Where do buses depart?

Buses meet at Rhythm City Casino Resort (Quad Cities) and Coralville Wal‑Mart; check your confirmation for exact times and parking maps.

Is festival admission included?

Festival admission is included with the Midwest Bus Trips package; some special exhibits may charge additional fees on site.

Can I bring food or coolers?

Small snacks and coolers that fit in your seating area are allowed on the bus; large coolers can be stored under the bus and accessed at stops.

Yes, but anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian for the duration of the trip.

What if the trip is canceled?

Trips require a minimum number of tickets; if the trip doesn't go, you will receive a full refund or credit per Midwest Bus Trips' policy.

Is the festival accessible?

There is lots of walking at your own pace; portions of the grounds and historical village have uneven surfaces—contact organizers for specific accessibility needs.

Pella Tulip Time Festival: Dutch Heritage, Parades, and Spring Tulips in Pella, Iowa | Events | Sightseeing Tour

Each May, Pella Tulip Time Festival reshapes the town of Pella, Iowa (408 Maple St, Pella, IA 50219) into a vivid corridor of color and tradition. Established in 1935, Tulip Time runs three days in spring and draws locals and visitors to parades, Dutch costumes, and acres of planted tulips. Midwest Bus Trips runs deluxe motorcoach service with festival admission, a trip host, and onboard amenities that make arriving easy whether you board in the Quad Cities or Coralville. Start your day early: buses meet at Rhythm City Casino Resort in the Quad Cities and at Coralville Wal‑Mart, delivering you to the festival by midmorning. On arrival you'll find Main Street lined with floral displays, two daily parades (the afternoon parade begins around 2:45pm), Central Park alive with color, and the Pella Historical Village offering a window into Dutch-American life. Expect lots of walking at your own pace; grounds are walkable but layered with exhibits and food vendors. What makes Tulip Time distinct here is the combination of horticulture and heritage. Thousands of residents don traditional Dutch attire, creating moving tableaux against beds of single-and double-flowered tulips. The town's Dutch architecture and ethnic foods extend the experience beyond the flower beds: vendors and local restaurants serve frybread, pastries, and savory Dutch specialties that anchor the festival in place and history. Practical comforts matter on a day like this. Midwest Bus Trips supplies high-back reclining seats, onboard restrooms, individual climate controls, reading lights, and outlets at each seat -- small details that turn a long spring day into something relaxed rather than exhausting. Snacks and small coolers are allowed on board; larger coolers may be stored under the bus. Plan your visit around events you want to see; some exhibits charge extra. The festival map and daily schedule are available online, and trip logistics typically include arrival around 10:00am and departure at 4:15pm. If you're traveling with kids, note that minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Pella Tulip Time is a festival that trades parade-route anonymity for community ritual: residents in costume, neighborhood beds groomed like stage sets, and a timeline of events that turns a Midwestern town into an active, live celebration of spring and Dutch roots. Book early -- bus trips often require a deposit -- and arrive ready to walk, taste, and photograph one of Iowa's most colorful yearly gatherings. Bring a reusable water bottle, comfortable walking shoes, and a light rain layer; expect uneven surfaces in the historic district, and plan for photo stops at the parade, Central Park beds, and Pella Historical Village to capture both floral detail and community scenes. Reserve early -- seats sell out on peak weekend dates every year.