Hopefully the rain we're expecting will hold off long enough to go tip-toeing through the tulips this weekend.

Albany's 71st Tulip Festival starts today.

Dating back to the 1940s, the event takes over Washington Park every year. Organizers say more than 140,000 tulips in 150 different varieties were planted to provide a colorful scene. Right alongside the colorful tulips are nearly 100 craft vendors, food vendors, and stages for live entertainment.

The Tulip Festival starts at noon Friday with the ceremonial street scrubbing by students from Albany High School aided by the Boy Scouts. It's usually held on State Street, but because thunderstorms are forecasted, the ceremony will be held inside the City Hall rotunda.

This marks the unofficial start to the summer season in the Capital Region.

A full list of shows and vendors is available here.

Those who have attended the festival know that parking can be a nightmare.

CDTA is offering shuttle services, running from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

There will be three designated locations for those seeking to use the shuttle:

  • The Elk Street parking lot behind the State Education Building 
  • The Eagle Street parking lot at the corner with Madison Ave
  • The Albany Med parking lot off Robin Street, which is specifically for those needing extra assistance, or are in wheelchairs.

All shuttles will drop passengers off at the Madison Avenue-New Scotland entrance of Washington Park. Shuttles run every 20 to 25 minutes depending on traffic.