31st annual Tulip Time in Belle Plaine to start Friday
by Amber Schmitz, Sumner Newscow —  If you’re looking for something fun to do this weekend, the 31st annual Tulip Time in Belle Plaine has plenty of activities and events to choose from. Admission is a $3 button, which will register you to win prizes.
Events begin Friday with a golf tournament at the Wellington Golf Club at noon. That evening, a Glow Run will be held at 8 p.m. at 6th and Main.
The Weee Carnival will be available Friday, 7 to 11 p.m., Saturday, 12 to 11 p.m., and on Sunday, which is pay one price day, from 1 to 5 p.m.
A movie under the stars will be held Friday at 8:30 p.m. at the community center.
The Masons pancake feed will be held at 421 N. Merchant from 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Following this Saturday will be a three on three basketball tournament in the high school gym.
A pet show and contest will be held by the stage at 8:30 a.m., with winners being announced and awarded following the event.
There will be many vendors set up downtown, as well as a food court at 5th and Merchant. Indoor vendors will be located inside the gym and Belle Plaine Community Center at 6th and Merchant.
The “Remembering Our Fallen” War Memorial, a traveling exhibit, consists of individual state memorials to remember our country’s fallen during the War on Terror, will be available to view, with the location to be announced.
Other Saturday events include the car and bike show, the Belle Plaine library book sale, Lion’s Ugly Lamp Contest, a sidewalk chalk contest and a photography show and contest.
The Bartlett Arboretum, located at 4th and Line, will open at 10 a.m., with a $5 suggested donation at the gate.
Helicopter rides will be available from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, and 12-5 p.m. Sunday at 6th and Logan.
The Remnants will take the stage at 11 a.m., followed by the Tulip Time parade at noon, with a theme of “We Bloom Because of You.”
The Home Run Derby will be held at Morley Field with boys baseball, girls softball and adult slow pitch.
Afternoon performers include Merilee Roth, RJ Ballard, Carine Carpenter, and Last Great Summer, followed by a talent show at 6 p.m.
A fireworks show will begin at 8:45 p.m., sponsored by Rothgeb Lumber, at the Buckaroo Barn.
A street dance will take place at 9 p.m., featuring Piper Leigh and The Smokin’ Section on the stage. In case of rain, the dance will be held in the Buckaroo Barn.
Recorded gospel favorites will be heard at the stage at 9 a.m. Sunday, followed by a performance by Jazz for Jesus at 10 a.m. A community worship service will take place at 11 a.m. at the stage, as well as a Prairie Trail Cowboy Church at 1:15 p.m. Other performances to enjoy are The Route, Josie Gerard, the Stunkel Sisters, and the Kansas Kountree Kloggers.
A shuttle bus will be available for transportation, with stops at the Arboretum, downtown and parking areas.
Grab your family and friends and enjoy the Tulip Time Festival in Belle Plaine this weekend!
