The town of Spalding, located in the heart of Lincolnshire, is on standby as it prepares for its eminent Flower Parade, set to illuminate the streets once more on 10 May. A passionate team of 30 volunteers has diligently selected an impressive quarter of a million tulips to embellish the floats that will parade through the town. This represents the third straight year of the parade’s return, following a decade-long pause that concluded in 2023.
This year’s parade is centred on the theme of musicals. The floral arrangements have been artistically created by Laura Hudson, the head of the creative team, since September 2024. ‘This epitomizes the spirit of the flower family; it encapsulates all that we stand for,’ she asserted. ‘Our tight-knit community is eager to witness our hard work come to fruition.’
More than just a demonstration of the region’s floricultural legacy, the parade also advocates for sustainability. The tulip heads, previously deemed as waste, are rejuvenated, embarking on a bright new journey. Volunteer Tanya Chandler emphasizes the parade’s community sense of unity, ‘We are drawn together from various backgrounds, bound by our mutual love for the flower parade.’
The tulips will be meticulously maintained in chilled storage till the main event, which is scheduled to start from the Springfields Events and Conference Centre at 11:00 BST. Live musical performances will further enhance the floral celebration, commencing on 9 May at 19:00 BST and continuing on the day of the parade at 15:00 BST.
Although the parade’s tradition commenced in 1959 to honour the local flower industry, this year’s event was nearly jeopardised by operational obstacles and a reduction in council support. However, thanks to the intervention of a new committee, the tradition perseveres, with tulips now being procured from Norfolk due to Lincolnshire’s industry downturn.
This article was modified for The Lincoln Post using original reporting from www.bbc.com.
