throughout the area too see tulips.We’ve also included an interactive map of Tulip Time activities and a link to the tulip tracker to see them bloom in realtime!
Celebrate Dutch Heritage at the Holland Tulip Festival
Holland’s richDutch heritageis in full bloom at this flower festival, too. You’ll be able to see an authentic Dutchwindmill, catch a Dutch danceor two, and maybe even try on a wooden shoe!There are even opportunities to buy some of Holland’s famous tulips, in case you want to bring a beautiful tulipor two home with you.
There is a lot to see and do duringthe Tulip Time Festival. The activities and events are held within a four-mile radius ofdowntown Holland, so you’ll want to plan your visit carefully to maximize your own tulip time!
From parades, events, carnival rides, dancing and music, there are tons of fun things to do for kids of all ages here.
We’ve prepared a locals guideto the best things to see and do at Holland’s Tulip Fesitval. Use thisMichigan Travel Guideto findfestival eventsand findtips for visitingTulip Time, including where to see the most tulips and more must-visit spots around Holland, MI.
About the 2023 Holland Tulip Festival
Holland’s Tulip TimeFestival is one of the top tulip festivalsin the world, with more than five million tulip bulbsin bloom throughout the city. Throughout the festival, you’ll find daily flower events, like photo walksand a walk through a tulip immersion garden.
In addition to special daily events, there are things to do all week long to experience the Holland MichiganTulip Festival. You can visit a tulip garden in a public park to see the rows of tulips in bloom throughout the city, do a drive-through tulip tour along Tulip Lane and so much more.
Read on to start planning your trip to one of pure Michigan’stop flower festivals.
Tips for VisitingTulip Time: Tulip TimeEvents, Activities and Best Things to See and Do
Visit the Carnival Midway
Holland Civic Center Parking Lot
May 5 – May 14, 2023
Open May 5- 14, the Tulip Time carnival features rides, attractions and food in the Civic Center parking lot. Purchase a $30 wristband for a ride session and enjoy!
See the Tulip TimeParades
Downtown Holland
May 11 & May 13, 2023
There are two tulip time parades, each with a different date,time and parade route.You can purchase grandstand seating for $18 per ticket, or find free streetside or curbside seating.
Kinderparade (Children’s Parade)
Thursday, May 11; 1:30 – 4 p.m.
Parade starts at 8th Street and Columbia Avenue
This favorite parade starts with the time-honored tradition of “Street Scrubbing,” when elementary school stuents and their teachersdon their Dutch costumes, grab a bucket and a broom, and scrub the streets clean for the coming performances. Town officials will walk through with their ceremonial white glove inspection to approve the streets for the parade and when the town crier officially announces the official’s approval, the parade will start.
Volksparade (People’s Parade)
Saturday, May 13; 2 – 4 p.m.
See dozens of bands fromWest Michiganmiddle and high schools showcase their talents amid the community floats throughdowntown Holland. The adorable Dutch Dogs join in the fun too!
Tulip Time Run
Saturday, May 6, 8:00 a.m – 12:00 p.m
Kollen Park
Gather at Kollen Parkfor the Tulip Time Run and choose from a 5K, 10K or Kids’ Fun Run. If you cannot make it to Holland, Michigan for the Tulip Time Festival, try a Virtual Run, where you run a 5K or 10K as your schedule permits, on any course of your choosing. It’s a great way to get the whole family involved!
See Dutch Dancers
Daily Throughout Festival
You’ll have lots of chances to catch a glimpse of authetically-dressed Dutch dancers in wooden shoes as they perform in Centennial Park an in other spots throughout the city. You’ll even have a chance to learn traditional Dutch dances, too. Head to Window on the Waterfronton May 6 from 4 – 4:30 to learn how to Klomp!
Visit the Artisan Marketand Tulip TimeQuilt Show
Where to See the Most Tulips at the Holland’s Tulip TimeFestival
Windmill IslandGardens
1 Lincoln Ave, Holland, MI 49423
Head over to Windmill IslandGardens during the tulip festival, one of my favorite spots to see the tulips. This 36-acre park features a 250-year-oldworking Dutch windmill surrounded by a brightly colored tulip field. Climb the five-story windmill and take in more than 200,000 tulips at these manicured gardens.
This is a fun spot to get into the Dutch spirit, with costumed guidesa hand-painted Dutch carousel, a scenic bridge, a playground and a gift shops stocked with souvenirs and other treats.
Nelis’ Dutch Village
12350 James St, Holland, MI 49424
Visit Nelis Dutch Villageand see rows of beautiful tulips thatcelebrate the culture and heritage of the Netherlands. The park features a variety of attractions and activities, including Dutch architecture, gardens, windmills, a wooden shoe factory, a carousel, a petting zoo, and various shops selling Dutch souvenirs and treats. Be sure and grab lunch at the Hungry Dutchman Cafe, where you can try some authentic Dutch food (and American, too).
PRO-TIP: Spring is my favorite time to visit, when you can see all of the baby animals like fuzzy ducks!
Riverview Park–Window on the WaterfrontPark
85 East 6th StHolland,MI49423
Window on the Waterfront Park is a must-visit during the Tulip Time festival in Michigan. where you can see almost 100,000 tulips in bloom. It sits on the edge of Lake Macatawa and offers beautiful views of the water, as well aspicnic tables, benches, walking paths, and a playground for children. There’s a beautiful sculpture, too, that is a favorite spot for snapping pix for Instagram!
Historic Walking Tours
Walking tours will be available throughout the festival week for those with tickets. For 1.5 miles, you will be led by a costumed guide through charming downtown Holland. You will learn all about Holland’s history, points of interest, and other fun facts about the quaint town as you witness the beauty of the colorful tulip blossoms all around you.
Veldheer Tulip Gardens & DeKlomp Wooden ShoeFactory
12755 Quincy St, Holland, MI 49424
Take a guided tour of Veldheer TulipFarms, one of the largest tulip farms in the United States. Visitors can take a leisurely walk through the fields and enjoy the vibrant colors and fragrances of the flowers. The farm also has a gift shop that sells bulbs, seeds, and other gardening supplies, as well as a wooden shoe factory that produces traditional Dutch-style wooden shoes.
Centennial Park
250 Central Ave, Holland, MI 49423
This pretty, Victorian-era park features more than five acres of manicured gardens, brick pathways and garden beanches to take in scenery. When you visit the tulipfestival in Holland, be sure to take a stroll and see the tulips and other spring flowers in bloom.
TulipImmersion Garden
Beechwood Church, 1286 Ottawa Beach Rd, Holland, MI 49424
By a ticket for a two-hour time slot to wander through more than 65,000 tulips. Designed by world-renowned Dutch horticulturist, Ibo Gülsen, you’ll see three amazing tulip displays raised to eye level.
Holland Tulip Lane Map with Parking for the Tulip Festival
Drive Tulip Lane
Catch some stunning views of tulips ablaze with color from the comfort of your car as you drive through Tulip Lane, almost 12 miles of tulip-lined streets in the city of Holland. Use the map below to plot your route and dsciover where to park for the Tulip Festival.
Use the Tulip Tracker to Watch as the Holland Tulips Bloom
When Do the Tulips Bloom in Holland Michigan?
Tulips are typially in bloom in last weeks in April and the first few weeks of May in Holland Michigan, just in time for the Holland Tulip Time Festival.
Where to Eat During the Holland TulipFestival
A day spent exploring the town and enjoying Tulip Time festivities will certainly work up an appetite, and Holland’s restaurantsare readyfor you. Holland has numerous dining choices, which is great, but can also be a bit overwhelming. To help narrow it down, here are some of our favorite Michigan restaurants in Holland.
The Curragh
73 E 8th St, Holland, MI 49423
The Curragh is a traditional Irish pub in the heart of downtown Holland. Here you can enjoy the casual social nature of a pub while grabbing brews with friends or chowing down on some classic Irish or American grub. If you aren’t quite ready for dining in, they conveniently offer family-style takeaway meals that feed four.
Boatwerks Waterfront Restaurant
216 Van Raalte Ave, Holland, MI 49423
As far as waterfront dining in Holland goes, no one outdoes Boatwerks. On the beautiful Lake Macatawa, the inspired design of Boatwerks invokes a distinctly naval atmosphere as the building replicates architecture from the historic boat building factories that preceded it. Here you can take in the magnificent view from the elevated dining room seating while you dine on quality American fare.
Our Brewing Company
76 E 8th St, Holland, MI 49423
For the many beer lovers in Michigan, Our Brewing Company is the downtown Holland nano-brewery for you. This local spot was created by a pair of couples whose love for beer pushed them into the brewing business. Since 2012 they have been serving up carefully selected craft beer brewed using local ingredients. The atmosphere of the brewery is fun and exciting with trivia and games galore and live music.
King’s Cove Deli
430 W 17th St #12, Holland, MI 49423
For all the deli favorites, King’s Cove Deli in Holland is the place to go. Whether you want a sub sandwich or a pizza, King’s Cove has you covered. The sandwich selection is vast offering everything from rubens to tuna melts and even grilled cheese. If you’re more in the mood for pizza, you surely won’t be disappointed with the plethora of specialty pizza options.
More Places to See Tulips in Holland in Spring
The Tulip Time Festival isn’t the only place to see tulips in Holland MIchigan. There are beautifully manicured parks all throughout Holland that you can visit in the springtime. be sure to check out our guide to everywhere to see tulips in Holland Michigan.
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