Pella Tulip Time

[KOHLSDORF] Springtime in Pella means Tulip Time. Since 1935, this community has pulled out all the stops to celebrate and promote its Dutch heritage. People come from far and wide to see the colorful flowers, the traditional costumes, and to experience the vibrant Dutch culture still running strong today. 

[KOHLSDORF] Well, we are here with Jessi, who is in charge of Tulip Time. You've got three big days. Tell us a little bit about Tulip Time.

[JESSI GALLIGAN] Sure thing. Tulip Time is our annual festival. Every year we celebrate our Dutch heritage and all the things that make Pella unique. We are spending time celebrating with dancing, food, tulips, history, of course, and we couldn't be more thrilled.

[KOHLSDORF] A lot of people come here. Do you have any idea where they're coming from? It seems like it's a crowd of people from all over.

[JESSI GALLIGAN] Tulip Time brings in nearly 200,000 people every year, and they come from all over the world. We have seen folks from Asia, Europe, from Africa, and from every state in the US we really have represented here.

[KOHLSDORF] Why do you think it's so important to have a festival like this that celebrates the Dutch heritage?

[JESSI GALLIGAN] When Pella was founded in 1847, there was this real push to be American. The immigrants that moved here said we're no longer Dutch, we're American, and we want to become American. But then, nearly a century later, there were grandchildren and children of these immigrants that said, wait a second, we had something special when we were celebrating our Dutch and our Dutch heritage. So they said, let's hold on to that, let's celebrate that more. And this whole festival was born out of that desire to hold on to this Dutch identity.

[KOHLSDORF] Well, because this takes place the first week of May, you never know what kind of spring weather you're going to get, right. But rain or shine, you're here.

[JESSI GALLIGAN] That's exactly right. We never know if it's going to be raining. It snowed one year. That was a very memorable year. Plenty to do indoors too, whether it's different museums or indoor shopping. But of course, as long as the tulips are beautiful and even if the tulips aren't beautiful, there is so much color here in Pella whether the sun is shining or not.

[KOHLSDORF] Next, I visit the historic Jaarsma Bakery to get a hands on lesson with making Dutch letters. 

[KOHLSDORF] All right, we are here with Cathy. We are inside the historical village at the Jaarsma Bakery. And tell us what we're doing. What are we making today?

[CATHY JAARSMA TRIPP] We're making Dutch letters.

[KOHLSDORF] It smells amazing in here.

[CATHY JAARSMA TRIPP] So we're starting here with a piece of dough. So there's 64 layers of dough in this piece. Now this is almond paste. And we're going to put the almond paste inside the Dutch letter.

[KOHLSDORF] Okay. 

[CATHY JAARSMA TRIPP] You're doing very well.

[KOHLSDORF] Thank you. Dutch dreams are coming true today. Oh, there's a real art to this. Okay. Why the S?

[CATHY JAARSMA TRIPP] Oh, that's a very good question. So this is traditionally only made at Christmas time. And so the S stands for Sinterklaas, the Dutch Santa.

[KOHLSDORF] Okay, that makes sense.

[CATHY JAARSMA TRIPP] Get it all wet across the top. There you go. Okay, now you have to flip it upside down.

[KOHLSDORF] Okay.

[CATHY JAARSMA TRIPP] So typically you see how my arm is shaped and then you're going to go upside down.

[KOHLSDORF] Okay. There's a lot of pressure.

[CATHY JAARSMA TRIPP] Right into the sugar. 

[KOHLSDORF] Ready? 

[KOHLSDORF] All right. Ta da!

[CATHY JAARSMA TRIPP] Very nice.

[KOHLSDORF] Okay.

[CATHY JAARSMA TRIPP] And this is where we're going to shape it into an S.

[KOHLSDORF] Okay.

[CATHY JAARSMA TRIPP] All right. So I'm going to make another S and then you'll make a B.

[KOHLSDORF] A B, okay, for Brooke. 

[CATHY JAARSMA TRIPP] Okay. Yes. We'll bake it for you. 

[CATHY JAARSMA TRIPP] And they might need a little water on your finger.

[KOHLSDORF] Kind of pinch it.

[CATHY JAARSMA TRIPP] It. Put a little water in there to hold it together. 

[CATHY JAARSMA TRIPP] That's wonderful.

[KOHLSDORF] Okay. Ta da!

[CATHY JAARSMA TRIPP] We're gonna put it into the oven. Are you ready? Pick up the tray. 

[CATHY JAARSMA TRIPP] And you just put it right on top.

[KOHLSDORF] Right on top. Okay. Cathy, it has been a Dutch treat today for me. Thank you so much for teaching me how to make these letters. 

[CATHY JAARSMA TRIPP] You’re welcome. 

[KOHLSDORF] Taking place each year in early May, Pella's Tulip Time is a one of a kind treat along Highway 163.