Tulip Time in Siouxland, Orange City

 

Even though it is now summer, Orange City, Iowa held its annual Tulip Festival in May and as always, a parade, food, costumes, and many people attending over the three-day event. This year I went the second day of the festival which had a fewer people on a Friday which was nice, and also because I had a class I was teaching Saturday. It was a little different in that the sidewalks were not quite as jammed with visitors. But the pomp and circumstance and hoopla surrounding the community’s celebration was still palpable.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Tulips were out in force at the Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Tuesday, May 19, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Bicycle riding singers entertain people prior to the start of the parade at the Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Tuesday, May 19, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A pair of decorated wooden shoes at the Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Tuesday, May 19, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Looking for an escape, a parade participant takes off on a friend’s skateboard wearing her wooden shoes at the Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Tuesday, May 19, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A parade of traditional Dutch costumes by area at the Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Tuesday, May 19, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Teens perform a Dutch dance during the parade at the Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Tuesday, May 19, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Teens doing Dutch dances at the Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Tuesday, May 19, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

After the boys throw the water, the young maids come out with their brooms to sweep the streets clean prior to the parade at the Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Tuesday, May 19, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Showing off his cycling skills, a bicyclist rides during the parade at the Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Tuesday, May 19, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Many of the floats for the Dutch-themed parade, are Duth-themed at the Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Tuesday, May 19, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A variety of tulips and colors planted throughout the downtown area at the Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Tuesday, May 19, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Finely stitched lace hats are worn by participants at the Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa Tuesday, May 19, 2016. Various clothing denotes various areas of heritage in the Netherlands. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Preparing to Celebrate Tulips in Siouxland, Orange City

During the month of May the Siouxland community of Orange City, Iowa will again celebrate its Dutch heritage with its Tulip Festival where some years upwards of 30,000 people or more visit the small town. Filled with costumes, food and music, visitors and residents wander the downtown streets to watch a parade, check out local exhibits and enjoy a day out as this community celebrates its history of Dutch immigrants.

The downtown area and nearby park as well as other nearby streets are already in spring bloom, and the festival bloom of tulips showing their colors. Spruced up and just waiting for visitors and the festivities to get underway.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Orange City, Iowa is spruced up and blooming for the upcoming tulip festival Wednesday, May 4, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Orange City, Iowa is spruced up and blooming for the upcoming tulip festival Wednesday, May 4, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Orange City, Iowa is spruced up and blooming for the upcoming tulip festival Wednesday, May 4, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

trees are blossoming in Orange City, Iowa as it spruces up for the upcoming tulip festival Wednesday, May 4, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Orange City, Iowa is blooming for the upcoming tulip festival Wednesday, May 4, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Orange City, Iowa is blooming for the upcoming tulip festival Wednesday, May 4, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Orange City, Iowa is blooming for the upcoming tulip festival Wednesday, May 4, 2016. (photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Siouxland’s Orange City Tulip Festival

Every year Orange City, Iowa, sponsors its Tulip Festival to celebrate its Dutch roots. This year was its 75th festival and parade. I have been to the festival a few times to photograph and produce a video about the festival and parade. The organizers this year gave a nod to its roots and some individuals involved in the very first parade. To a visitor, maybe the nod wasn’t so much and didn’t give a great insight. To locals, the acknowledgment was probably significant. But either way, it was a nice way to spend a day. I had my Photo Safari class from the community college meet me there for one of our outings. And they seemed a little overwhelmed with so much to photograph, which I found is a good thing.

With stormy and rainy weather occurring last week, it seemed the parade and festival dodged the bullet with no showers occurring at least on Saturday. And it made the time spent all the more enjoyable.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Parade participants made photographs of themselves and friends at the end of the march through downtown during the 75th annual Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa, May 16, 2015. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A small child is prepared for the sunshine that finally came out after storm warnings during the 75th annual Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa, May 16, 2015. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A parade participant poses for a photo near a tulip patch in WIndmill Park during the 75th annual Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa, May 16, 2015. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Families take advantage of the tullip patches in Windmill Park for photos during the 75th annual Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa, May 16, 2015. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A selection of antique tractors were on display during the 75th annual Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa, May 16, 2015. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Tulips line the streets during the 75th annual Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa, May 16, 2015. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A group of Dutch singers performed for the crowd waiting for the start of the 75th annual Tulip Festival parade in Orange City, Iowa, May 16, 2015. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Cleaning the streets as well as one another is a priority for these young men during the 75th annual Tulip Festival parade in Orange City, Iowa, May 16, 2015. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Water adds a nice sheen to the street during the 75th annual Tulip Festival parade in Orange City, Iowa, May 16, 2015. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Some street sweepers seemed to tucker out before the finish during the 75th annual Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa, May 16, 2015. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Parade participants wait for the start of the 75th annual Tulip Festival parade in Orange City, Iowa, May 16, 2015. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Local school children parade and perform dances during the 75th annual Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa, May 16, 2015. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Many of the women in the parade wear lace head wraps during the 75th annual Tulip Festival parade in Orange City, Iowa, May 16, 2015. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

A parade participant sported an earring during the 75th annual Tulip Festival parade in Orange City, Iowa, May 16, 2015. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Some participants carried signs indicating what region their costumes or dress originated uring the 75th annual Tulip Festival parade in Orange City, Iowa, May 16, 2015. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Some youngsters checked out the water tanks prior to the start of the 75th annual Tulip Festival parade in Orange City, Iowa, May 16, 2015. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

The street sweepers make their way along tulip lined streets during the 75th annual Tulip Festival parade in Orange City, Iowa, May 16, 2015. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

School bands perform during the 75th annual Tulip Festival parade in Orange City, Iowa, May 16, 2015. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Earlier stormy weather left lots of clouds in the sky during the 75th annual Tulip Festival parade in Orange City, Iowa, May 16, 2015. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Taking photos to commemorate attending the 75th annual Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa, May 16, 2015, is not just for children. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

Ron Brink, antique tractor collector and owner, organized the Antique Tractor Show for the 75th annual 2015 Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa, May 16, 2015, and made buttons promoting it. (Photo by Jerry L Mennenga©)

 

2014 Siouxland Tulip Time, Orange City

A week ago Orange City, Iowa, celebrated its annual Tulip Festival over the weekend. Two parades a day Thursday, Friday and Saturday with local marching bands and floats. The residents of Orange City take great pride in their Dutch heritage, dressing in traditional costumes and serving somewhat “authentic” food, as well as providing a carnival. This year was no different. I have been many times over the past few years and always enjoy the spectacle, seeing, most times, a profusion of tulips in bloom around the downtown area along the boulevards and in people’s yards. That is unless cold weather dampens the occasion. This year there were tulips but not as many as previous years as this spring has been unusually cool.

But still, sunny days and traditions and parades, make it a good time.

 

When the time rolls around again next year, I will be wandering the streets downtown looking for photo opportunities and watching a community genuinely enjoy itself, bringing its heritage to life for its weekend guests who stop by to see for themselves, and if just for a day, to understand a little more about what it means to be Dutch.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux City, Iowa

Siouxland’s Tulip Festival Time, Orange City

The Orange City, Iowa, tulip festival celebrates its Dutch heritage in May of every year in Siouxland. The community has a parade, the residents dress up in Dutch costumes that represent different segments of that historical society and walk down the street in their costumes as an announcer explains the history behind each. Orange City residents young and old participate, performing dances from their “native” land during the day. There are other activities as well as a carnival. It’s a pleasant way to spend half your day or more. In addition, there are some Dutch pastry treats that are made this time of year for visitors to get a taste of Dutch hospitality and tradition.

There used to be demonstration area set up in a small building in town where people could watch wooden shoes being made as well. A resident from the Netherlands moved to Orange City a few decades ago bringing with him his tools for creating wooden shoes which he did for many years until he passed on. As explained by a current resident, the wooden shoes withstood the work in wet fields that people encountered and didn’t rot as did leather shoes. But that demonstration area has disappeared in time.

Also throughout the community, an abundant crop of tulips can be found growing, weather permitting, that is no late frosts which would kill the blooms. And it’s pleasant to stroll the streets, watch the people dressed in traditional garb and enjoying celebrating their heritage by making it come alive for a weekend to share with visitors.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux CIty, Iowa

 

Siouxland Tulip Festival, Orange City

Another year, another Tulip Festival in Orange City. Even though the weather wreaked havoc on the plants, the Siouxland festival itself, as always, is a delight. A good crowd and the friendly natives meant for a nice weekend outing.

More photographs can be found here.

Jerry Mennenga

Sioux CIty, Iowa