ALBANY, N.Y. -- The tulips have bloomed and the streets have been scrubbed. Tulip Fest 2008 is officially underway.
Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings said, "The whole weekend is exciting. You see tens of thousand of people coming out from all over the northeast to enjoy a festival that's been been rated one of the top 100 in the country, and it really is an enjoyable time."
This weekend, 208,000 tulips will be on display, but they're not the only show in town. Food, art and entertainment will help bring in the tip-toers.
People will be showing up to Washington Park in droves this weekend for the 60th annual Tulip Festival. Our Kaitlyn Ross was at the kick-off celebration for the festival and has more on what to expect this weekend.
Tulip Festival Chairman Marcus Pryor said, "People are just excited to get out of their homes. In the northeast, we've got long winters, cold winters, and this seems to be that right of passing, that opening of spring. So I think people are just excited to get out and enjoy the festival."
The city sees anywhere from 30,000 to 80,000 people every year for the festival, and they have no doubt those numbers will stay up this year.
Mayor Jennings said, "This park will be full tomorrow. The weather's going to cooperate, and this will be full throughout the day tomorrow and tomorrow night."
The tulips have been celebrated in Albany since 1949, and it's the traditions -- the street scrubbing, the crowning of the Tulip Queen, and, of course, the flowers -- that keep people coming back year after year.
Mayor Jennings said, "Come on out and enjoy yourself. It's really a great thing to see."
The festival stays in bloom through Mother's Day.
A number of street closures and parking restrictions are in effect during Tulip Fest.