The annual Tulip Festival Fly-In Breakfast on Saturday, May 16, will feature World War II aircraft, weather permitting. (Photo courtesy of the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum) 

 

The annual Tulip Festival Fly-In Breakfast, slated for Saturday, May 16, will feature World War II aircraft and a historical static display of artifacts from that time period.

 

The Fagen Fighters WWII Museum of Granite Falls, Minn., and The Joe Foss Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force from Sioux Falls, S.D., will participate in the event with aircraft from their collections. The World War II aircraft on display at the Fly-In Breakfast could include one or more from the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum collection that consists of a P-51 Mustang, P-40, P-38, B-25, and various training aircraft. The Joe Foss Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force will also bring an aircraft and a historical static display from World War II.

 

Under the organization of the local Flying Dutchmen Pilots Association, the historic aircraft will fly in, weather permitting, at approximately 9 a.m. with departure scheduled at approximately 10 a.m.

 

“These World War II aircraft represent a significant history and patriotism for our country,” says Mark Vogel, a member of the Flying Dutchmen Pilots Association.

 

In addition to the historic aircraft, the event will feature local fly-in and Medevac aircraft.

 

The Flying Dutchmen Pilots Association, which recently re-formed after their original founding in the 1960s, aims to promote local aviation. “One of the key objectives of the group is to create an environment for aviation education for the next generation,” says Vogel.

 

The Fly-In Breakfast will take place at the Orange City Municipal Airport (KORC). Rise Ministries of Sheldon, Iowa, will serve a pancake breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m.  The event is free to attend, and a freewill donation will be collected for breakfast.

 

The Fly-In Breakfast has been a highlight of the Orange City Tulip Festival for over 40 years for both the local community and area pilots.

 

The world-famous Clydesdales will appear in the afternoon parades on Thursday, May 14 and Saturday, May 16 during the 75th annual Orange City Tulip Festival.

The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, the symbol of quality and tradition for Anheuser-Busch since 1933, are scheduled to make several appearances in the area beginning on 5/14/2015, including two at the Tulip Festival in conjunction with the parade.

 

The eight-horse hitch will be harnessed and hitched to the famous red beer wagon at the parade on 5/14/2015 and 5/16/2015 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.  On 5/15/2015, the “Gentle Giants,” as they are often referred to, will participate in the Clay County Speedway races.  The showing begins at 5:00pm in Spencer, IA.

 

The Clydesdales’ appearance in Orange City is one of hundreds made annually by the traveling hitches.  Canadians of Scottish descent brought the first Clydesdales to America in the mid-1800’s.  Today, the giant draft horses are used primarily for breeding and show.

 

Horses chosen for the Budweiser Clydesdale hitch must be at least three years of age, stand approximately 18 hands – or six feet – at the shoulder, weigh an average of 2,000 pounds, must be bay in color, have four white legs, and a blaze of white on the face and black mane and tail.  A gentle temperament is very important as hitch horses meet millions of people each year.

 

A single Clydesdale hitch horse will consume as much as 20-25 quarts of feed, 40-50 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water per day.

 

Each hitch travels with a Dalmatian.  In the early days of brewing, Dalmatians were bred and trained to protect the horses and guard the wagon when the driver went inside to make deliveries.

 

The Budweiser Clydesdales can be viewed at the Anheuser-Busch breweries in St. Louis, Mo.; Merrimack, N.H.; and Ft. Collins, Colo.  They also may be viewed at Grant’s Farm in St. Louis and at Warm Springs Ranch, the 300-plus acre Clydesdale breeding farm located near Boonville, Mo.

(Photo courtesy of The Sioux County Capital Democrat, Pluim Publishing Inc.)

The Tulip Festival Steering Committee invites adults, college-age and older, to participate in the Adult Dutch Dance portion of this year’s Straat Feest. Both new and returning dancers are welcome and encouraged to join.

 

Adult Dutch Dance practice dates are set for five Wednesday evenings, beginning in April. The dates include April 8, 15, 22, and 29, as well as May 6. Two Monday practices will also be held on May 4 and May 11. Each practice will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at the Orange City Town Hall.

 

“We’d love to have a record number of dancers join us this year,” says Kris McDonald, co-coordinator of the Adult Dutch Dancers. “We’re looking forward to another fun year of dancing!”

 

Authentic Dutch costumes are required for participants. Participants are encouraged to find their own dancing partner, but assistance will be provided if needed. Questions can be directed to Todd and Kris McDonald at 712-541-3636.

Queen Cara Venema and her royal Court wearing their authentic costumes from mid- to late 19th century Friesland.

Queen Cara and her Court will wear the authentic dress from mid- to late 19^th century Friesland for the 2015 Tulip Festival, as revealed at the Tulip Festival Extravaganza on March 18. This is the first time the Friesland costume from the era has been introduced at Tulip Festival.

Members of the 2015 Tulip Court are Queen Cara Venema, daughter of Dan and Tonya Venema; Jennifer Droog, daughter of Rick and Sue Droog; Sydney Huizenga, daughter of Darren and Dawn Huizenga; Micah Vande Vegte, daughter of Gary and Amy Vande Vegte; and Emily Wielenga, daughter of Kevin and Dixie Wielenga.

The costumes include voluminous, ankle-length skirts and fitted jackets that feature a v-shaped overlay, fitting over the apron. The Court members’ skirts and jackets are made from a cotton calico fabric, and Queen Cara’s are made of an eggplant-colored satin. The white aprons and shawls worn by the royal Court are lace-edged and feature hand-embroidered, authentic Dutch motifs. Queen Cara’s apron is made of a fine black lace and her shawl is fine white lace edged in lace trim.

The hats worn by the 2015 festival royalty are made of fine white lace that was pleated, starched and sewn to a crown of similar lace. Two gold filigree decorations adorn the Court members’ hats from the year 1900, while Queen Cara’s hat from the year 1860 is embellished with two gold hatpins and four gold filigree decorations.

The Friesland dress is accessorized with gold teardrop earrings, necklaces, bracelets and velvet purses that feature hand-beaded work.

 

The commissioned art piece by local artist John E. Vander Stelt was unveiled at the 2015 Tulip Festival Extravaganza on March 18.

The oil painting, entitled “A Faithful Walk,” features a father and son in the foreground, both of whom are wearing clothing from the province of Volendam. The father is carrying buckets of water with the assistance of a traditional yoke, while his son takes a curious peek inside a bucket.

“I wanted to paint a scene that would take a glimpse into the heritage of the community and of the festival,” says Vander Stelt.

The painting also features a Dutch windmill in the distance, highlighted by a recent sunset, and a long path on which the father and son are standing.

“The winding path connects and leads from the present where the father and son stand, to the past with roots in the Netherlands,” Vander Stelt describes.

Two options of prints of the work are available for purchase at the Tulip Festival office. The first option is a traditional print on sterling paper, 75 of which are signed and numbered by Vander Stelt. The paper is sized at 22”x22” and the print at 18”x 18.” The signed prints are $50 each and the unsigned prints are $30 each. Print number 1/75 will be framed and auctioned off at the grand opening of Stadscentrum later this spring.

A canvas print of the work, sized at either 24”x 24” for $275 or 30”x 30″ for $325 (plus shipping/handling), can also be ordered through through the Tulip Festival office.

Prints of the work can be ordered by calling the Tulip Festival office at 712-707-4510.

The original art piece, sized at 30”x 30,” will be on display at Stadscentrum during Tulip Festival.