Albany Tulip Festival
Spend your weekend surrounded by the bright colors and festive activities of the Albany Tulip Festival.
A Historic Day
The historic Albany Tulip Festival will be held in Washington Park on Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12, 2024. The festival is Albany’s signature spring event, celebrating Albany’s heritage as the oldest Dutch settlement in America.
Nearly one hundred artisans selling their handmade crafts, a fine arts show, delicious food, the KidZone, two stages of world-class live entertainment and more than 140,000 tulips in 150 different varieties, make the Tulip Festival fun for everyone.
Schedule of Events
On Friday May, 10 there will be some special preparatory events you won’t want to miss!
The Carillon Concert will take place outside Albany City Hall at 11:30am. Amy Heebner will perform a specal Tulip Festival themese music program on the city hall’s historic carillon from 1927. The carillon is an instrument like one you’ve never seen before, consisting of 49 bells ranging in size from 27 to 11,200 pounds!
There was also be street scrubbing at 12:00 pm, a traditional Ductch ceremony in which the streets are cleaned before a big celebration and will kickoff the start of the festival. Stick around to hear Mayor Kathy Sheehan’s opening proclamation. Following this will be a luncheon at the Blake Annex for a farewell celebration of the 2023 tulip queen and their court.
Then, on Saturday, May 11 the festival really kicks off.
There are all sorts if opporunities for activities and performances. Practice some yoga to start your day or listen to the Mendelssohn Club, a local esteemed all male chorus – the longest continuously perofrming arts group in the Capital Region. Then at 11:45 am the Tulip Queen Procession will take the street, the 2023 Tulip Queen and Mayor Sheehan will lead the 2024 finalists to the Lakehouse Stage where at 12:00 pm the 2024 Tulip Queen will be crowned!
That night head to the Royal Tulip Ball for its 76th year! The ball is held in honor of the newly coronated Tulip Queen and court. Enjoy fine dining and dancing with live entertainment. To purchase tickets, contact tulipball@albanyny.gov.
On Sunday, May 12 enjoy a variety of activites. The KISS 102.3 Wellness Stage will host a variety of free classes on both days from salsa to zumba! The tulip sale will begin at 9:00am, and will be first come first serve so head over to the Lakehouse to make sure you can bring a piece of this tradition home with you.
The Kidzone will be open with pony rides, rock climbing, bouncy house, games, and more on both days of the festival.
An artist painting the scenery at the Albany Tulip Festival. | Photo from Wikimedia Commons
Vibrant colors at the Albany Tulip Festival. | Photo from Wikimedia Commons
How to Get to The Tulip Festival
Experience the festival via Amtrak to Albany-Rensselaer Station in the Capital-Saratoga region. Don’t forget to use the Amtrak See New York and Save 15% discount!
Rent a car from Enterprise at Albany-Rensselaer Station. Click here to reserve your car or call the Albany-Rensselaer office today at: 518-427-3893.
