Initial estimates of crowd sizes for the return of Tulip Time in Pella this past weekend show the festival was close to an average year, even with modifications to this year’s celebration.
The Tulip Time Steering Committee–based on metrics they developed over the past several years, estimated that 157,000 people participated in the festivities, reflecting the amount of available parking, initial food and business sales, and visual estimates at certain events throughout the celebration.
Cyndi Atkins from the Tulip Time Steering Committee said, “Even Saturday, we watched as people headed to downtown, bundled up and umbrellas in hand. We heard so many positive comments from visitors who were excited to get out and celebrate.”
Initial estimates of crowd sizes for the return of Tulip Time in Pella this past weekend show the festival was close to an average year, even with modifications to this year’s celebration.
The Tulip Time Steering Committee–based on metrics they developed over the past several years, estimated that 157,000 people participated in the festivities, reflecting the amount of available parking, initial food and business sales, and visual estimates at certain events throughout the celebration.
Cyndi Atkins from the Tulip Time Steering Committee said, “Even Saturday, we watched as people headed to downtown, bundled up and umbrellas in hand. We heard so many positive comments from visitors who were excited to get out and celebrate.”
The traditional coronation ceremony of Tulip Queen Alyssa Geetings was among the festivities kicking off the 2021 Tulip Time celebration Thursday.
Geetings and her royal court of Tessa Brouwer, Olivia DeHaan-Burch, Ashley Hardman, and Hannah Tschetter were among the afternoon and evening festivities, which included special processionals in place of the traditional parades. Geetings and 2020 Tulip Queen Hanna Kendall exchanged words and a passing on of the mantle of the ceremonial leader of the festival.
The Dutchesses, cheese traders, Dutch dancers, street scrubbers, and the Parade of Provinces returned to the Tulip Toren, with some of those performers, the Dutch family singers, high school orchestra students, and others “popping” up throughout the downtown area to perform.