then a freshman at Central College, was elected to receive the honor. By then, Tulip Time had come out of a wartime hiatus, and the event was still growing in scale and reputation.
“ The world was just coming alive again after World War II. And of course, Tulip Time wasn’ t as involved either back because … it was the 11th Tulip Time when I was Queen,” Schultz said.“ So they had, you know, it’ s progressed through the years.”
At 95, Schultz is the oldest living Tulip Queen. Now, the mantle for the event’ s 90th anniversary has passed to Pella Christian senior Addison Bandstra. The significance of both the year and the role have not been lost on her. In fact, her aunt Gina was Tulip Queen in 1998, as was her cousin Maria in 2016.
Her family’ s connection and love for Tulip Time goes beyond three of them wearing the crown, however. Bandstra’ s grandmother was a major part of the celebrations, and helped design the Maria’ s Tea Time float that remains a centerpiece of the parade.
She died when Bandstra was still a toddler, so her memories of her grandmother are limited, but she feels a connection with her every time she celebrates.
“ I just remember my dad and sister and mom talking about how she loved Tulip Time and she loved everything about it,” Bandstra said.“ So I think even after I got queen, I had someone come up to me and say,‘ She’ d be so proud,’ everything like that. And that just touches my heart because I never really got to know her as well as I would have liked to.” When the first Tulip Time came to Pella, it was planned out and put on in the span of only two weeks. Most of what’ s associated with it today wasn’ t there. There were no
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