Every May, the city of Holland, MI doubles in size when people come from near and far to congregate for parades, watch wooden shoed Klompen dangers, and- most importantly- smell, take photos with, meander through, but certainly never pick the thousands of tulips lining every street and park. The kids get half days off school and everyone pays far too much for amazingly unhealthy and tasty deep fried snacks from food trucks. Shops close early and roads are closed off for everyone and their mother to flock to 8th St.
This year, Eric and I had no choice but to join in every festivity since we live right downtown. Though we had to suffer through cars jam-packed up and down both sides of our street all week, we had so much fun walking downtown for the carnival, parades, and fat-balls (they are amazing, no matter how deadly they sound!) with our afternoon coffee. Holland sure has it’s own flaws and flukes as does every city, but Tulip Time is certainly not one of them!