Each year, hundreds of children descend on the mall during one of Boulder’s most beloved springtime events, the Tulip Fairy and Elf Festival (happening rain or shine)! On Sunday, April 26, tulip fairies and elves of all ages are invited to celebrate spring and the gorgeous tulips adorning the Pearl Street Mall with Downtown Boulder’s one-and-only Tulip Fairy. New this year, joining the Tulip Fairy is the Daffodil Fairy who will share in the celebratory festivities with the addition of daffodil planter beds on the 1300 block. (See below for additional details.*)
This family-oriented event begins at 1 p.m. with participants enjoying live entertainment on the main stage in front of the County Courthouse on the 1300 block of the mall. The live performance schedule includes:
1:00 - 1:45 p.m. 'Waking the Bear'
2:15 - 3:00 p.m. Boulder School of Rock
3:15 - 3:30 p.m. Boulder Ballet
4:00 - 5:00 p.m. Wandering Natives
At 3:30 p.m. the Tulip Fairy and Elf Parade will begin at the performance stage. All fairies, elves and parents are invited to join the Tulip Fairy and members of the Boulder Ballet as they lead a mini parade heading west up the mall a half a block (near the bridge outside of Peppercorn) and circling back around the Courthouse lawn.
In addition to the live performances, children will enjoy a variety of free activities including foam sword dueling, dino dig, art projects, cookie decorating, dancing, nature activities and more. There will also be face painting (minimal charge) and plenty of free photo ops with the Tulip Fairy herself. The Tulip Fairy & Elf Festival is a free event and costumes are encouraged. The public can learn more at TulipFairyFestival.com. (Every Saturday and Sunday, City of Boulder parking garages are free. BoulderParking.com.)
History of the Pearl Street Mall Tulips:
In the late 70s, Boulder’s then sister city, Meppel, Holland would send 5,000 tulip bulbs annually to be planted along the Pearl Street Mall. A form of this tradition continues to this day when every fall the City of Boulder’s Parks Department plants 15,000 brand new tulip bulbs that are directly imported from Holland. With a little TLC over the winter months, the tulips start to peek out of the ground sometime between late March and April.
This year, the tulips are expected to be at their finest over the next week or two. (Please note that due to irrigation replacement on the 1400 block, the tulips will be found this year only on the 1100, 1200 & 1300 blocks.)
The Tulip Fairy and Elf Festival is supported by Broadway Suites, the Daily Camera, City of Boulder Parking Services, Eldorado Natural Spring Water and produced by Downtown Boulder, Inc.
*About the Daffodils:
In 2014, the City of Boulder’s Parks and Recreation Department hosted a community-building event celebrating the creation of the “1,000 Friends of the Boulder Civic Area” group. More than 70 volunteers planted 5,000 daffodil bulbs at Central Park, near the Bandshell. The new 1,000 Friends group is committed to help create an exciting movement of advocacy for the Civic Area in partnership with the PLAY Boulder Foundation. In addition, the Parks and Rec Department added daffodils to the tulip beds along the Pearl Street Mall in show of support uniting the two locations.
