The Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa, which has been an annual event since 1953, is one of the biggest events in the world that celebrates tulips as a symbol of peace and international friendship.
The festival is organized by the Canadian Tulip Legacy, a non-profit organization that commemorates the historic gift of tulips from the Dutch to Canadians after World War II. The festival boasts over 30 tulip gardens, making it the largest public tulip display in the world.
There are various places to see the tulips in Ottawa, such as Commissioners Park, which features over 100 varieties of bulbs, including the Queen Juliana Gift Bed with bulbs donated by the Netherlands. Another must-visit spot is the Rideau Canal corridor, which connects Commissioners Park and downtown Ottawa. Major’s Hill Park is one of the best sites to see tulips blooming in the spring and hosts a bed dedicated to frontline workers. Downtown Gatineau on the Quebec side also has beautiful tulip displays.
Aside from sightseeing, there are plenty of activities to enjoy at the festival.
The Tulip Legacy Walking Tour is a guided tour through Commissioners Park that provides in-depth historical and horticultural knowledge of different tulip varieties within the festival.
On Mother’s Day, there’s a fun run through the heart of the festival, with proceeds going to the Canadian Tulip Legacy.
Festival markets, such as the Tulip Team at Re/Max’s Tulip Boutique and Arteast, offer delightful shopping opportunities.
The festival also features Tulip Town, a play area for kids that includes a Tulip Chalk Wall Activity, Giant Chess, and group crafts. The Tiny Tulip Train is available for visitors to take a trip on Queen Elizabeth Drive, beside Dow’s Lake, with proceeds going to support the festival.
The tulips in Commissioners Park will also be lit up at night from May 12th-22nd, 2023. Visitors can enjoy the free Dow’s Lake Blacklight Boardwalk Experience and see the tulips as pollinators would through the ultraviolet spectrum.
The Ghosts of the Glebe walking tour will take visitors on a 45-minute play presented by a young Women’s Royal Canadian Naval Reservist from 1946, sharing haunting stories of friends who gave their lives for freedom.
Movies in the Park, in partnership with Chartwell, will offer free movies at Commissioners Park at Dow’s Lake, with picnic tables available for audience members to enjoy food and blankets.
The Battle of the Atlantic Sound & Light Show, a 10-minute free show every night, combines storytelling with dramatic sound and lighting effects to bring the heroic stories of HMCS Haida, HMCS Ottawa, and their crews to life.
The 71st Canadian Tulip Festival’s opening ceremony will take place on May 13th at 11:00 am and will feature an impressive display by the Canadian Navy across the waves of Dow’s Lake. The ceremony will conclude with a Navy League vessel towing a landing craft with a vintage cannon and carriage for an official gun salute.
The closing ceremony will take place on May 22nd at 9:45 pm at HMCS Carleton by Dow’s Lake, where the Canadian Remembrance Torch will be lit to commemorate the men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice in the fight for freedom. Guests are encouraged to use their cellphones to represent the light of individual candles during the ceremony.
The Canadian Tulip Festival offers a variety of food truck vendors to satisfy your cravings. And if you’re looking for more culinary experiences, then Taste Ottawa event is perfect for you. From Sunday, May 14th, to Saturday, May 20th, 2023, enjoy various diverse and delicious meals presented in a unique and enticing format by some of the city’s finest restaurants.
Trip Planning — Canadian Tulip Festival
Tulips at Night/ Canadian Tulip Festival
The Canadian Tulip Festival is one of the largest events of its kind worldwide, showcasing over 30 tulip gardens in the Ottawa-Gatineau region.
When: May 12 through 22, 2023 | 10 AM – 11 PM
Where:
Commissioners Park is the major display site. Visitors can also see tulips along the Rideau Canal, downtown Ottawa, and Downtown Gatineau. Major’s Hill Park, one of the best sites to see tulips, has a “tulips of thanks” bed dedicated to front-line workers, while the Quebec side near the Alexandra Bridge, Jacques-Cartier Park, and the Canadian Museum of History offers stunning views of the river and Parliament Hill.
The Canadian Tulip Festival Shuttle offers a convenient way to travel around the festival. The shuttle runs every day of the festival, with hourly stops on weekdays and half-hourly stops on weekends. The cost is $15 for a one-way trip and $25 for a round trip. The shuttle makes several stops around the area, including Westin Ottawa, ByWard Market, Chateau Laurier, The Lord Elgin, Canada Agriculture and Food Museum, and Dow’s Lake Pavilion.