If you’re looking for a spring family road trip, Tulip Time in Holland, Michigan is worth the drive. The annual festival runs May 1-10, 2026 and brings together millions of tulips, parades, Dutch dance performances and plenty of family activities spread across the city.
Now in its 96th year, Tulip Time mixes long-running traditions with a few new additions that make 2026 a solid year to plan a visit.
Looking for more tulip destinations? Check out our guide to the best tulip fields near Indiana to find even more colorful spring spots worth visiting.
A Festival in Full Bloom
The tulips are the main event. During the 10-day festival, more than 5 million blooms line Holland’s downtown streets, fill public parks and pop up in gardens throughout the city.
Two spots worth seeking out are Centennial Park and Window on the Waterfront, where walking paths wind past more than 100,000 tulips with lots of open space for kids to move around. Before you go, check the official Tulip Tracker to see what’s blooming.
Even if you skip the ticketed events entirely, Holland’s tulip-lined streets and public flower displays make it easy to enjoy a gorgeous day just walking around.
Kid-Friendly Parades
Two parades are geared toward families. The Gentex Kinderparade on Thursday, May 7 from 2-4 p.m. features local kids dressed in Dutch costumes marching through downtown Holland. It’s charming and little-kid-approved.
The Quality Car Wash Volksparade on Saturday, May 9 from 2-4 p.m. is the bigger event, with marching bands, floats and Dutch-inspired traditions along 8th Street between Columbia and Kollen Park.
Dutch Dancing and Interactive Fun
Dutch dancing is one of the festival’s signature traditions. More than 1,400 dancers perform in authentic Dutch attire at parks and downtown locations throughout the week.
Want to join in? Dutch Dance Lessons are offered on select festival days in Centennial Park. They’re open to a wide age range, and kids and parents can learn a few basic steps together.
For the youngest visitors, Tulip Tales for Tots runs May 2-4. This free event pairs storytime with simple dancing and photo ops with costumed performers.
Carnival Midway
The Carnival Midway is back for 2026 with rides, games and classic fair food. It opens Friday, May 1 and runs through Sunday, May 10, with hours varying by day.
Wristbands will be available for advance purchase in spring 2026, with schedule and ticket details coming through the carnival operator. If your kids are the ride-loving type, it makes a fun evening stop after a day of flowers and parades.
Nearby Attractions Worth Adding
If you’re making a weekend of it, a few nearby stops pair well with the festival:
- Nelis’ Dutch Village opens for the 2026 season on April 17. During Tulip Time, it’s scheduled to be open 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. with rides, Dutch-themed activities and a layout that works especially well for younger kids.
- Windmill Island Gardens is home to De Zwaan, an authentic Dutch windmill. The park opens April 13, with gates at 9 a.m. during the festival. Weekday admission is $15 for adults and $7 for children ages 3-15. Weekends are $20 and $10. Kids 2 and under get in free.
- Veldheer Tulip Gardens is Holland’s only tulip farm, with acres of blooms from late April into mid-May. It’s a great add-on if your family can’t get enough flowers.
Tulip Immersion Garden
The Tulip Immersion Garden returns daily during the festival at Beechwood Church. This indoor exhibit features 65,000 tulips in raised floral displays, and it’s a smart backup plan if the weather doesn’t cooperate.
Tickets are $15 for ages 13 and older, $5 for ages 3-12 and free for 2 and under. Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on most festival days, with Sunday, May 10 running 12-5 p.m.
What’s New for 2026
- Tickets are already on sale for many festival events and attractions.
- The Tulip Time Makers Market is scheduled for May 2-3 at the Ottawa County Fairgrounds.
- Fireworks in partnership with LAUP are set for Saturday, May 9 at Kollen Park, with live music and food trucks leading up to the show at dusk.
- The Potted Tulip Sale gives visitors the chance to take home a pot of tulips to replant later.
- Ticketed entertainment includes Love Story: A Tribute to Taylor Swift on May 1 and Michael Carbonaro on May 8.
Tips for Visiting with Kids
- Weekdays tend to have lighter crowds, which makes a big difference with little ones.
- Bring a stroller or wagon if you plan to hit multiple festival areas.
- Check bloom updates before you go using the official Tulip Tracker.
- Book ticketed events early, especially popular attractions and performances.
- Leave extra time between stops since festival events are spread across several locations.
- Review the official daily schedule before your trip. Tulip Time doesn’t use one all-access ticket, so many events and attractions handle admission separately.
Whether your family is drawn to the flowers, the parades or just a fun change of scenery, Tulip Time 2026 has enough going on to fill a day trip or a full weekend.
Know Before You Go
Festival events take place across multiple locations, most within about a 4-mile radius of downtown Holland, so expect to drive or walk between stops rather than stay in one central area. There’s no single admission ticket for the festival. Instead, each event or attraction handles its own ticketing, so reviewing the schedule in advance and booking popular experiences early will save you some hassle.
Free public parking lots are available, street parking is allowed unless otherwise posted and privately managed paid lots are scattered around the city. Portable restrooms are set up throughout downtown during the festival. ADA parking is available at major attractions, and families needing extra mobility support can reserve mobility units or wheelchairs through Tulip Time during festival week.
