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| Float for the Flower Queen and her attendants
It was the end of an era for Spalding this weekend. The 55th and final Flower Parade was cheered through the town centre: more than 30,000 people lined the streets of this Lincolnshire market town and enjoyed the spectacle with a somewhat heavy heart.
The Spalding Flower Parade began in 1959 although growers in the area had celebrated Tulip Week since 1948, holding tours of the tulip fields which covered the region of South Holland in a blanket of vibrant colour. The creation of huge floats, decorated with tulip heads, led to the Flower Parade itself becoming a world famous event.
In recent years the tulip fields have reduced in number and although bodies such as the Rural Development Programme have supported it, the recession has meant that council money and assistance from sponsors has dwindled. Unless something can be done to inject the event with more cash, it would seem that 2013 was the final year.
I remember being part of the parade for three years, as a member of my AmDram group, Spalding Amateur Dramatic and Operatic Society. I recall sitting in a huge shed for a couple of days, laboriously pinning tulip heads onto our float before dressing up in costume and singing songs from our musical shows as the parade travelled through the town. It was a fantastic experience, seeing the crowds and being part of the community for such a special occasion.
On Saturday I was in the crowd, cheering everyone else on, enjoying the floats and the marching bands. The poor weather in the previous weeks meant that tulips were in scarce supply so feathers, foil, ribbons and balloons were drafted in to complete the sculptures. Although I missed seeing huge swathes of velvety tulips on the floats, creativity won the day and the theme of ‘Let’s Celebrate’ was a fitting way to bring this historical event to a close.Here are more images from the parade: the front and back end of the dragon (representing Chinese New Year), ‘It must be love’, birthday cake and the Carnival of Venice.
   
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I can't imagine the hours it must take to create some of those… Lovely pics! 🙂
It's a time-consuming task. Each tulip head is pinned individually onto polystyrene, though the small piece of remaining stalk. I remember my fingers were killing me when I had to do it. There's a real knack to it to make sure there are no gaps.
Oh wow. Gorgeous pictures, that really must have been a sight to see in person.
Herding Cats
Of course I was watching it through the lens – I wish I could see it all again without the camera!
I remember being taken to see it when I was young. Glorious.
I think you would have seen it in its heyday. The floats were probably much larger, as were the crowds.
That's cool! The Rose bowl parade is my favorite, so I think I would love this one as well.
Having looked at images of the Rose Bowl Parade, this is definitely a mini version, but still quite a thing of beauty.
Wow that looks amazing!
I'm hoping it can be brought back some time in the future. It would be such a shame to lose it.
Those are absolutely amazing. Do they smell fantastic as they go past?
Do you know I hadn't thought of that. I don't think they do. I can't remember much smell when I used to pin them on myself. I think the heads have been separate from the stalks for too long.
Wow thats really pretty and big!! Bet it was a lot of fun to watch!
I think we do pretty well for a small market town. The different themes over the years have brought some great floats – Lady Penelope and her pink car comes to mind! There is a great buzz in the town, everyone sitting by the roadside, with their camping seats and flasks!
Really cool – and a lorra lorra pink on those babies, love the Dragon burying his head in the sand, is he looking for the cake?
Yes, I thought I'd chosen a lorra pink floats. I'm not sure whether that was the dominant colour or whether I just instinctively prefer them.
If he did eat the cake, I hope he re-lit any candles!
yes there is some scary stories about floats where that has happened – or did I just see that in a movie?
How wonderful this sort of parade is…and how sad to think it might be the last…the flower queen float looks enormous!
The flower queen float was a wonderful one this year. They also had another float with lots of the former flower queens on it – that was very special for all the ladies and I knew three of them so lots of waving!
I love carnivals, they are quite a big thing here in Cornwall too.
Carnivals do so much to bring communities together. I do hope they can revive this in the future: it would be a pity to lose it.
How wonderful, such a shame it may be the last one.
Our local MP is keen for it not to finish. He and the local press did much to bring it back from the brink a few years ago. It would be good if more money could be sourced.
Who says flower power is a thing of the past!
Yeah!
Some amazing floats – such a shame it may be the last. x
Fingers crossed someone may rescue it in the future.
Wow, they are absolutely spectacular, I had no idea they did something like this in Lincolnshire. Such a shame to lose it
I know there is a sense that it is not so relevantbut I think it's part of the region's heritage. Comes down to money at the end of the day.
Gosh, those floats are truly spectacular! Such a shame that it's not going to be continued.
It's very sad. I think visitor numbers have decreased over the years so maybe there needs to be a rethink.
I didn't they were stopping doing ths – it is a real shame.
Changing subject, I've just read a review of a burlesque musical in Ipswich and thought I'd share it with you. Quote – "a lot of wonderfully crafted risqué show numbers….it's not a one woman show And her three male co-stars more than hold their own". I can't decide if the play on words was intentional or not!
I reckon intentional!
How sad that it's coming to an end, but what great pics! I love a parade!
They aren't bad, considering we were nearly late getting there – but we know good places to stand!
Sad end to such a spectacular parade! Also the end of the incredible swathes of tulips across the nearby fields – I miss them!
Yes, me too. We have the daffodil fields but the tulips I think have moved elsewhere. I read in the paper yesterday that there are plans to replace the parade with something – but not sure what.
What an amazing amount of work and passion gone into this! Quite inspiring 🙂
It requires a huge amount of voluntary work but so worthwhile.
Wow, that looks amazing a shame it's over x
Fingers crossed they might have some kind of flower and food festival instead with some static floats. That might keep the costs down.
I love things like that – so quirky and quintessentially English! I do hope they manage to find some sponsorship to continue (lottery funding?).
We went to another local event the day after which has been supported by a huge Arts Council grant. I think you're right, there needs to be some rethinking on which bodies might support it.
It'll be a shame if this is the last year, but I suppose nothing stays the same, and if they can't get the money, that'll be it until they do. It would be a good idea to investigate other types of funding though. Such traditions are worth keeping, being such amazing and spectacles.
How sad that it will not happen again. It looks fabulous. xx