Bay Roberts to host Tulip Festival

By Mark Squibb/February 10, 2022

The Town of Bay Roberts will celebrate its many tulips by hosting the first ever Newfoundland Tulip Festival.

The inaugural event will be held July 11 through the 12, though details yet are scarce.

Mayor Walter Yetman made the announcement during the January 25 council meeting, in which he also proclaimed that the town will officially recognize 2022 as The Year of the Garden. June 18 will be officially recognized as Garden Day.

The Year of the Garden is an initiative of the Canadian Garden Council to celebrate the centennial anniversary of Canada’s horticultural sector.

Yetman said a funding request has been submitted, and the town is looking for volunteers to join the beautification committee, Bloom Bay Roberts, a group that oversees both the Bay Roberts and Shearstown community gardens, and beautification projects throughout town.

Councilor Silas Badcock was a member of that committee for many years and said he was glad to see the new initiatives

“I know you hear it all, from a councilor perspective, like, ‘What are taxpayers doing wasting their money on tulips?’ But I disagree,” said Badcock. “I think it’s wonderful to see gardeners and gardening and apple orchards. People are getting more involved.”

Mayor Yetman noted that during COVID, many people have turned to gardening, and he hopes more individuals and businesses get into gardening this spring.

Yetman estimates there are nigh on 40,000 tulips in Bay Roberts.

Deputy Mayor Geoff Seymour was quick to point out that folks will be ‘tip-toing through the tulips’ this summer.