Tiel's Fruitfestival opens 19 September: see the free fruit mosaics first, then price two days against the weekend ticket

Since 1961, every September, Tiel has glued apples, pears, peppers, nuts and seeds into giant artworks and paraded them through town: the Fruitcorso. This year it is called Fruitfestival and the format has changed. The works no longer drive through the streets; from 19 to 21 September they stand together on Het Taluud in the centre, and you walk past them at your own pace, with music, street theatre, a children's building area and a regional produce market around them. One part can be seen right now: fruit mosaics laid by schools, clubs and institutions are on free display along the Stadsgracht from 11 September to the 21st, so this weekend already works. That leaves two decisions for this piece: whether to see the free part first, and whether the main event is one day or two.

• The works are built by regional teams and volunteers from thousands of pieces of fruit and vegetables, and on Saturday from 20:00 to 21:30 Fruitfestival by Night adds light and music to them; the Fruitcorso is listed as intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO and nationally. (source 1, source 2)
• The site lists 13 fruit mosaics by schools and institutions including Lingecollege Tiel and Ziekenhuis Rivierenland; OR de Molenwerf's Samen Stralen shows a dragon and a phoenix polishing a stone into a pearl together, a picture of children from different cultures growing up side by side. (source 3)
• The ticket page lists a day ticket at 12.00 euro plus a 1.00 euro fee from age 12, or 6.00 euro for ages 6 to 12, and a weekend ticket at 20.00 euro plus 1.00, or 10.00 plus 1.00 for ages 6 to 12, valid Saturday, Sunday and Monday with repeat entry. (source 4)
• Families who would rather not hunt for parking should take the train: the organisers say Tiel station is within walking distance of the site, while drivers on Saturday and Sunday are sent to two transferia on the edge of town with a free shuttle bus, so do not follow the satnav all the way to Het Taluud. (source 5)

The sum is short. Adults: a day ticket with fee is 13 euro and the weekend ticket 21, so one day means a day ticket and two days means 26 against 21, five euro in favour of the weekend ticket. Ages 6 to 12: 6 euro a day against 11, so two days is 12 against 11. Two adults and two children aged 6 to 12 pay 2×13 + 2×6 = 38 euro for one day, 76 euro for two days on day tickets and 2×21 + 2×11 = 64 euro on weekend tickets. Put your own head count and number of days into the same line. One more group should buy the weekend ticket: anyone who wants to look in daylight and come back for the lit version on Saturday night, because the weekend ticket states repeat entry and the day ticket does not.

Check one thing before paying: the FAQ on the same site still says day tickets from 7.50 euro and free entry under 12, which does not match the ticket page, and the ticket page says sales will start soon. Go by the price in the basket once the shop opens; the sum stays the same with the real figures in it, and if it really is 7.50, two days come to 15 euro plus fees and the answer flips to day tickets. (source 6)

Where

Het Taluud, Tiel; the fruit mosaics are on the Stadsgracht

When

Saturday 12:00–01:00・Sunday from 10:00・Monday from 09:00; mosaics all day from 11 to 21 September

Price

Mosaics free; main site at the ticket-page price, confirmed in the basket when sales open

Ages

Child price for ages 6 to 12; under 6 not stated on the ticket page

Note

Drivers park at a transferium with a free shuttle on Saturday and Sunday・No pets except guide dogs・Goes ahead in bad weather

Hokimi field note: see the mosaics on the Stadsgracht this weekend and walk the route from Tiel station to Het Taluud while you are there; next weekend, with children in tow, you will not be finding the way in a crowd.