Photo by Pella Community Services

There are two weeks until the first day of the 88th Tulip Time festival in Pella, and as visitors make final plans to attend, the group responsible for organizing the celebration encourages those who want to avoid crowds to attend on Thursday or Friday.

Co-Chair of the Tulip Time Steering Committee Jon Witt says the Saturday of the festival often causes the most delays and headaches related to travel, parking, and long lines — and virtually all of the festivities that occur on the final day also happen on the Thursday and Friday before (May 4th and May 5th this year), including various shows, food stands, activities, and the afternoon and evening parades.

Witt says those who want to be able to maximize their visit should consider coming earlier in the week to avoid most of the road and visitor traffic. He also says those who enjoy marching bands will want to attend the Friday parades, as there will be a dozen highlighted.

Click here for a full Tulip Time schedule of activities May 4th through the 6th and here for details about transportation and parking during the festival, and stay tuned to 92.1 KRLS for updates.