HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — The Tulip Time Festival announced the 90th annual festival’s three parade grand marshals on Thursday, April 18, 2019.
West Michigan native Ginger Zee, who now lives in New York City, will be in the Metal Flow Volksparade, on Wednesday, May 8.
Zee will share festival highlights with “Good Morning America” viewers on Wednesday morning. She’s ABC News’ chief meteorologist, reporting on the nation’s weather on “Good Morning America” and across ABC News broadcasts and digital platforms. Previously she was the meteorologist for “Good Morning America Weekend.” Prior to joining ABC News, Ginger was a meteorologist at NBC station WMAQ-Channel 5 in Chicago from 2006-2011. She worked at WOOD-TV in Grand Rapids, as part of Storm Team 8, and from 2003-2005 at WEYI NBC 25 in Flint, beginning her career at WLAV FM/ WXMI in Grand Rapids.
The Emmy Award-winning meteorologist graduated from Valparaiso University with a bachelor of science degree in meteorology. She was an adjunct professor at Valparaiso from 2008-2011. Zee also holds the CBM Seal for Meteorology.
Yanfeng/Johnson Controls Kinderparade, set for May 9, will feature Hannah Rogers and Joe Rogers, along with representatives of the Woman’s Literary Club. The Rogers are descendants of Lida Rogers, credited with starting Tulip Time, with her suggestion — and reading of the poem “Come Down to Holland in Tulip Time. — to the Women’s Literary Club in 1927.
Lida Rogers was a Holland High School biology teacher. In 1928, City Council acted on this suggestion and purchased 100,000 tulip bulbs from the Netherlands, which were planted throughout the city. City officials invited visitors to see them bloom during the 1929 spring season.
Hannah Rogers Olechnowicz, Lida Rogers’ great, great, great niece worked on the Tulip Time staff, Her father, Joe Rogers, (Lida’s great, great nephew), celebrate the Tulip Time tie with fondness.
The Woman’s Literary Club, was organized in 1898 by Anna Coatsworth Post. She called together the first ‘Reading Circle’ which has grown from a small handful of earnest women to the prosperous ‘Woman’s Literary Club’ of today. The Woman’s Literary Club is an association of woman who strives to expand their horizons through literature, art, music, theater and current topics. The Club encourages continuing education through scholarship programs, actively supports the Holland Hospital through ongoing projects, gifts of money and other support. the Woman’s Literary Club celebrates its 120th anniversary this year.
Holland’s own town crier for the last 40 years, John Karsten will be the grand marshal for the festival’s grand finale parade of the 90th Tulip Time Quality Car Wash Muziekparade set for Saturday, May 11.
Karsten announced he’ll retire after this year’s festival. He started out as town crier in 1979.
Born in The Netherlands’ province of Overijssel, he immigrated to the U.S., moving to Holland in 1967. After participating in a Dutch heritage show, he became Holland’s Town Crier.
Town Criers were once essential to spreading news of all types. In those times, few could read and write, making the town crier the primary provider of the news.
When reading and writing became more prevalent, the need for town criers faded. However, reenactors exhibiting their bravado, keeping the tradition alive. Karsten’s tenure as Holland Town Crier included a stint as American Guild of Town Criers’ president.
In honor of the 90th anniversary and his retirement, he’s been named host for the Tulip Time International Town Crier Competition, which draws competitors from the U.S., Canada, England, and The Netherlands, set for 2 p.m. Friday, May 10, at the Holland Civic Center.
Festival organizers say the parades have many seating options, from the $30-per-person Civic Center patio site, which includes indoor/outdoor viewing options, chairs, a cash bar, buffet lunch and concessions. Tickets do not include parking. Doors open at 10 a.m., food service starts at 11 a.m.
Grandstand seating costs $16-per-person for seats with backs to $12-per-person general admission.
Starting at 6 a.m. on parade days, people who want curbside seats can lay out blankets or other items between the street and sidewalk only. All items must be removed within one hour of the parade’s end.
Learn more at www.tuliptime.com.
