Tulip Time is here. Where to find the schedule, parking and more
Tulip Time is here. Where to find the schedule, parking and more
Lucia Cheng and Kate Kealey, Des Moines RegisterThu, May 7, 2026 at 3:57 PM UTC
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Tulip Time is here. Where to find the schedule, parking and more
It's happening – Pella's annual Tulip Time festival is here. While some of the tulip beds are already done for the season, there are still plenty of beds in bloom around Pella.
Wondering about the logistics of getting to Pella? We've got you covered.
When is Tulip Time in Pella?
Tulip Time in Pella is always the first Thursday, Friday, and Saturday in May. In 2026, the festival is happening from May 7-9.
What is the Pella tulip festival schedule?
Tulip Time kicked off on Thursday at 8 a.m. when local museums opened. By 8:30 a.m., tours and the Dutch Master Antique Auto Display began.
From then on, there is at least one event every hour until 8:30 p.m. Thursday through Saturday. Sunday concludes with a thanksgiving and praise service. There is an hourly schedule available on the Pella Historical website.
Where to get tickets for Pella Tulip Time
Tickets are not required to visit Pella's Tulip Time festival. Events like the grandstand show, museum tours and historic city wagon tours do require admission.
Tickets can be found at the gate for all activities. If you are looking to purchase tickets ahead of time, visit Pella Historical website.
Where to find tulips in Pella, Iowa?
The city is covered with flower gardens displaying thousands of tulips for free. Multiple locations offer displays and fields of celebrated flowers.
Scholte House Museum & Gardens, at the corner of Main and Broadway streets, has more than 35,000 tulips on display. It has resting places and a gazebo to gaze at the garden once cared for by Maria Scholte, the wife of Pella’s founder Domine Hendrik P. Scholte.
Fair Haven Memorial Garden at the corner of East Third and Union streets hosts more than 13,000 tulips for visitors to enjoy. It also includes two monuments listing more than 800 area veterans who served in World War II. The tulip garden is replaced with annuals when autumn arrives.
Central College's campus at 812 University St. boasts more than 15,000 tulips with a series of main tulip beds by the Graham Conference Center, Weller Flag Garden, east and north sides of Central Hall, Jordan Plaza and the Peace Mall.
Tulip Avenue in Central Park, 720 Franklin St., and Sunken Gardens Park, 1110 Main St., Pella plants tens of thousands of tulips in these two parks near the center of town. Tupip Avenue, in Central Park, connects the north fountain to the center of the park and is lined with tulips.
How to park at Tulip Time
There are parking lots available from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. for $10 per vehicle cash or $11 Venmo. There is also a shuttle that takes visitors to downtown Pella and back. It will run frequently until 10 p.m.
For Thursday, there will be street parking on the outskirts of the downtown area.
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Friday and Saturday: Delta Lot on the west side of town, take Exit 40 from Iowa Highway 163 and follow the signs to the lot.
Saturday only: Pella Christian High School on the southeast side of town, take Exit 44 from Iowa Highway 163 and follow the signs to the school.
Other places to park on a first-come, first-served basis include:
Calvary Church, 408 Maple St., Free parking with shuttle to downtown. Handicapped transport may be available.
Connect Church, 914 Liberty St., $5
First Church, 605 Broadway St., $15
Open Bible Church, 837 Washington St., $15
Pella Christian Grade School, 216 Liberty St. (enter from Franklin Street), $20
Trinity Church, 407 Franklin St., $20 per day or $50 for all 3 days
There is limited handicap parking available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Pella Public Library. It is free to park for those with handicap permits. There are no reservations. Find a map for paid parking lots on the Pella Historical Museum's website.
Pella weather: Forecast improves through the weekend
Thursday's activities may face light rain and thunderstorms through about 2 p.m., according to the National Weather Service.
Friday should be partly sunny with a high near 70 degrees. Saturday will be mostly sunny with a high of 77 degrees, with rain chances returning in the evening.
What are the shuttle hours for Tulip Time in Pella?
There are golf cart shuttles available from Scholte Church to the Dutch Market from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. Single rides and day-long passes are purchased from the shuttle cart drivers. Single rides are $2 and all-day passes are $5. The golf cart shuttles only pick up and drop off passengers at designated stops.
When is the Tulip Time Parade?
The Volks Parade is at 2:45 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. There is an evening lights parade at 8:30 p.m. on Friday and fireworks will also follow the parade.
For a full schedule of all events at the Pella Tulip Time festival, visit the Pella Historical website.
Where to stay in Pella near Tulip Time
It is hard to fit all of Tulip Time into one day. So, making plans for lodging will allow you to soak in every bit of the festival. VistPella.com offers a list of hotels, bed and breakfasts, Airbnbs, campgrounds and more in the area.
Lucia Cheng is a service and trending reporter at the Des Moines Register. Contact her at lcheng@gannett.com or 515-284-8132.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Pella's tulip festival is back. See the Tulip Time schedule, parking
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