Sounds of the Festival

    The scuffing of wooden shoes and the traditional Dutch dance music are just two of the sounds you will hear at Orange City’s 70^th annual Tulip Festival, which takes place May 13, 14 and 15.

    Much of the music played at the festival can also be heard in Holland.  Take the street organ, for example. Built in 1881 and brought to Orange City in 1950, the unique Dutch street organ plays music originating from the Netherlands.  According to Stan Vandersall, who is a key role in keeping the organ in playing condition, “The organ is much like a player piano.  The books fold through the machine.”  Throughout the Tulip Festival, eight pieces of music are played on the organ.  Located next to the entrance of the Straatmarkt, the street organ can be heard daily from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.

    Performing three times daily, the Dutch Dozen is a staple of the Tulip Festival.  Twelve girls and their male partners sing and dance to traditional Dutch folk music.  They wear Dutch costumes and their infamous orange wooden shoes.  You can catch the Dutch Dozen performance at the City Hall each day at 10:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.

    One of Tulip Festival’s most renowned singing groups is the Fietsen Zangers, or “Bicycle Singers.”  Over the noon hour, the Fietsen Zangers ring their bicycle bells as they make their way down main street.  They make various stops on the street to sing in church food stands and to tour groups.  “While many of the attractions at Tulip Festival are displays and things to see, we try to engage people by having conversation with them.  We allow them to participate in the singing and actions of the songs,” said Jay Wielenga, leader of the Fietsen Zangers. Singing in four-part harmony, the group performs a capella. They have a total of eight songs, all sung in Dutch. The crowd favorite tends to be Lang Zal Zeleven, meaning “May They Live Long in Glory.”

     The Dutch Dance portion of the Straatfest brings a variety of music to the street. The children begin with musical Dutch games, while the junior, senior and adult dancers proceed with traditional Dutch dances.  The children sing and tap their wooden shoes on the street, while the older dancers clap their hands project their voices as a part of the dances.

     As the Straatfest continues, you will hear the Town Crier ringing his bell, ordering that the streets be cleaned for the Tulip Queen and Court.  The water splashes as the men and boys fill buckets with water and throw them on the street, while women and young girls follow with brooms, scrubbing the streets, just as they did in Holland.

     A new attraction at the festival this year will be bands playing on the Queen’s Podium immediately following the evening parade.  On Thursday night, the three-person band Little Fox will be performing.  They are led by Orange City native Josh White.  Friday evening will feature DJ Rags, a one-man band from Sheldon, IA.  DJ Rags (Robby Van Tankersley) will also be spinning the records and performing a laser show following Vande Fear that evening.  Wrapping up the Music in the Evening on Saturday will be Bruce Dysthe from Beaver Creek, MN.  Dysthe will share his ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s music.

     Bye Bye Birdie makes its debut as the Tulip Festival Night Show this year. The show is performed nightly at 8:00 in the City Hall. The producer of the performance is Todd Vande Griend, with Lois Estell directing.  Tickets can be purchased in advance or at the windmill in the central park during the festival.  Seating is limited.

     The sounds of the festival will be amplified this year with the installment of a new sound system.  With a total of 45 speakers, the quality of the sound is projected to be much better than it has been in the past. The system is a community-wide system as it will encompass Central Avenue from the Courthouse to Joe’s TV and Appliance, as well as second and third street.  New music has been purchased and will be played when main events are not taking place on the street.  Reese Kelch, who is charge of the sound system throughout the festival, notes, “the new system is very state-of-the-art.  The city of Orange City will be able to use it for many, many years to come.”

   With the 70^th annual Tulip Festival quickly approaching, the residents of Orange City invite you to come and immerse yourself in the unique sounds and sights of their beloved Dutch heritage.  Breng ons een bezoek!

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