The 50th Spalding Tulip Parade
Every year, tulip heads are taken from the flowers in the fields to help promote strong bulbs and then donated to the Parade by a local grower. The bulbs are then lifted in June/July for cleaning and grading. The larger bulbs are used for selling on to the retail customer and the smaller ones are kept back for re-planting to flower the following April/May or are used for forcing under glass, flowering between January and March.
In total, over half a million tulip heads are picked from local tulip fields and individually pinned to the floats in the two days prior to the parade.
The Parade begins at 2.00pm on Saturday 3rd May 2008
Starting at the Springfield’s Festival Site, the floats travel the 3.5 mile route in a clockwise direction around the town terminating at the Sir Halley Stewart Field, where the floats will then become part of the show for those enjoying the Family Fun Day.
Click the above map for a larger version. Opens a new browser window.
You are welcome to watch the Parade from the roadside anywhere along the route, but designated viewing areas can also be found at:
- o Camelgate
- o Holbeach Road
- o Queens Road
- o Halmergate
- o Love Lane
- o Churchgate
- o Market Place
- o Hall Place
- o New Road
- o Winfrey Avenue
SAFETY FIRST The Parade route is through the main streets of the town. Spectators must remain on the pavement until the floats have passed by. The organisers cannot accept responsibility of any kind if this advice is ignored.
Souvenir Programmes
Special full colour programmes packed with information about the Spalding Tulip Parade will be on sale on the day from Spalding Tourist Information Centre and from Springfields. Programmes can also be ordered by sending cheques for £2.50 (inc post and packaging) to: Spalding Parade Ltd, SHS Offices, Camelgate, Spalding, PE12 6ET.
