As we start to see tulips popping up and making an appearance in Austin, we are making plans to attend the annual Tulip Festival in Orange City, Iowa.

This unique Dutch community, tucked away in northwest Iowa will celebrate its 74th annual Tulip Festival in May.

A one-day trip we will take a motor coach and spend the entire day at the festival. We will have a chance to walk through a display of authentic Dutch windmills along a canal in Windmill Park and take a city tour to see the Dutch architecture of shops which gives this community classical charm and history.

We have reserved seating for the Straatfest and Street Scrubbing which begins the Volksparade. Dutch delicacies, including their alphabet cookies, will be available along with the a chance to see the flower show and Heritage Center.

We will depart at 7 a.m. and return about 8:30 p.m. that evening.

Please call us at 507-438-3946 if you would like to join us. We are open to the public.

Church Basement Ladies in “The Last Potluck Supper”

May 28 and May 29: The Church Basement Ladies in “The Last Potluck Supper” at the Plymouth Playhouse will be our next event.

Two separate days are planned with both motor coaches departing at 9 a.m. from the Walmart parking lot. Return time will be about 6 p.m.

This play has generated much interest and is in its fifth and final production. It’s a down-home charmer with loads of laughs.

These four ladies and their Lutheran pastor have us perhaps seeing ourselves as they play their roles.

Inspired by the books, “Growing up Lutheran,” written by Greta Grosch, who many may remember was in a show here in Austin.

Fee is due by May 6. There is a waiting list.

Mystery Trip

June 30: We are calling this tour another Mystery trip of sorts. It is planned with big hints and also priced so we could perhaps entice new travelers to join us.

There will be three stops and lunch is included. The reward is you may be visiting these sites for a first time. That’s the joy in planning these mystery trips. Those will be the clues for now. We will depart at 9:30 a.m. and return about 5 p.m. Call for more information.

Minnesota Centennial Show Boat

July 9: The Minnesota Centennial Show Boat on Harriet Island in St Paul.

We will be seeing “Dr Jekyll and Mr. Hyde,” with a “boo and hiss” production.

This is a thriller that will also keep you laughing the whole show. Between scenes it will be spiced up with fun gimmicks, girls in beautiful costumes and song and dance routines straight from the golden days of vaudeville.

Lunch will be served and included on the showboat prior to the show.

Door County and Mackinaw Island

Sept. 6-11: Door County and Mackinaw Island extended tour.

We have also planned a return trip to Branson in November. Plans available soon

A complete schedule of these trips and more is now available. Stop by our south entrance message box. Members will be sent monthly newsletters with this information and other things planned at the Mower County Senior Center.