Show A haq ah v I 1 F ar tv bloom good picturesque festival revives customs of homeland features HOLLAND MICH the pity klomp of hur hundreds idreas of wooden shoes resounds on the pavement men and women don the quaint costumes of their ancestors white flowing bonnets for the women great double breast ed coats for the men business men and housewives alike wielding long han died brooms and brushes meticulously scrub city streets in an action symbolic ot of the cleanliness ot of their homeland unique ceremonies revive picturesque customs and traditions of a land never to be forgotten although a century has elapsed since their ancestors left its shores colorful blooms myriads of them provide an exotic setting tor for carefree laughing crowds of townspeople and thousands of visitors its tulip time in holland every year in may with that familiar quotation willard C 1947 tulip time director announces that this years festival will be held in this bit of holland transplanted in western michigan may 14 through may 17 to such old favorites as street scrubbing mass plantings of tulips klompen dancers folk parades band reviews the netherlands museum and the flower show will be added striking new events and exhibits many of which come directly from the netherlands centennial year the 1947 tulip time is of special significance explains because during the year holland and surrounding communities will celebrate the anniversary of the coming of the dutch settlers to their new homes in western michigan while the theme of tulip time will be the centennial a commission has been appointed to direct plans tor for a four day centennial celebration starting august 13 featuring the program will be pageantry and exhibits depicting the history of the dutch settlers and their contributions to american civilization to commemorate the dutch migration of 1847 the holland centennial commission is conducting a nationwide essay contest on the subject the influence of dutch settlement on american civilization separate contests are announced for high school seniors and for college or university students top prizes in both contests are three trips to the netherlands and three trips to holland mich tulip time a festival which makes holland the mecca for thousands of visitors every may alay Is the outgrowth of a suggestion by miss lida rogers holland high school teacher that the city be beautified by the wholesale planting of a single type of lower flower the proposal immediately gained momentum the solidly dutch citizenry naturally picking the tulip as the flower tor for the project in 1929 hollands common council gave impetus to 10 the program by appropriating funds for importation of tulip bulbs from holland to be planted along street curbs and in masses in city parks tulips in bloom the festival timed to coincide with full blooming of the tulips was inaugurated that year success of the venture led to decision to make it an annual event eventually extended to an eight day period e very every year abandoned during war years the festival was revived last year as a four day affair As added attractions the festival eventually was developed to include the wearing of dutch costumes and a revival 0 of f old netherlands cus toms and traditions wooden shoe carvers who had not practiced their trade sine since leaving the netherlands were coaxed out of retirement no now TV they spend the entire year cutting the clumsy appearing products from poplar logs childre especially enjoy the noisy toot foot gear and older residents are taught street dances so that th klomp of the wooden shoes on the pavement Is one of the interesting events to tulip time visitors acres of blooming tulips on nearby tulip farms displays of authentic dutch arts and crafts in the netherlands museum films of old and new holland a typical dutch market costumed parades band concerts and other musical events help to round out a full program for each of the tour four days of tulip time |