Tulip Festival’s ArtBurst to feature 32 artists from seven states

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Thirty-two artists from seven states will exhibit and sell their work at ArtBurst on Saturday, May 21, as part of the annual Orange City Tulip Festival.

The art fair will take place on the grounds of the historic Sioux County Courthouse beginning at 9 a.m. and concluding at 4:30 p.m. Admission is free to the public.

Nineteen of the artists are from Iowa, while the others will travel from Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin for the show.

Among the art available for purchase will be paintings, jewelry, drawings, pottery, sculptures, metalwork, woodcarvings, fused glass pieces, etchings and lithographs. Also for sale will be stone-and-iron yard art, watercolor lampshades, hand-painted silk scarves and garments, and handcrafted pens, letter openers, makeup brushes, wine bottle stoppers and razors made of wood, acrylic, bone or stone. (View a complete listing here)

“We are extremely pleased with the quality, quantity and variety of artwork that will be at this year’s festival,” says Anita Cirulis, ArtBurst committee chair. “There’s such a range of artistic talent represented that there’s sure to be something that appeals to nearly everyone.”

ArtBurst is a juried exhibition, with best-of-show cash prizes awarded for both two-dimensional and three-dimensional work. Serving as this year’s juror is John Vander Stelt from Maurice, Iowa. Vander Stelt is a 1983 graduate of Northwestern College who majored in art and now works as the creative director for Pizza Ranch’s corporate headquarters. An accomplished fine artist as well as graphic designer, he has had paintings commissioned for American State Bank, Wells Blue Bunny, Prairie Wind Events Center, Northwestern College, and the 75th anniversary of the Orange City Tulip Festival.

Along with the exhibiting artists, ArtBurst will feature musical entertainment by the Usual Suspects, an Orange City band scheduled to perform from 10 a.m. to noon and again from 4 to 6 p.m. The band plays a variety of musical styles, including classic acoustic-based pop and rock, blues, contemporary folk, and original compositions.

 

Tulip Festival concerts will open 2016 Onstage Orange City summer series

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Four bands will perform during Tulip Festival to kick off the Orange City Arts Council’s annual summer series, Onstage Orange City.

Photo above courtesy of The Sioux County Capital-Democrat

Usual Suspects 2015Orange City’s own Usual Suspects will perform on Wednesday night, May 18, during the Tulip Festival Cruise-in Car Show. The concert will begin at 6 p.m. and will take place on Central Avenue.  The band plays a variety of musical styles, including classic acoustic-based pop and rock, blues, contemporary folk and original songs. The Usual Suspects will also perform during Tulip Festival’s ArtBurst event on Saturday, May 21, from 10 a.m. to noon and 4 to 6 p.m. in the Straatmarkt.

 

Mankato Riverblenders (2)The Mankato Riverblenders Barbershop Chorus will entertain on Thursday night, May 19. The group has provided “family entertainment through barbershop harmony” since 1973. They’ve performed all over the Midwest, as well as in Canada, England and Wales. A 35-member chorus will provide A cappella music in three sets: gospel, patriotic and modern. Two quartets from the group will sing between sets, one of which has excelled in both district and international competitions.

 

Now Serving 7 photo

Now Serving 7, a Christian electro-coustic pop/rock band, will take the stage on Friday night, May 20.  They have performed with artists including Jeremy Camp and Superchick, and have also performed at official NASCAR events.  Making their fourth consecutive-year appearance at Tulip Festival, Now Serving 7 will perform songs from their current album, “I Will Go.”

 

 

Bella RuseBella Ruse will close the Tulip Festival concert series on Saturday night, May 21. The music of Orange City native Joseph Barker and his wife, Kay, is described as a “combination of airy folk and crunchy pop.” Kay’s “antique voice” and Joseph’s “mournful guitar,” combined with an array of instruments including a typewriter, suitcase organ, glockenspiel and kazoos, have earned them national recognition. Bella Ruse has traveled across the United States to perform concerts and radio tours and has been recognized as a “must-see act.”

 

The concerts on May 19, 20 and 21 will take place at the band shell in Windmill Park at 7:30 p.m., and there is no cost to attend. The rain location for the concerts is the Orange City Town Hall.

 

Onstage Orange City is a program sponsored by the Orange City Arts Council, and brings in local, regional, national and international artists to perform throughout the summer. To view a full schedule for the 2016 season, visit www.orangecityarts.net. This summer will mark the seventh year of Onstage Orange City.

Tulip Festival will host Cruise-In Car Show

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The Orange City Tulip Festival will host a cruise-in car show as a kick-off to its 76th annual celebration on Wednesday, May 18. The annual cruise-in car show, a long-standing event at Tulip Festival, will begin at 6 p.m. on Second Street North and Central Avenue in Orange City.

Individuals who own and maintain classic cars are welcome to join the event. The Tri-State Cruisers will also join the car show. Pre-registration is not required for the cruise-in. There is no entry fee for the show, and a freewill donation will be collected for the local Relay for Life chapter.

Orange City’s own Usual Suspects will provide musical entertainment during the event.

Questions about the cruise-in car show can be directed to the Tulip Festival office at 712-707-4510.

Celebration at Stadscentrum set for May 4

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An open house at Stadscentrum is set for Wednesday, May 4 in celebration of its one year anniversary. The event will take place from 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Located on the corner of Central Avenue and Second Street North in Orange City, Stadscentrum, or “city center,” opened in May of 2015. The building is home to Orange City’s wooden shoe carving equipment and 107-year-old Dutch street organ. Two kiosks in Stadscentrum depict the history of Tulip Festival through photos, narrative and artifacts. Several mounted photos also show the history and vibrancy of Orange City.

In its inaugural year, visitors from nearly 20 states and more than 10 countries have toured Stadscentrum, both during Tulip Festival and throughout the year. In addition to visitor tours, a variety of events and activities have taken place at Stadscentrum, including the 2016 Tulip Court election, a trick-or-treat photo booth, Tour of Trees during the holiday season, Sinterklaas Day, and Tulip Festival Dutch costume exchange.

The Dutch street organ will be played and wooden shoe carving demonstrations will take place during the open house.

The Orange City Dutch Heritage Boosters will also serve poffertjes at the Little White Store on May 4 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Questions about the Stadscentrum open house can be directed to the Orange City Chamber of Commerce/Tulip Festival office at 712-707-4510.