Known as The Heart of the Fens, Spalding has long been famous as a centre of the bulb industry. The annual Spalding Tulip Parade took place on the first Saturday in May, from 1959 through to 2013. Its procession of floats on various themes each decorated with tulip petals, a by-product ofthe bulb industry, would wind it's way through the town. In years when the tulips were late, daffodils or hyacinths were sometimes used in their place. If the tulips were early, crepe paper was substituted. At its peak, the Spalding Flower Parade attracted more than 100,000 visitors.
The last ever Spalding Flower Parade took place on Saturday 4th May 2013.