Falun Dafa Practitioners Invited to Participate in Michigan’s Tulip Festival Parade

(Minghui.org) Holland, Michigan’s 96th Tulip Time Festival parade was held on May 10, 2025.

Michigan’s Tulip Time Festival started in 1929, and is one of the oldest tulip festivals in the United States. Every year in May, Michigan welcomes colorful, blooming flowers after a long, cold winter. This is especially true in the small town of Holland, which has around 6 million tulips in its city gardens, streets, private yards and its famous tulip farm, attracting thousands of tourists. The Tulip Time Festival celebrations last for about ten days, with activities including traditional Dutch dances done in wooden clogs, tulip displays, and culminating in the grand parade, making it one of the largest Dutch cultural celebrations in the United States. An estimated over 300,000 visitors enjoy the festival every year.

Falun Dafa Practitioners Invited to Join the Grand Parade

The festival’s grand parade, held on May 10 this year, is one of the main highlights of the Tulip Time Festival. According to the event organizer, the parade attracted over 50,000 people. The event was also broadcast live on television and the Internet.

Practitioners did the Falun Dafa exercises before the parade began

Falun Dafa practitioners were invited to participate in the festival’s grand parade

Falun Dafa practitioners in Michigan were once again invited to participate in this year’s parade and brought the message of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance to the audience.

Falun Dafa practitioners from Michigan and Ohio wore bright yellow shirts and jackets, and carried banners with the words “Falun Dafa is Good” and “Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance.” The Tang drum team wore traditional blue costumes.

The Falun Dafa group was greeted by waves of applause and cheers from the audience along the route. One man ran to the front of the banners and loudly read the words, “The banner writes that Falun Dafa spreads Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance” to his relatives and friends. As soon as he said that, people around him started applauding.

The parade was broadcast live on Michigan’s 13 On Your Side (WZZM 13), a local television station in Grand Rapids, which is a subsidiary of ABC. The station aired the Tulip Time Festival celebrations live through its YouTube channel. When the Falun Dafa group passed the rostrum, the emcee introduced them, “Falun Dafa, which is based on the principles of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance, is also called Falun Gong. It was introduced to the public in 1992 and has since spread to more than a hundred countries around the world, attracting hundreds of millions of people. Everyone is welcome to practice!”

Live broadcast by 13 On Your Side (WZZM 13), the photo captures the moment Falun Dafa practitioners passed by the rostrum (photo from the Internet)

Special Awards Compliment Falun Dafa Practitioners’ Efforts to Integrate into the Community

On May 5, 2025, Karl Bohnak, a state representative from the 103^rd Michigan Legislature of the 109^th Congressional District, issued a special commendation, a State of Michigan Special Tribute, to Falun Dafa practitioners. In his tribute, there was a special compliment to Falun Dafa practitioners for holding different events to enrich life in the community, helping them to integrate into society.

Karl Bohnak, a state representative from the 109^th Congressional District, issued a special commendation, a State of Michigan Special Tribute

In the special tribute Representative Bohnak wrote, “Falun Dafa was brought to Michigan in 1996, and since then, dedicated volunteers have provided free access to the practice through workshops, public seminars, instructional events, and group exercises in libraries, parks, festivals, and senior centers across the state. Their unwavering commitment to serving others has enriched countless lives and contributed meaningfully to the fabric of our communities.”

The special tribute also said, “It is with great respect and recognition that we honor the 33rd anniversary of the public introduction of Falun Dafa... this document is signed and dedicated to honoring Falun Dafa's 33rd anniversary, recognizing its continued contributions to personal and community well-being, and commending all those who promote and uphold its principles of peace, compassion, and integrity in Michigan and around the world.”

Celebrating World Falun Dafa Day

The parade coincided with the 26^th World Falun Dafa Day. This May 13 is also the 33^rd anniversary of the day that Falun Dafa was introduced to the world. Practitioners in Michigan expressed their gratitude and joy of being able to share Falun Dafa during the parade, and convey the wonderful values of Truthfulness, Compassion and Forbearance to the people in Michigan.

Professor Xu from the Michigan Falun Dafa Association said, “We are very honored to be able to celebrate together with everyone in the community this important Tulip Time Festival. We’d also like to take this opportunity to celebrate World Falun Dafa Day. Through this parade, we hope to integrate the goodness of Falun Dafa into the local community, convey and share positive energy with thousands of parade-goers and share our joy with everyone.

After the parade ended, practitioners, who has participated in the event, went to the shores of beautiful Lake Michigan Lake and exclaimed in unison, “Falun Dafa practitioners in Michigan respectfully wish Master a happy birthday! Falun Dafa is good! Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance is good!”

Practitioners who participated in the parade respectfully wish Master happy birthday.

Young Falun Dafa practitioners who participated in the event respectfully wish Master happy birthday.