Sunday, April 26, 2026* | 1 - 5 pm | Pearl Street Mall
Spring officially arrives in Downtown Boulder when the beautiful, colorful Tulip Fairy, along with pint-sized fairies and elves, parade around the Pearl Street Mall "waking up the tulips." This much beloved springtime tradition features live performances, special activities for children and more than 15,000 tulips that adorn the world renowned Pearl Street Mall.
*Rain date is scheduled for Sunday, May 3, 2026 from 1 - 5 pm.
Please note: This is a human/fairy/elf event only. Kindly leave your furry family members in a safe place! Every Saturday and Sunday, City of Boulder Parking Garages are FREE! BoulderParking.com
Exhibitor registration is now open for the 2026 festival! Please complete the registration form by Monday, March 30th for consideration.
If you're interested in sponsorship, please review our 2026 Sponsorship Opportunities brochure. For a customized proposal and detailed benefit package for Downtown Boulder events, please contact our sponsorship department at sponsor@downtownboulder.org.
Consider volunteering at the festival! We need assistance with helping exhibitors find their spots, managing the Tulip Fairy parades, and overseeing the free activity at the Downtown Boulder tent.
¡Festival de Hadas y Duendes de los Tulipanes!
Domingo, 26 de abril de 2026* | 1 - 5 pm | Pearl Street Mall
La primavera llega oficialmente al centro de Boulder cuando la hermosa y colorida Hada de los Tulipanes, junto con hadas y elfos de tamaño pequeño, desfilan por el Pearl Street Mall "despertando a los tulipanes". Esta querida tradición de primavera incluye actuaciones en vivo, actividades especiales para niños y más de 15,000 tulipanes que adornan el famoso Pearl Street Mall.
*La fecha de lluvia está programada para el domingo 3 de mayo de 2026, de 1 a 5 p.m.
Por favor, recuerda que este es un evento solo para humanos, hadas y elfos. ¡Por favor, deja a tus perritos en casa, en un lugar seguro! ¡No olvides que todos los sábados y domingos, los garajes de estacionamiento de la ciudad de Boulder son GRATIS! BoulderParking.com
Live Performance Schedule
Join us at the performance stage located on the 1300 block of the Pearl Street Mall for live music and performances!
Plus, don't miss parades with The Tulip Fairy Queen leaving from the map of Boulder on the 1400 block of the mall at 1:45, 2:45 and 3:45 pm! Boulder Ballet will help to guide the parade and a short, interactive dance session in front of the stage after each parade.
1:00 - 1:45 PM Sing along to rock favorites with School of Rock (Tentative)
1:45 - 2:00 PM Tulip Fairy Parade with the Tulip Fairy Queen & Boulder Ballet
2:00 - 2:45 PM Performance by local entertainers Bear Cub Brigade
2:45 - 3:00 PM Tulip Fairy Parade with the Tulip Fairy Queen & Boulder Ballet
3:00 - 3:45 PM Performance by singer songwriter Jenn Cleary
3:45 - 4:00 PM Tulip Fairy Parade with the Tulip Fairy Queen & Boulder Ballet
4:00 - 5:00 PM Waking the Bear, with Jeff & Paige
Activities
Businesses, non-profits and community groups come together each spring to host activities perfect for families to enjoy. Many activities are free, but there is a cost for face-painting and items will also be for sale. Stop by the Downtown Boulder Visitor Information Center for a program with a map of all activities at the event.
Confirmed activities this year include:
- Teddy Bear Doctor's Visit activity with Kaiser Permanente
- Foam Sword Dueling with Renaissance Adventures on the County Courthouse Lawn
- Run on a Giant Hamster Wheel to make your own snow cone with Big Wheel Beverages
- Meet and Greet with a Mermaid! brought to you by Ocean First
- Aerial Rig Performance on the Courthouse Lawn from Aspire Aerial Dance & Movement
- Face Painting Stations throughout the event
- Nature Activities and Wildlife Safety with Open Space & Mountain Parks and others
- FREE Arts and Craft Activities from various vendors
- Conduct a Fairy Science Experiment with Wild Bear Nature Center
- Spin the Wheel and win prizes from YMCA of Northern Colorado and others
- And, of course, PARADES with the Tulip Fairy (leaving from the Downtown Boulder tent on the 1400 block at 1:45, 2:45 and 3:45 pm).
Volunteer
Downtown Boulder Community Initiatives (501(c)(3)) produces free community events like the Tulip Fairy & Elf Festival downtown throughout the year. We rely on the support of our amazing community volunteers to make them happen.
Join us as a volunteer to assist with set-up and tear-down, do intercept surveys to help us learn more and get feedback from attendees and assist event staff and participating groups throughout the afternoon of the event.
Come for the Tulips, Stay for the Activities
The adorable children dressed up in their Tulip Fairy & Elf best are pretty hard to beat, but the 15,000 tulips planted on the Mall each year by the amazing staff of the City of Boulder's Parks and Recreation department are another great reason to join us for the event.
Parks and Recreation staff change the variety and color of the tulips planted on the Pearl Street Mall every year to provide a unique and impressive display each spring. Pearl Street Mall tulips are imported directly from Holland from a wholesale provider.
Sponsors:
Don't forget: On Saturdays and Sundays year round, parking is FREE in all City of Boulder garages!