Albany Tulip Festival Marks Official Start of Spring

Tulip Fest is an Albany institution. Despite the name, there is a lot more going on than a tip-toe through the tulips. It's really a big family-friendly party that lasts the entire weekend. No matter what the weather is like, Tulip Fest always seems to be the first time I really feel like we've made it through the Capital Region winter. This year, that is especially true with the nagging frosts, freezing rain, and snow we had until just the last week or two.

If you've never been to Tulip Fest take the time to check it out this year. It's one of the area's best traditions. There will be as many as 100,000 tulips in bloom and plenty of activities for the whole family. We're finally getting some good weather around here, so I'm planning to make the most of it.

Dates: May 12 and 13

Location: Washington  Park in Albany