TOPEKA (KSNT) - Its officially spring, which means Shawnee County Parks and Recreation's Tulip Time is right around the corner. This two-week celebration is a Topeka tradition to kick off spring. Thousands of tulips are planted and start to bloom at the beginning of April. The event starts April 10, but the preparation starts months advance. Washburn fans sendoff basketball team to Elite Eight Volunteers get together and plant tulip seeds in October to ensure they are in full bloom by springtime. "It is a big deal," Parks and Rec Marketing Supervisor, Sean Zears said. "People come from across the state to our area to Shawnee County just to visit these tulips." There will be a tulip bulb sale benefiting the Parks For All Foundation after Tulip Time wraps up. For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.  ...read more read less