Radio Iowa You are here: Home Pella sees return of Tulip Festival after COVID break Photo from Visit Pella webpage. The Pella Tulip Festival opens its three-day run today year after COVID forced the cancellation of the event last year. The annual festival, which started in 1935, had only been canceled once before, back in 1946. Spokesperson Cyndi Atkins says the events return with some modifications “We are doing quite a bit to try and be more conscious of being safe and increasing the social distancing. We have revised some of our plans for food stands — so they are much more spread out. There is at least six feet or more distance between different stands,” she says.