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Full Bloom: Tulip Festival Makes Return In Clymer

Pictured are some of the participants in this past weekend’s Tulip Festival in Clymer. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

CLYMER — Despite the threat of impending rain and extremely warm temperatures, Clymer’s biannual Tulip Festival made its return Saturday after not being held for four years because of the pandemic.

The Tulip Festival officially kicked off with the Tulip Queen Crowning held at Clymer Central School. The four candidates this year, Makenna Woods, Malorie Ryan, Onalya Gillespie and Karlen Honey, were tasked with showing the audience their talent before the 2022 Tulip Queen was crowned.

Talents ranged from singing and videography, an art show, to photography and playing the piano and a self-written skit. The Tulip Queen has been crowned at every Tulip Festival since 1955, making this year’s queen the 45th to be crowned.

Woods was crowned the Tulip Queen for this year, also winning the $300 scholarship prize. Honey was second runner up; Gillespie first runner up; and Ryan was Miss Congeniality.

Woods said she was honored to be recognized.

Pictured are some of the participants in this past weekend’s Tulip Festival in Clymer. P-J photo by Sara Holthouse

“I’m so honored and grateful to be able to represent my town after not having a festival for the last four years,” Woods said.

Honey was glad the festival was able to return this year.

“I’d glad we were able to have this again,” Honey said. “It’s been a great experience.”

For Gillespie, who moved to the Clymer community a few years ago, being part of the Tulip Queen program made her feel very included.

“I’m just happy to be included in this festival and in the Clymer community,” Gillespie said.

Saturday’s events included a craft show, pony rides, a petting zoo, food trucks, Klompen Dancing, Gellyball, a show tent with various performances, and the main event — the street scrubbing and parade. The festival concluded with a variety show.

Thom Daubenspeck, who recently moved to the area with his wife, Susie, to become a pastor at Abbe Reformed Church, was very excited to be attending the Tulip Festival.

“This is my first time, so I’m very excited,” Daubenspeck said. “I’m having a blast. Even though I’ve gone to Tulip Time all of my life back when I lived in Holland, Michigan, this is my first time here. Part of the reason I’m having so much fun is because I am here with my childhood friend Richard (Sherburne). We grew up in the same neighborhood.”

Sherburne chimed in, saying he was “having fun.”

Daubenspeck added that Sherburne “wins the award” for being the person to come the farthest to attend the Festival in Clymer, because his current address is in Texas.

For members of the Clymer community who have been attending Tulip Festivals for years, such as Linda TeCroney, being able to bring back the Tulip Festival in its full form means a lot.

“There’s nothing greater than tradition,” TeCroney said, “and it only happens when people work together, and then it’s not forgotten.”

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