by Chloe Krommendyk–Each year during the month of May, Orange City, Iowa, welcomes thousands of visitors from all over the world to the annual Tulip Festival, where they celebrate their Dutch Heritage. Tulip Festival is a three–day event that focuses on old Dutch customs and traditions. This year, Tulip Festival falls on May 13, 14, & 15.
The Tulip Festival was first started in 1936 and has continued to grow over the years. The Tulip Festival is most known for the old Dutch music and dancing by both children and adults dressed in their authentic Dutch costumes and wooden shoes. The festival also includes two daily parades, a nightly musical theater, carnival rides, delicious Dutch foods, and thousands of tulips planted all over the city.
Every year a Tulip Court is appointed. The Tulip Court is a group of five high school senior girls who represent the city of Orange City. There is an election for those who live in Orange City to vote for the girls that they want to represent the city. This election was held on September 23, and results were out September 24. Later on, November 17, there was a Queen’s Pageant to select the queen of the Tulip Court.
The Tulip Court this year includes, Lindsey Jacobsma of Unity Christian High School, Laura Beltman of Unity Christian, Elsie Bartles of Unity Christian, Macie Brenneman of MOC-Floyd Valley High School, and the queen of the Tulip Court is Grace Dahl of MOC-Floyd Valley.
Tulip Court member Laura Beltman said she is excited for the Tulip Festival this year because “last year’s Tulip Festival was unable to happen because of COVID-19, so this year is going to be a big deal for many people.” She also said she is “very excited and honored to represent the city of Orange City and be a big part of the Festival this year.”
The Tulip Festival is widely recognized, and well attended by people all over the U.S.
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