You may have thought it was just a Dutch thing, but each year, the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa celebrates the spring tulip season with a magnificent display of over a million blooms. 

The festival signifies a special friendship between Canada and the Netherlands. 

During World War II,  the Dutch Royal Family was spirited out of the Netherlands to safe exile in Canada’s capital, Ottawa.  While they were here, Princess Juliana gave birth to daughter.  As a show of gratitude,  she presented to the people of Canada 100,000 tulip bulbs, and the family sends more every year.

The fields of flowers became so popular, it soon grew into a festival. 

This year’s festivities run from May 10- 20, 2019.

Here’s a guide to the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa to fill you in on where to see the tulips, things to do at the festival, what to eat and where to stay in Ottawa.

Guide to the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa:

Best places to see tulips – Commissioners Park

While there will be tulips in bloom throughout the city, the top place to see tulips in Ottawa is Commissioners Park.  Here, you’ll find huge beds of tulips, and more along the Rideau Canal.

You’ll also see a variety of tulips that you probably never knew existed.  It turns out that tulips have really evolved over the years, including tall ones, fuzzy ones and interesting colour combinations.

Best places to see the tulips – Majors Hill Park

Major’s Hill Park, just behind the Fairmont Château Laurier hotel, is another popular spot for tip-toeing through the tulips.

Here, the tulips have a fabulous downtown backdrop, flanked by the Notre Dame Cathedral (above), the National Gallery of Canada and Canada’s Parliament buildings.  The tulips on Parliament Hill are also worth a look.

How to get around at the Ottawa tulip festival

Major’s Hill Park is in downtown Ottawa and is an easy walk from any central hotel or downtown attractions.

Commissioners Park is about a 10 minute drive from downtown Ottawa.  However, parking is limited so you may want to consider a taxi or an Uber to get there.  The number 85 bus also provides direct access from downtown.  You can check the specific bus route here.

Another pleasant option is to rent a bike downtown and ride along the Rideau Canal, a UNESCO site, to Commissioners Park.  You’ll see plenty of tulips on the way.

Tulip tours in Ottawa:

In the 30-minute Tulip Legacy Tour at Commissioners Park, you’ll learn more about the tulips as well as the festival’s history.

You can also take a self-guided tour  of the park using the Festival’s GrowIt Mobile App on your smart phone.

Other things to do in Ottawa:

At Commisioners Park this year, you can also shop for antiques and artisan crafts at the Heritage Pavilion and enjoy the eats and treats from a wide variety of gourmet food trucks throughout the park.

If you follow the tulip boardwalk to Dow’s Lake  Pavilion, you’ll end up at the new Tulip Plaza where you can shop some more, plus see five foot-high hand-painted tulip sculptures.  As I mentioned, there are tulips everywhere!

Be sure to check the festival schedule for more details, as well as show times for concerts in the park.  For other Ottawa attractions, see Ottawa Tourism.

Finally, no flowery celebration would be complete without fireworks, which will be fired from Dow’s Lake at 10 p.m. on May 19th (weather permitting).

What to bring

The weather in Ottawa in May can be quite variable, so be prepared for warm days, cool evenings, and, perhaps, some chilly, rainy days.

Even though it’s Canada in the spring time, sunglasses and sunscreen are still a good idea.

You should also have a travel umbrella and a breathable rain jacket on hand.  This Helly Hansen waterproof jacket has kept me dry through countless downpours.

What to eat – Beaver Tails!

A festival in Ottawa provides a good excuse for a Beaver Tail.  This is a delectable deep fried pastry – – essentially a flat donut – – with any number of toppings.  My favourite is the classic cinnamon & sugar.

There is usually an outlet at the festival, but you can also visit the flagship location in Ottawa’s Byward Market.  You may also want to check out the many restaurant and bar options in the “Market”.

Where to stay

Your best bet is a hotel in downtown Ottawa for easy access to the best tulip sites and restaurants in the city.  The festival is very popular, so it’s a good idea to book early.  Recommended hotels include the Fairmont Château Laurier , the Westin Ottawa or the Andaz hotel.  Don’t miss the incredible view from the rooftop bar in the Andaz hotel.

If you’re on a budget, there are a lot of great Airbnb options in Ottawa.  Click on this link for $34 off your first Airbnb booking.

Tips for great tulip photos

Want to get some special photos of the tulips?

The best times of day to take photos of tulips is early morning, late afternoon or anytime on overcast or rainy days.  Bright, mid-day sunlight washes out the colours and creates harsh shadows.  There’s one exception to this – – tulip closeups can look great with back lighting.   If possible, try to avoid windy days.

Consider using a tripod to get the sharpest shots (this is the one I use).  But, whether or not you use a tripod, try to change your perspective.  You can get a different look by getting down low and shooting level with, or up at the tulips.

For closeups, look for interesting groupings of tulips or interesting details on one tulip.  Open up your aperture to focus on the detail, blurring the background.  A fixed 35 mm lens is particular good for these kind of shots.

Finally, you may want to use a polarizer for your lens.  It will really make the colours pop, especially on bright days.

Enjoy your visit to the Canada’s Tulip Festival.  It’s sure to put a spring in your step!

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