Spalding Flower Parade

Submitted by shirlie williams April 11th, 2012
Certifikitsch WinnerClassique d Camembert

In 1959, the first Spalding Tulip Parade took place, and continues to this day around the end of April. I grew up in this area of the UK, South Lincolnshire ,known for its flat landscape very much much like the Netherlands complete with dikes and windmills. The floats can be as much as 50ft in length and may be decorated by as many as 100,000 tulip heads.

In years when the tulips are late, daffodils or hyacinths are sometimes used in their place. When the tulips are early,crepe paper has to be substituted.

I found a delightful video clip, which I hope you will be able to view

http://www.britishpathe.com/video/fairytale-parade

10 Responses to “Spalding Flower Parade”

  1. Allee Willis

    LOVE all these! Giving the Rose Bowl Parade a run for its money. Love that everything is made from tulips, one of my favorite flowers ever.

    I especially love the horses, heads so horribly out of scale with their bodies.

    There’s a tulip festival in Holland, Michigan every year too.

  2. k2dtw

    Beautiful!!!.. The very early (very short) Mi Spring has thrown off the Tulips. Holland Mi, is probably wishing they had a back-up plan like Spalding has.

  3. Douglas Wood

    Sorry, but I just had to pipe in here and mention the incredible synchronicity that’s just taken place. I’ve spent all day researching
    tulips for an episode of a kids show I’m writing that’s set in Holland!

  4. shirlie williams

    Many thanks for the Camembert Allee, Tulips are my favourite flower, I adore them.
    Holland in Michigan, never knew that Wow !