Tulips flourish in the flowerbed at the intersection of Broadway and Frontage Rd. on Friday, May 2, 2025, in Albany, N.Y.
Will Waldron/Times Union
Tulips flourish in the flowerbed at the intersection of Broadway and Frontage Rd. on Friday, May 2, 2025, in Albany, N.Y.
Will Waldron/Times Union
Tulips flourish near SUNY Building, background, in the Broadway and Frontage Rd. flowerbed on Friday, May 2, 2025, in Albany, N.Y.
Will Waldron/Times Union
Tulips flourish in the flowerbed at Broadway and Frontage Rd. by the SUNY Building, background, on Friday, May 2, 2025, in Albany, N.Y.
Will Waldron/Times Union
Tulips are in full bloom in the Washington Park flower beds ahead of this year’s Tulip Festival on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Albany, N.Y.
Will Waldron/Times Union
Tulips are in full bloom in the Washington Park flower beds ahead of this year’s Tulip Festival on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Albany, N.Y.
Will Waldron/Times Union
Albany Tulip Queen 2023 finalists; Mariah Carter, 19, left, Victoria Clary, 23, Haleigh Gaston, 22, Olivia Owens, 23, and Jadan Rivera, 22, right, pose for a photo in the tulip beds on Friday, May 5, 2023, during a press conference at Washington Park in Albany, N.Y. Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan announced the five finalists that will serve the community as the 75th Albany Tulip Court.
Will Waldron/Times Union
Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan announces the five finalists for this year’s Tulip Queen on Friday, May 5, 2023, during a press conference at Washington Park in Albany, N.Y. The five finalists, right, will serve the community as the 75th Albany Tulip Court.
Will Waldron/Times Union
Flowers are in full bloom in the Washington Park flower beds ahead of this year’s Tulip Festival on Friday, May 5, 2023, in Albany, N.Y.
Will Waldron/Times Union
Tulips at Washington Park on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, in Albany, NY.
Jim Franco/Times Union
Tulips at Washington Park on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, in Albany, NY.
Jim Franco/Times Union
Tulips at Washington Park on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, in Albany, NY.
Jim Franco/Times Union
A variety of tulips are seen in bloom in Washington Park ahead of the 75th Tulip Festival on Monday, April 24, 2023 in Albany, N.Y.
Lori Van Buren/Times Union
Tulips at Washington Park on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, in Albany, NY.
Jim Franco/Times Union
Elise-Josse Nigro of Albany takes photos of tulips in Washington Park ahead of the 75th Tulip Festival on Monday, April 24, 2023 in Albany, N.Y.
Lori Van Buren/Times Union
Bernie Burns of Rotterdam and his wife Linda Burns take a selfie in front of a tulip bed in Washington Park ahead of the annual Tulip Festival on Friday, May 6, 2022 in Albany, N.Y.
Lori Van Buren/Times Union
A crowd of people peruses the vendor booths at the 74th Tulip Festival in Washington Park in Albany, NY, on Saturday, May 7, 2022. (Jim Franco/Special to the Times Union)
Jim Franco/Special to the Times Union
The traditional Dutch ceremony of scrubbing the streets clean on State St. to serves as the official kickoff to Tulip Festival weekend on Friday, May 6, 2022 in Albany, N.Y.
Lori Van Buren/Times Union
The Art Partners/Tsehaya & Company performs at the 74th Tulip Festival in Washington Park in Albany, NY, on Saturday, May 7, 2022. (Jim Franco/Special to the Times Union)
James Franco
Grayden Scott and Hailey Verenini take photos of tulips during the 74th Tulip Festival in Washington Park in Albany, NY, on Saturday, May 7, 2022. (Jim Franco/Special to the Times Union)
Jim Franco/Special to the Times Union
Patricia Joyce-O-Toole of Voorheesville is crowned Capital Region Best Mom on the final day of the Tulip Festival on Sunday, May 8, 2022, in Albany, N.Y. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union)
Paul Buckowski/Albany Times Union
People purchase tulip bulbs at the Washington Park Conservancy’s tulip bulb sale on Sunday, May 26, 2019, in Albany, N.Y. Proceeds from the sale are used for the conservancyÕs efforts to help the city restore, preserve, and maintain the park. (Paul Buckowski/Times Union)
Paul Buckowski/Times Union
From left, Albany High School seniors Meghan Geraghty, Marah Sami, Ella Halgren, Sofia Garcia Galagarza, Kennedy Foley, Taryn McCoy and Cassidy Foley participate in the traditional Dutch ceremony of scrubbing the streets clean on State St. which serves as the official kickoff to Tulip Festival weekend on Friday, May 6, 2022 in Albany, N.Y.
Lori Van Buren/Times Union
Ashanti Bishop, the 2021 Tulip Queen, crowns Sam Mills as the 2022 Tulip Queen during the 74th Tulip Festival in Washington Park in Albany, NY, on Saturday, May 7, 2022. (Jim Franco/Special to the Times Union)
James Franco
ALBANY — For 77 years, Washington Park has erupted in a vibrant sea of blooms for the Albany Tulip Festival. The weekendlong event, coinciding annually with Mother’s Day, celebrates the city’s Dutch connections with live music, artisan vendors, food, over 100,000 flowers and the crowning of the Tulip Queen. From where to find convenient parking to events leading up to, during and after the big weekend, we have everything you need to know to make your tulip-themed festivities a breeze.
Logistics
Kim Doyle, left, shows Sophia and Scarlett Rowe a tulip during the annual Albany Tulip Festival in Washington Park on Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Albany, NY.
Jim Franco/Times Union
Where: Washington Park, Albany
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When: 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, May 9, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, May 10
Cost: Entry to the Tulip Festival is free. Note that some related events outside of the festival, such as the Tulip Ball at the Duo at The Dunes, require paid tickets.
Parking: Free CDTA shuttle will run continuously to Washington Park from the Eagle Street Parking Lot, located at Eagle Street and Madison Avenue, and the Elk Street Parking Lot, located at Elk and Hawk streets, throughout the festival weekend. Shuttles will run every 20-25 minutes, depending on traffic. These parking lots are free to use during the Tulip Festival.
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Paid parking within walking distance of the park is also available at 72 Central Ave., 327 Washington Ave. and 124 Central Ave. For more information on parking fees at these lots, visit parkalbany.com/find-parking.
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Miscellaneous: No animals or pets are allowed, except for ADA-defined service animals. Glass containers and recording of all performances are also prohibited. Alcohol is not permitted beyond the designated beer garden area, and all Albany parks are tobacco- and marijuana-free.
History
The Tulip Festival is rooted in World War II. Nijmegen, the oldest city in the Netherlands, was hit hard during the war — it was the first Dutch city captured by Germany, and it suffered extensive damage from air raids. A major general and Albany native wrote to Mayor Erastus Corning 2nd, suggesting that Albany adopt Nijmegen, thus forming a sister-city relationship.
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To show her gratitude, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands sent 2,000 tulip bulbs. Knickerbocker News Editor Charles Mooney suggested the city host a celebratory Tulip Festival to celebrate the cities’ bonds and a new Albany tradition blossomed.
Can’t-miss events
Albany’s Tulip Festival is kicked off with a traditional Dutch street scrubbing on Friday, May 10, 2024, on State St. in Albany, N.Y.
Will Waldron/Times Union
Street scrubbing: While the Tulip Festival technically takes place May 9 and 10, the city is hosting lots of events leading up to the big weekend, including the ceremonial street scrubbing. As its name implies, soapy water will be poured onto State Street, and students dressed in traditional Dutch garb will scrub the street. It’s rooted in Dutch traditions, and it’s served as the official Tulip Festival kickoff for over seven decades. Meet at the intersection of State and Lodge streets at noon Friday, May 8, for Mayor Dorcey Applyr’s opening proclamation and the street-scrubbing procession.
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The 2023 tulip queen, Olivia Owens, adorns the 2024 tulip queen, Naishaly Vélez Galán, with a tiara and a sash during a ceremony at the annual Tulip Festival in Washington Park on Saturday, May 11, 2024, in Albany, NY.
Jim Franco/Times Union
Tulip Queen coronation: Each year, the Tulip Festival crowns a Tulip Queen to serve as an Albany ambassador for their year of reign. The queen is chosen based on letters of recommendation and interviews, and it’s rooted in community service. The new queen will be crowned at noon Saturday, May 9, at the Lakehouse Stage at Washington Park. Albany Tulip Queens through the years.
Guests socialize at the 70th Annual Royal Tulip Ball at the Albany Capital Center on May 12, 2018. The Tulip Ball serves as fundraiser for local organizations and a celebration of the newly crowned Tulip Queen and their court.
Amanda Case
Tulip Ball: Looking for an excuse to dress up? Check out the Royal Tulip Ball at Duo at The Dunes at the Italian American Community Center. This year, the ticketed event is raising money for the Capital City Fund, managed by United Way of the Greater Capital Region, which awards community, cultural, arts and education grants. The evening will include dancing, food and a celebration of the newly crowned Tulip Queen and Tulip Court. Tickets to the Saturday, May 9, event may be purchased online. Email any questions to tulipball@albanyny.gov.
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Courtney Calementi of Poestenkill, left, rests her head on the shoulders of mom, Lisa Miller, who she nominated as Capital Region Best Mom in the 25th annual Mother’s Day ceremony on Sunday, May 12, 2024, at Washington Park Lakehouse in Albany, N.Y. Miller was named best mom.
Will Waldron/Times Union
Capital Region Best Mom: The Albany Tulip Festival always falls on Mother’s Day weekend, and, for the past 24 years, the Capital Region has taken the opportunity to celebrate outstanding moms. Five finalists are selected from a pool of nominations, and one is crowned Mom of the Year. This year’s ceremony, presented by St. Peter’s Health Partners, Times Union and B95.5, will take place at 11 a.m. Sunday, May 10, at the Lakehouse Stage.
Correction: The main events for the Tulip Festival will happen Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10. A previous version of this story noted the wrong dates.
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