The 70th Annual Albany Tulip Festival presented by Citizens Bank
May 12 & 13, 2018
Washington Park, Albany, NY
Friday: Street Scrubbing and Luncheon • Noon
Saturday: Royal Tulip Ball • 6:30pm
Saturday and Sunday: Vendors, food, music and more • 11:00am - 6:00pm
DIRECTIONS | TULIP QUEEN | VOLUNTEER
The Tulip Festival is Albany’s signature spring event. Featuring annual traditions rooted in the city’s rich Dutch heritage, nearly one hundred artisans selling their handmade crafts, a fine arts show, delicious food, the KidZone family fun destination, two stages of world-class live entertainment and more than 140,000 tulips in 150 different varieties, the Tulip Festival is a sparkling showcase of local culture and business. It all takes place in historic Washington Park, the 81-acre “crown jewel” of the City.
For GPS directions to the main park entrance, use 1 New Scotland Ave, Albany NY 12208.
CDTA will provide complimentary shuttle service to Washington Park at these designated free parking locations:
Free handicap parking
Free Tulip Festival parking:
Shuttles will run every 20-25 minutes depending on traffic. All parking lots are free to use the weekend of Tulip Festival.
This event is produced with the help of community volunteers.Volunteers are still needed. Please contact us to be a part of this great experience: Download the volunteer application HERE, call (518) 434-2032 or email the volunteer coordinator.
Special ground rules in effect:
No alcohol outside of designated beer garden area. No glass containers of any kind, recording of performances, animals or pets (excluding ADA-defined service animals). All City of Albany parks are now tobacco-free. Security personnel reserve the right to inspect any bag, container or package and confiscate any prohibited or illegal items. Any type of recording of the performance or presentation is prohibited without prior written consent. All attendees should be prepared to present age identification at any time if they intend to consume alcohol. Ground rules are subject to change without notice; exceptions made for medical or child care reasons may be addressed individually.
Learn more about the vast variety of flowers planted for Tulip Fest with City Gardener Jessica Morgan. Free. Spaces are limited and reservations are required; call 518.434.2032 to reserve your place. (Weather permitting).
More Info Washington Park Tulip Beds
The traditional Dutch ceremony of scrubbing the streets clean before a big celebration has served as the official kickoff to Tulip Festival weekend for 70 years. This unique Albany event will include Mayor Kathy Sheehan’s Tulip Festival opening proclamation and a procession from City Hall.
State and Lodge Streets
A farewell and thank you to 2017 Albany Tulip Queen Ashley Loggins and her Court. Proceeds from the Tulip Festival Luncheon will benefit the Tulip Court’s educational programs via the Tulip Fund at the Community Foundation. Tickets required; email tulipluncheon@gmail.com!
Get tickets! Albany Hilton 40 Lodge Street Albany, NY
Young up-and-coming musicians enrolled in the School of Rock program perform throughout the day! Catch the stars of the future here first.
More Info North of the First Aid Station
Mayor Sheehan & B95.5's Chad O'Hara crown the 70th Albany Tulip Queen in this traditional highlight of Tulip Festival weekend. The Tulip Queen and her four Court members will work as a team year-round on local literacy programs and community service projects. Media sponsor: B95.5.
More Info Washington Park Lakehouse Stage
Washington Park’s beloved theater group offers exciting sneak previews of their 2018 musical productions!
Official Website Price Chopper KidZone Stage
Sorrow Estate is the poetic folk project of 23-year-old, singer-songwriter Laura Beth Johnson. Her sound is reminiscent of Ingrid Michelson and Julien Baker with lyrical content similar to Bright Eyes and Damien Rice.
Reverb Nation page 518 Lakehouse Stage
Celebrating 30 years of positive influence on Albany’s youth, this community-based dance training program presents a stellar performance bridging classic and modern styles.
KidZone Stage
Melvin the Magnificent, a professional magician played by Joe Goode, has been performing for over 20 years. His shows are action packed, interactive, and sure to bring huge laughs from the entire audience.
Official Website Price Chopper KidZone Stage
Front Biz knows it’s a long journey through the portal, but it’s OK, my dude, the mothership has a tape deck. These Albany/Troy neo-funk lords just want to send it and they want the same for you.
Main Stage
A progressive string quartet from Albany, NY, Blind Crow blends technical proficiency, infectious rhythms, and insane amounts of energy to create an inspiring musical experience.
Official Website 518 Lakehouse Stage
Well-versed children's musician renowned for delighting audiences of all ages through sing-a-longs, dancing, play-acting and storytelling.
Official Website Price Chopper KidZone Stage
Formed in 2015, the Seattle trio have been steadily building up their reputation as a live act in the meantime, and having as much fun as possible while doing it. Their music is simultaneously timeless and modern, new and old, is loud and brash and raw, but there's vulnerability there, too.
Official Website Main Stage
Rooted in rock, blooming in melodious consonance The LateShift can be described as a blend of soulful melodies moved by riff-driven rock. By combining elements of old school rock & roll and modern pop, these guys have a distinct sound that is not to be missed.
Official Website 518 Lakehouse Stage
A Capital Region musical treasure, exuberantly promoting her mission of building peaceful communities through original songs for all ages
Official Website Price Chopper KidZone Stage
White Denim are a quartet known for their unique mix of hard-riffing blues and intensely technical prog with modern indie rock influences. They are timeless in a rather unique way. White Denim invoke the spirit of every era in rock and roll’s storied history on a song by song basis.
Official Website Main Stage
The Age, a Soul artist, has traveled throughout the country endowing those he encounters with his smooth tones, and inventive lyrics. Originally from Upstate NY, Age's music brings together both influences from the laid back west coast and New York's underground late night jazz scene.
Soundcloud 518 Lakehouse Stage
The 69th Annual Royal Tulip Ball will take place on Saturday evening, May 13, 2017, at the brand new Albany Capital Center in Downtown Albany. Proceeds from this year’s Ball will benefit the Capital City Fund. Tickets: www.eventbrite.com/e/the-69th-annual-royal-tulip-ball-tickets-33531177655
Albany Capital Center 55 Eagle Street Albany, NY
Mayor Sheehan and B95.5’s Joe Condon recognize the Capital Region’s most outstanding moms. Presented by St. Peter’s Health Partners, Times Union & B95.5, with support from Fidelis Care.
More Info Washington Park Lakehouse
Rooted in soulful vocal nuances, and rhythmic acoustic rock; The Ryan Leddick Trio showcases numerous foot tapping fusions that peak ears and turn heads with their new age power trio set up.
Official Website 518 Lakehouse Stage
THE SEA THE SEA is an Upstate New York based indie folk-pop duo-fronted band featuring what HuffPost calls, “Two of the loveliest male-female voices you might ever hear this or any other year.”
Official Website Main Stage
Jordan Taylor Hill is an Independent Hip-Hop artist / Percussionist bringing the sonic manifestation of the global traditions of African people. Blending West African/Latin rhythms, minimalist digital sounds, and catchy lyrics.
Official Website 518 Lakehouse Stage
Taína Asili is a New York based Puerto Rican singer, songwriter, bandleader and activist carrying on the tradition of her ancestors, fusing past and present struggles into one soulful and defiant voice.
Official Website Main Stage
With a soulful and seductive vulnerability, Zan songs of love and heartbreak are complemented by the folk rock/bluegrass sound of her band: Will Brown on lead guitar, Michael Gregg on banjo and Mike Jenkins on upright bass.
Bandcamp 518 Lakehouse Stage
This outstanding band of musicians and singers takes you on ea very realistic journey of the Motown sound, and makes you want to sing along on every familiar song they play. They have kept the Motown sound true to its roots and each and every performance they do transports you back to another era!
Official Website Main Stage
The North & South Dakotas are an original folk & bluegrass band with a rotating cast of players from the Upstate, NY region. From quick pickin' grass tunes, to heartfelt ballads, The Dakotas bring a unique and original energy to the stage.
Official Website 518 Lakehouse Stage
If you are interested in sponsoring any of our upcoming events, please contact us at 518.434.2032.
