In celebration of the 75^th annual Tulip Festival, the Steering Committee and Revival Animal Health of Orange City are pleased to announce a fireworks show as a conclusion to the Friday, May 15, festivities.

 

The fireworks display will begin at approximately 10 p.m. on Friday. The fireworks will be launched near the south end of Orange City’s Industrial Park, due east of Revival Animal Health. The fireworks will be viewable along the south section of Albany Avenue.

 

“We are so grateful for Revival Animal Health’s sponsorship of this year’s fireworks display,” says Arlyn Schaap, co-chairman of the Tulip Festival Steering Committee. “We congratulate them on 25 years of business, and look forward to offering fireworks in celebration of milestone years for both organizations.”

 

Premier Pyrotechnics, Inc. of Yankton, S.D., will design and produce this year’s fireworks show.

 

“We extend our gratitude to Premier Pyrotechnics, Inc., the City of Orange City, and the Orange City Fire Department for their great assistance with this festival highlight,” says Schaap.

 

In case of inclement weather, the fireworks display will take place on Saturday, May 16, at the same time and location.

Join us for the grand opening of Stadscentrum, the newly-constructed home to Orange City’s Dutch street organ and wooden shoe-making equipment. Stadscentrum will also be home to the original, commissioned painting for the 75th annual Tulip Festival.

The Orange City Development Corporation is pleased to announce the grand opening of Stadscentrum, and invites the public to an open house on Wednesday, May 6, from 5 to 7 p.m.

 

Stadscentrum, located on the corner of Central Avenue and 2^nd Street, is the newly constructed home to Orange City’s Dutch street organ and wooden shoe-making equipment. Two kiosks in Stadscentrum also depict the history of Tulip Festival through photos, narrative and artifacts.

 

The official ribbon cutting will take place to begin the evening open house on May 6, after which the doors to Stadscentrum will be opened for the first time for viewing.

 

As an additional highlight to the evening, the Tulip Festival Steering Committee will auction off signed print number 1/75 by artist John E. Vander Stelt at 6:30 p.m. The art piece, entitled “A Faithful Walk,” was commissioned for the 75^th annual Tulip Festival. The framed print is available for viewing prior to the auction at the Dove Christian Book Store.

 

“We’re excited to open Stadscentrum to the public,” says Les Douma, chairman of the Stadscentrum Committee. “It’s a wonderful addition to downtown Orange City and another unique tourism aspect to our community.”

 

Following the grand opening, Stadscentrum will be open during Tulip Festival and throughout the year for special events and tours for both the Orange City community and visitors.

 

Questions about the grand opening can be directed to the Orange City Chamber of Commerce office at 712-707-4510.

 

The annual Tulip Festival Fly-In Breakfast on Saturday, May 16, will feature World War II aircraft, weather permitting. (Photo courtesy of the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum) 

 

The annual Tulip Festival Fly-In Breakfast, slated for Saturday, May 16, will feature World War II aircraft and a historical static display of artifacts from that time period.

 

The Fagen Fighters WWII Museum of Granite Falls, Minn., and The Joe Foss Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force from Sioux Falls, S.D., will participate in the event with aircraft from their collections. The World War II aircraft on display at the Fly-In Breakfast could include one or more from the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum collection that consists of a P-51 Mustang, P-40, P-38, B-25, and various training aircraft. The Joe Foss Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force will also bring an aircraft and a historical static display from World War II.

 

Under the organization of the local Flying Dutchmen Pilots Association, the historic aircraft will fly in, weather permitting, at approximately 9 a.m. with departure scheduled at approximately 10 a.m.

 

“These World War II aircraft represent a significant history and patriotism for our country,” says Mark Vogel, a member of the Flying Dutchmen Pilots Association.

 

In addition to the historic aircraft, the event will feature local fly-in and Medevac aircraft.

 

The Flying Dutchmen Pilots Association, which recently re-formed after their original founding in the 1960s, aims to promote local aviation. “One of the key objectives of the group is to create an environment for aviation education for the next generation,” says Vogel.

 

The Fly-In Breakfast will take place at the Orange City Municipal Airport (KORC). Rise Ministries of Sheldon, Iowa, will serve a pancake breakfast from 7 to 11 a.m.  The event is free to attend, and a freewill donation will be collected for breakfast.

 

The Fly-In Breakfast has been a highlight of the Orange City Tulip Festival for over 40 years for both the local community and area pilots.

 

The world-famous Clydesdales will appear in the afternoon parades on Thursday, May 14 and Saturday, May 16 during the 75th annual Orange City Tulip Festival.

The world-famous Budweiser Clydesdales, the symbol of quality and tradition for Anheuser-Busch since 1933, are scheduled to make several appearances in the area beginning on 5/14/2015, including two at the Tulip Festival in conjunction with the parade.

 

The eight-horse hitch will be harnessed and hitched to the famous red beer wagon at the parade on 5/14/2015 and 5/16/2015 from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.  On 5/15/2015, the “Gentle Giants,” as they are often referred to, will participate in the Clay County Speedway races.  The showing begins at 5:00pm in Spencer, IA.

 

The Clydesdales’ appearance in Orange City is one of hundreds made annually by the traveling hitches.  Canadians of Scottish descent brought the first Clydesdales to America in the mid-1800’s.  Today, the giant draft horses are used primarily for breeding and show.

 

Horses chosen for the Budweiser Clydesdale hitch must be at least three years of age, stand approximately 18 hands – or six feet – at the shoulder, weigh an average of 2,000 pounds, must be bay in color, have four white legs, and a blaze of white on the face and black mane and tail.  A gentle temperament is very important as hitch horses meet millions of people each year.

 

A single Clydesdale hitch horse will consume as much as 20-25 quarts of feed, 40-50 pounds of hay and 30 gallons of water per day.

 

Each hitch travels with a Dalmatian.  In the early days of brewing, Dalmatians were bred and trained to protect the horses and guard the wagon when the driver went inside to make deliveries.

 

The Budweiser Clydesdales can be viewed at the Anheuser-Busch breweries in St. Louis, Mo.; Merrimack, N.H.; and Ft. Collins, Colo.  They also may be viewed at Grant’s Farm in St. Louis and at Warm Springs Ranch, the 300-plus acre Clydesdale breeding farm located near Boonville, Mo.