Travel to Ottawa for the Canadian Tulip Festival

Ottawa Travel Guide

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Monday, 11 March 2013 09:02

Ottawa has a host of different festivals throughout the year, and one of the most fascinating is the Canadian Tulip Festival. Those who are considering travelling to Ottawa in the near future may want to come for this gorgeous event taking place May 3-20, 2013. Not only are visitors able to check out the beautiful blooms, but they can also take advantage of the countless other attractions such as the Rideau Canal, National Gallery of Canada and Parliament Hill. Here is what travellers need to know about the Canadian Tulip Festival. 

The festival's history 
Now, this is the world's largest tulip festival, and it has grown a great deal since 1953, when it was established. In 1945, Dutch tulips started to arrive in Canada's capital as a thank you for providing a safe place for the Dutch Royal Family during the Second World War. The stunning pictures taken by renowned photographer Malak Karsh encouraged tourists from all over to come to Ottawa and see some of these beautiful blooms. Karsh is considered one of the many founders of this event, which has grown to a full scale festival each year. There are about 1 million tulips in bloom for the festival, which attracts more than 500,000 people every year. 

Where it takes place
This year, the Canadian Tulip Festival will be celebrated all over the city - from the Glebe to Sparks Street to Little Italy and the ByWard Market area. There are also events in Chinatown and Elgin Street, making for quite the affair. Not only are there tulips to enjoy, but there are a number of different things happening in Ottawa - from outdoor musical concerts to the Great Canadian Tulip Treasure Hunt. One thing's for sure, travellers will certainly not run out of activities to attend and things to do when they visit Ottawa for this festival. 

What to expect
Besides the outdoor musical concerts and the annual treasure hunt, tourists can also expect the Mad Hatter Tea Party on Mother's Day and a lot of things to do. The festival starts on May 3 and the fun continues through May 20.