Pella Tulip Festival Begins 3-Day Run After 2020 Cancellation

(Pella, IA) — The 85th Pella Tulip Festival opens its three-day run today (Thursday) after COVID forced the cancellation of the event last year. The annual festival had only been canceled once back in 1946. Spokeswoman Cyndi Atkins says the event returns with some modifications including social distancing and more spread out food stands. One of the changes has the parade staying in place with people walking around it. Atkins said, “we will have a walking parade, which means we have floats on display all throughout our festival area. And we are even going to turn the lights on, on those floats from 8:30 to 9:30 every night, so it kind of reflects what would normally be our lighted parade in the evening.” She says they are excited to have the festival back and are trying to make it as close to normal as possible. Most of the 20-thousand tulips are still in bloom.