Holland, Michigan, which has been ranked as one of the prettiest towns in America in the past, is only a three-hour drive from Downtown Detroit and hosts one of the biggest and most acclaimed tulip festivals in the United States.
The town’s famous “Tulip Time” festival has been taking place every Spring since 1929, with its 95th year coming up in just a few weeks.
The city celebrates every spring with millions of tulips of all varieties, scattered across the town with almost a dozen separate tulip beds to view that contain anywhere from 4,500 to over 4 million(!!!) tulips for you to see, creating the same iconic visuals you get at the famous fields of Keukenhof, Holland!
What and when is ‘Tulip Time’ in Holland, Michigan
This year, the annual ‘Tulip Time’ festival in Holland, Michigan is scheduled from May 4th to May 12th.
This is one of the biggest and most acclaimed flower festivals in America, taking over most of Downtown Holland every Spring with all activities and events taking place within a 4-mile radius of the Downtown area.
What are the best ‘Tulip Time’ events?
There are multiple events in Holland during ‘Tulip Time’, here’s a breakdown of some of the most popular events and activities taking place throughout the eight-day festival.
A family-friendly carnival experience with rides and fun attractions fit for all ages, it will be open all eight days of the festival, although hours may vary depending on the day you visit.
- $30 for a wristband with unlimited access for a single time slot.
A guided walk through some of the most photogenic spots around Windmill Island, one of Holland’s biggest tourist attractions and home to roughly 140,000 tulips. The walk takes place night on May 6th, 7th, 8th, & 9th, from 7 pm to 9 pm.
- $40 per ticket.
In Kollen Park, the ‘Pedals in the Park’ event will bring bikes and blooms together for a family-friendly event that everyone will enjoy with a live DJ, tasty treats, traditional Dutch dance performances, and more! The recent takes place on May 5th only, from 1 pm to 3 pm.
- Free, but requires online registration in advance.
Created by world-renowned Dutch horticulturist, Ibo Gülsen, this week-long immersion experience takes travelers through the history of the tulip using around 65,000 tulips of all varieties and colors. The experience tells the story of the simple tulip, beginning with its origins in Turkey, its rise to fame in the Netherlands, and finally how it arrived and helped shape the town of Hollan, Michigan.
- $15 per person ($5 for children 3-12 yrs, children 2 and under are FREE)
This family-owned tulip farm has been running for over 80 years, with over 4 million tulips grown each Spring, most of which will peak in their bloom around May 5th.
- $17 per person.
The most visited attraction in all of Holland, the Windmill Island Gardens has around 150,000 tulips and De Zwaan, the only authentic functioning traditional Dutch windmill in the United States!
- $12 for adults and $6 for ages 3 to 15
John McCormick / Shutterstock
It’s worth noting that there are so many more events, including classes on bouquet making, dancing lessons, a parade, and more! These are just a few of the events planned for ‘Tulip Time’.
Is ‘Tulip Time’ free to attend?
The festival itself will be completely free to attend, however, this is not the case for most ticketed events. Ticketed events, such as the Tulip Immersion Garden or the Carnival, will have unique prices and tickets will need to be purchased to participate.
Places to stay around Holland
If you want to make it more than a day trip, there are plenty of lodging opportunities around Holland to help you extend your stay!
Rates will naturally depend on the exact dates of your stay, how far in advance you book your stay, and the quality of the lodging you choose but it would be reasonable to assume that rates will be increased during peak tulip season, as it’s a major time for tourism in the area.