The family of the newly crowned Tulip Queen has a deep history with the annual festival in Pella.

Olivia Vander Leest tells KRLS News her grandfather has been participating in the event since it started 83 years ago.

“My grandpa has been at every Tulip Time ever, since the beginning, and he was a page for one of the [earliest] Tulip Queens, but he remembers who the queen was and all of the queens.”

Additionally, Vander Leest says her father previously served on the Steering Committee, and two of her aunts were on the royal court as well.

Vander Leest looks forward to promoting the 84th annual Tulip Time with her royal court of Mary Kate Bandstra, Isabella Baugh, Camryn Huyser, and Emily Schreur next spring.

92.1 KRLS is the official radio station of the celebration. Listen to the full interview with Vander Leest on the audio player below:

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