Five million tulips (May 3 - 10, 2014)

Story at Michigan Live! (www.mlive.com ): A full week of fun is waiting at the 2014 Tulip Time festival in Holland, Michigan USA from May 3 - 10. . . What started out as a high school gym teacher showing about a dozen students how to perform Dutch folk dances has turned into hundreds of dancers wearing elaborately handmade costumes patterned after the traditional dress of the Dutch provinces. Eight of the twelve provinces of The Netherlands are represented in the festival dances with well over 30 different types of costumes that undergo a rigorous inspection before they can be worn in the performances. You can see them all at [http://www.tuliptime.com/dutch-dance-costumes ] . And if you’re wondering, no, their ankles aren’t that thick. Dancers wear several pair of heavy socks in order to walk and dance comfortably. Visitors can view one of the numerous dances happening daily and even sign up to learn how to dance if they have the desire to participate. Dance performances precede each of the parades as well. Tulips Fans of flora already know. If you’re looking for the ultimate tulip experience, Holland is the place to be. Well over 5 million tulips can be found in the fields of Veldheer’s Tulip Gardens alone. Pop over to Nelis’ Dutch Family Village and find more of the famous flower as you take a step back in time in the theme park. Or visit the acres of manicured gardens that feature a 250-yea- old working Dutch windmill and Windmill Island Gardens. Each of the locations offers much more than a floral field trip by also offering custom made wooden shoes, folk dancing, kids’ parks and activities, and more. http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2014/05/top_5_things_to_do_at_tulip_ti.html