The Spalding Tulip Parade has been held annually since 1959 and is famous for its themed flower floats which are decorated with tulip heads and floral displays. Over 500,000 tulip heads are hand-harvested from local tulip fields and these are then individually pinned on to the floats by up to 150 'float headers' in the two days before the Parade.

Many of those involved in the float heading are school children or community groups and organisations, who use the Parade as a major fund raising opportunity for their charity or good cause.

The Parade follows a three mile route around the market town of Spalding, and as well as the floats it includes marching bands in colourful costumes, a Carnival Finale and a number of speciality acts. There are over 700 participants in the Parade and it is watched by a roadside audience of up to 100,000 visitors and local residents.