PELLA — It’s a widely anticipated week for the city of Pella. The city’s annual Tulip Time Festival begins on Thursday, May 4, with plenty of attractions for visitors and residents.

Tulips and Where to See Them

Tulip Avenue in Central Park and Sunken Gardens Park

The City of Pella plants tens of thousands of tulips throughout these two parks in celebration of Pella’s Dutch heritage. Especially vibrant and colorful is the Tulip Avenue in Central Park, which runs from the north fountain to the center of the park. An immense variety of tulips are showcased along this sidewalk.

Scholte House Gardens

Corner of Main and Broadway Streets

Behind the Historic Scholte House Museum are the beautiful Scholte Gardens. Featuring more than 35,000 tulips, the gardens are free and open to the public. At one time, this land was under the care of Maria Scholte, the wife of Pella’s founder Dominie Hendrik P. Scholte. Here you’ll find benches to rest on, art sculptures to admire, a gazebo for shade, and many varieties of tulips. Once the tulips have finished blooming, they are replaced with annuals so that the garden remains enjoyable through autumn.

Fair Haven Memorial Garden

Corner of East 3rd and Union Streets

This popular garden was originally planted in 1947 with tulip bulbs donated by the Netherlands in gratitude for war-relief aid sent by the citizens of Pella after World War II. Today these gardens feature more than 13,000 tulips. The Memorial Garden also features two monuments listing more than 800 local veterans who served in WWII. Once the tulips have finished blooming, they are replaced with annuals so that the garden remains enjoyable through autumn.

Central College

812 University Street

Nearly 15,000 tulips will bloom on Central College’s beautiful campus. The main tulip beds are located in the plaza by Graham Conference Center, east and north sides of Central Hall, Jordan Plaza, Peace Mall, and Weller Flag Garden, with various other small beds and at the campus cornerstones.

Annual Tulip Bulb Sales and Flower Show

Scholte House (East Entrance), 728 Washington Street

9:00am – 6:00pm

See beautiful arrangements using tulips in the historic home of Pella’s founder Dominie Scholte. Order your tulip bulbs here! Sponsored by the Pella Garden Club.

A complete schedule of events, list of food vendors, and more can be found at the Pella Historical website.