Tulip Festival greets new queen, offers Sunday fun
Mills is looking forward to serving the community
Raj Raj, above, takes a photo of Deepa Raj and Ayan Raj among the signature flowers during the 74th Tulip Festival in Albany’s Washington Park on Saturday. At left, the Art Partners/Tsehaya & Company are among the many music groups performing during the day. Another highlight of the two-day festival was the selection and coronation of the Tulip Queen and Court. The celebration of the city’s Dutch heritage continues Sunday, Mother’s Day, with more events, entertainment and, of course, tulip adulation.
Sam Mills became the first-ever nonbinary Tulip Queen during a crowning ceremony at Washington Park Saturday.
“I’m beyond excited and so honored,” Mills said. “I am the first nonbinary Tulip Queen so it’s very overwhelming and I’m excited to serve my community and work with these girls. It’s going to be amazing!”
Mills, chosen by judges from a field of five contestants, becomes the 74th person to carry the crown, bestowed during the first day of the Tulip Festival. All five will work together on community service and literacy advocacy initiatives as the 2022 Albany Tulip Court. The 2021 queen was Ashanti Bishop.
“Throughout the year, we have learned adaptability, communication, and we’ve really grown together as women; so I’m excited to see what they can do as leaders,” Bishop said. “I think they’re going to do amazing.”
Mills, 24, Albany, graduated from The College of Saint Rose with a bachelor of fine arts in studio art. Since graduating, Mills has pursued stand-up comedy, working with businesses organizing free open mic nights and comedy shows. Mills has lived in Albany for the past seven years and has become part of the social fabric in Center Square as a bartender at Palais Royale.
Mayor Kathy Sheehan explained the background of the Tulip Festival, and its significance for the city
of Albany.
“This is part of an important tradition in the city, and I love the fact that this dates back to a time when this city came together and helped a city that was struggling to recover from the devastation of World War II in the Netherlands,” Sheehan said. “And to thank us they sent boxes of tulips. That’s how the Tulip Festival was born, and I think it reminds us how important it is to reach out to our neighbors.”
Other members of the court are: Ashley Mayfield, 20, Troy, a junior music industry major at The College of Saint Rose;
Sakthi Muthukrishnan, 18, Latham, an undergraduate student at the University at Albany; Kathleen Nielsen, 22, Albany, a graduating senior at Russell Sage College; and Meghan O’Neil, 22, Albany, who is finishing her first year of graduate school at The College of Saint Rose.
Mills was surrounded by their family and Tulip Court members past and present. “I’m hoping that we connect with a certain part of the community,” Mills said of their ambitions for the new role. “There’s a lot of LGBTQ+ community members, and I’m hoping that I can be a role model for kids who were in my shoes too.”
Sunday’s events include more entertainment, displays and vendors, as well as the 23rd annual Capital Region Best Mom of the Year Contest at noon at the Lakehouse Stage in Washington Park.
For parking options, see www.parkalbany.com.
For more information about the events, call 518434-2032 or visit www.albanyevents.org.
To view a digital presentation of the Tulip Festival, see www.timesunion.com
“I’m beyond excited and so honored. I am the first nonbinary Tulip Queen so it’s very overwhelming and I’m excited to serve my community and work with these girls. It’s going to be amazing!”
Sam Mills