PELLA, Iowa — With consistent sunny and warm weather on the way, tulips in Pella are in full blossom.
Tulip Time is an annual event that has been going on for 89 years, honoring Dutch heritage.
"Over the years its just been a wonderful time for the community to come together and celebrate the town," said Jessi Galligan, executive director of Pella Historical Museums. "As well as visitors to come to the community and really experience the beauty of Pella."
The local tradition brings thousands to the town of Pella.
"I've lived in Pella my entire life. I grew up here and have been participating in Tulip Time since before I could walk," Galligan said. "So this festival is a really, really meaningful thing for me, a way to celebrate my own heritage and to come together with people in the community to celebrate."
The tulips were first planted in November, one by one by gardeners.
The unpredictable weather this year has made some of the tulips bloom earlier than usual. So, the grounds staff got creative and are incorporating wooden tulips.
The wooden tulips were handmade by local wood sculptors.
"People were able to come and pick them up from the gift shop, and take them home and decorated them themselves, so they'll all be one-of-a-kind wooden tulips," said Julie Keegel, head gardener and building and grounds manager.
The wooden tulips will be placed where some of the tulips bloomed too early. So far, the gift shop has sold around 600 wooden tulips to be decorated.
It has been an all hands on deck effort, all year long. Keegel says everything from time, planting and planning went into the tulips.
This year, Pella is also celebrating King's Day, just like they do in the Netherlands. On April 27, there will be a celebration in the Historical Village during the day, and then a night life celebration with a special King's Day brew.
Tulip Time will take place in Pella May 2-4, but visitors can still see tulips and attend events leading up to the big weekend.
A full schedule of events and locations is available on Pella's Tulip Time website.