The Pella Historical Society and Museums and Tulip Time Steering Committee have announced they are cancelling the 85th Annual Tulip Time Festival, originally scheduled May 7th through 9th.

Executive Director of Pella Historical Valerie Van Kooten and Cyndi Atkins with the Steering Committee both say the move is meant to keep visitors, residents, and volunteers safe due to warnings from the CDC and Iowa Department of Public Health as it relates to COVID-19. Van Kooten says Tulip Time was cancelled only once before, in 1946, and says the generosity of the Pella community members helped support non-profit organizations and businesses then, and both encourage all to continue supporting those organizations who rely on that funding to operate annually.

Full video statement below: