Orange City Tulip Festival

77th annual Orange City Tulip Festival
2017-05-18 - 2017-05-20 | Orange City, Iowa, Orange City, 51041
Founded by Dutch settlers, Orange City’s citizens sought a way to keep their prominent heritage thriving. What began in 1936 as a small celebration led to over 75 years of what is now known as Tulip Festival.
Orange City’s Tulip Festival is an annual celebration each third weekend in May. Known for its tulips and night show as well as its authentic Dutch costumes, dances and food, Tulip Festival presents itself as a prominent event in the state of Iowa. Visitors from across the nation come to immerse themselves in Orange City’s thriving Dutch heritage.
Photo courtesy of The Sioux County Capital-Democrat.

Dutch Dozen Practice
2017-04-05 16:30 - 17:30 (America/Chicago) | City Hall, 125 Central Avenue SE, Orange City, 51041
Practice will be held at the Town Hall.

2017 Tulip Festival Extravaganza
2017-03-15 11:45 - 12:45 (America/Chicago) | Prairie Winds Event Center, 908 8th Street SE, Orange City, 51041, United States
The annual Tulip Festival Extravaganza will take place on Wednesday, March 15. The event will take place from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at Prairie Winds Event Center, and will feature a luncheon and program.
More details to follow.

Dutch Dozen Practice
2017-02-08 16:30 - 17:30 (America/Chicago) | Orange City Elementary, 312 1st St SW, Orange City, IA, 51041, United States
Practice will be held in the Orange City Elementary Music Room.

2017 Tulip Festival Ticket Sales Begin
2017-02-02 09:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Tulip Festival Office, 509 8th Street SE, Orange City, 51041, United States
Tickets for the 2017 Tulip Festival Extravaganza, reserved parade seats, and Night Show will go on sale on Thursday, Feb. 2. Ticket sales will begin at 9 a.m. at the Orange City Tulip Festival office.
More details to follow.

Dutch Dozen Auditions
2017-02-01 15:30 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Orange City Elementary, 312 1st St SW, Orange City, IA, 51041, United States
Auditions will be held at the Orange City Elementary Music Room.

2017 Night Show Auditions
2017-01-14 09:00 - 11:00, 2017-01-12 19:00 - 21:00, 2017-01-11 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | MOC Floyd Valley High School, 615 8th St SE, Orange City, IA, 51041, United States
The 2017 Night Show is SHREK THE MUSICAL. Open auditions will be held in the music room (SW corner) of MOC-Floyd Valley High School Jan. 11 from 7-9pm, Jan. 12 from 7-9pm, and Jan 14 from 9-11am. People of freshman in high school age and up are invited to audition. You do not need to prepare any material prior to auditioning.

2017 Tulip Queen Pageant
2016-11-14 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Chicago)
The 2017 Tulip Queen Pageant will be held Monday, Nov. 14 at the Unity Christian Knight Center. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. and the event will begin at 7:00 p.m. Admission is $5 for all attendees, regardless of age or whether they choose to vote.
Candidates for the 2017 Tulip Queen include: Emma De Jong, daughter of Douglas and Jamie De Jong; Olivia Duesenberg, daughter of Gary and Rachel Duesenberg; Karli Lang, daughter of Chris and Sherry Lang; Sydnee Olson, daughter of Jody and Denene Nibbelink and Chad and Amanda Olson; and Noelle Sampson, daughter of Brent and Teresa Sampson.
Tulip Queen candidates will give presentations on Orange City and will be interviewed by both the judges and emcees of the event. Attendees will have the opportunity to cast their vote for the 2017 Tulip Queen during the pageant. The 2017 Tulip Queen will be crowned as a conclusion to the event.

2017 Tulip Court Election
2016-09-21 12:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Stadscentrum, 207 Central Avenue NE, Orange City, 51041, United States
The 2017 Tulip Court Election will take place on Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2016.
Voting for the 2017 Tulip Court will take place from 12 to 8 p.m. at Stadscentrum, located on the corner of Central Avenue and Second Street North in Orange City.
Eligible voters are adults with an Orange City address and 7th through 12th grade students at MOC-Floyd Valley, Orange City Christian School and Unity Christian High School.
The 2017 Tulip Court will be announced after 10 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 22.
Candidate eligibility and general questions can be directed to the Tulip Festival office at 712-707-4510.

76th annual Tulip Festival
2016-05-19 - 2016-05-21 | Orange City, Iowa, Orange City, 51041
Orange City’s Tulip Festival is an annual celebration each third weekend in May. Known for its tulips and night show as well as its authentic Dutch costumes, dances and food, Tulip Festival presents itself as a prominent event in the state of Iowa. Visitors from across the nation come to immerse themselves in Orange City’s thriving Dutch heritage.

Tulip Festival Ride Night
2016-05-18 18:00 - 22:30 (America/Chicago)
The carnival midway at Tulip Festival offers rides for all ages! Purchase a wristband for $15 and ride unlimited rides on Wednesday, May 18, from 6:00 to 10:30 p.m. Tickets go on sale at 5 p.m., and are only available for purchase at the carnival midway ticket booth.
Please note that the wristbands are only valid for Wednesday evening. Individual tickets will also be available for purchase on Wednesday night and during Tulip Festival.
Photo courtesy of the Sioux County Capital-Democrat.

Adult Dutch Dance Practice
2016-05-16 18:00 - 18:50, 2016-05-09 18:00 - 18:50, 2016-05-02 18:00 - 18:50, 2016-04-25 18:00 - 18:50, 2016-04-18 18:00 - 18:50, 2016-04-11 18:00 - 18:50 (America/Chicago) | City Hall, 125 Central Avenue SE, Orange City, 51041
Photo courtesy of The Sioux County Capital-Democrat.
The Tulip Festival Steering Committee invites adults, college-age and older, to participate in the Adult Dutch Dance portion of this year’s Straat Feest. Both new and returning dancers are welcome and encouraged to join.
Practice will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 6:50 p.m. at the Orange City Town Hall.
Authentic Dutch costumes are required for participants. Participants are encouraged to find their own dancing partner, but assistance will be provided if needed.
Questions can be directed to the Tulip Festival office at 712-707-4510.

Junior Dutch Dance Practice (4th & 5th Grade)
2016-05-16 15:30 - 16:15 (America/Chicago) | Windmill Park, 206 Central Avenue NW, Orange City, IA, 51041, United States
All fourth and fifth grade students from MOC-Floyd Valley and Orange City Christian School are invited to participate in the Junior Dutch Dance portion of Straat Feest during Tulip Festival.
A combined practice with students from MOC-Floyd Valley and OCCS will be held on Monday, May 16, from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. at Windmill Park. Rain location is the gym at Orange City Elementary.
Please bring your wooden shoes and socks to practice!
Questions about Junior Dutch Dance can be directed to the Tulip Festival office at 712-707-4510.

Children's Games Practice (2nd & 3rd Grade)
2016-05-09 15:30 - 16:30 (America/Chicago) | Windmill Park, 206 Central Avenue NW, Orange City, IA, 51041, United States
The second and third grade students of MOC-FV and OCCS are invited to participate in the STRAAT FEEST activities during Tulip Festival (May 19, 20, & 21) by performing in the KINDERSPELEN (children playing). We would like to see as many children as possible from both schools performing on the street. It is a great experience for them to become involved in the community and exciting for them to perform in front of thousands of people. The children perform before the afternoon parade each day of the Tulip Festival on two different blocks along the parade route, and will receive a free carnival ride ticket each day.

Instructions for the games will be given in the school’s classes again this year at Orange City Elementary and OCCS. Practices will take place during the school day. Instructions for the games for Hospers students only will be given after school on Wednesday, April 27 at the Alton Middle School OLD GYM. Practice will be from the time the kids get off of the bus (NO EARLY OUT THIS DAY) until about 4:30. You are responsible for picking your child up at 4:30 from the Middle School.

A joint practice with MOC/FV and OCCS students will be held Monday, May 9 after school. Each child must have a Dutch costume and wooden shoes; wooden shoes will be needed for the practice date. There are patterns at the Orange City Public Library if you will be sewing your own costume. There is also a list of seamstresses and people to rent costumes from on www.octulipfestival.com under History & Heritage. Wooden shoes are available for purchase at the Tulip Festival office, Crafts Central and Jubon Juweelen in Orange City.

We need volunteer parents/guardians from each school to assist with the performances. A Dutch costume is required.

Please complete the permission form and return it with your child to their homeroom teacher by Tuesday, April 19. Please encourage your child to come and play in the Children’s Dutch Games with us. They will love it!

Please contact the Tulip Festival office at 712-707-4510 if you have any questions.

Poffertjes Night
2016-05-04 17:30 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | Little White Store, Orange City, IA, 51041, United States
The Dutch Heritage Boosters will kick off the 2016 poffertjes season on Wednesday, May 4. They’ll be serving from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Little White Store.

Stadscentrum Celebration
2016-05-04 17:00 - 19:30 (America/Chicago) | Stadscentrum, 207 Central Avenue NE, Orange City, 51041, United States
Kick of the May festivities and join the celebration of Stadscentrum’s one-year anniversary on Wednesday, May 4!
Stadscentrum will be open from 5 to 7:30 p.m. We’ll play the Dutch street organ and carve wooden shoes. The 2016 Tulip Court will also visit with attendees.
The Dutch Heritage Boosters will serve poffertjes from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Float Riders Permission Forms Due
2016-05-02
Children in kindergarten through fifth grade are invited to ride floats in the Tulip Festival parades. Authentic Dutch costumes are required along with wooden shoes or black shoes.
Parents/guardians can select up to three parades for their child(ren) to ride in. Floats will be assigned prior to the Tulip Festival parades.
More information is available on the permission forms, due Monday, May 2.

Parade Entry Application Deadline
2016-05-01
The Volksparade is the Tulip Festival’s main event. The twice daily parade draws thousands and is filled with sound and color. We are always excited to welcome parade entries. This internationally recognized festival allows for great exposure for your organization.
Communities and organizations are welkom to complete the parade entry form below. There is not a cost to have a float in the Tulip Festival parades.
Parade entry applications are due by May 1.

Marching Band Application Deadline
2016-04-22
Top marching bands from the region march in our parades each year, and we invite junior high and high school bands to participate.
We hold two parades each day: the first at 2:15 p.m. and the second at 6 p.m. Band awards and drum line performances take place at 3:30 p.m. each day. Awards given each day include those for 1st Place, 2nd Place, 3rd Place and People’s Choice.
Applications for the Marching Band Competitions are due by Friday, April 22.

Children's Games Permission Forms Due (2nd & 3rd Grade)
2016-04-19

Craft Show Application Deadline - EXTENDED
2016-03-25
The Tulip Festival craft show will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, in the basement of Iowa State Bank.
Individuals who create handmade, original crafts are invited to apply for the craft show, and are encouraged to include Dutch items as a portion of their items to sell. Only handmade, original items will be accepted into the show, and no food or beverage items will be accepted.
For more information or to apply, visit the Craft Show Application page.

ArtBurst Application Deadline - EXTENDED
2016-03-17
Artists from the four-state region and beyond are invited to apply to exhibit their work at ArtBurst during the Orange City Tulip Festival.
Scheduled for 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, May 21, ArtBurst is a juried exhibition of fine art.
Applications will be accepted from anyone who produces original fine art. All art must be designed and created by the exhibiting artist. ArtBurst artists will be chosen by a jury, which will make its selections based on the aesthetic quality of the art and the number of artists in each medium. The application deadline is extended to March 17, and applicants will be notified of the jury’s decision by April 1.
For more information to to apply, visit the ArtBurst Application page.

Tulip Festival Extravaganza
2016-03-16 11:45 - 12:45 UTC | Prairie Winds Event Center, 908 8th Street SE, Orange City, 51041, United States
The annual Tulip Festival Extravaganza will take place on Wednesday, March 16. The event will take place from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at Prairie Winds Event Center, and will feature a luncheon and program.
The province of Queen Ava and her Court’s costumes will be revealed, and the 2016 parade marshal will be introduced.
Tickets are available for purchase at the Tulip Festival office. Tickets are $15 each through March 4, and $20 each beginning March 5.
