A Guide to Visiting the 2024 Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa
Every May over a million tulips bloom around Canada’s capital region during the Canadian Tulip Festival. As one of the most visually stunning festivals in Canada, this celebration of spring is a must-visit for photographers, nature lovers and those who love flowers. Make the most of this amazing time of year in Ottawa with our guide to visiting the Canadian Tulip Festival.
History of the Canadian Tulip Festival
The Canadian Tulip Festival was established to celebrate the historic Royal gift of tulips from the Dutch people to Canadians following the Second World War. Following the Nazi Invasion of the Netherlands, Princess Juliana of the Netherlands took refuge in Ottawa along with her two young daughters, and while in exile in Canada, gave birth to her third daughter, Princess Margriet. At the time of the baby’s birth, part of the Ottawa Civic Hospital was declared Dutch soil to allow the new princess to hold Dutch nationality
When she returned to the Netherlands, Princess Juliana gifted 100,000 tulip bulbs to Ottawa to thank the people of Canada, and since then the Dutch royal family has sent tulip bulbs to Ottawa each year, a gift known as the “Tulip Legacy”.
The Canadian Tulip Festival has been celebrating the tulip, an international symbol of friendship and peace, since 1953 and the first Canadian Tulip Festival was held at the suggestion of world-renowned photographer Malak Karsh. Since that moment the Canadian Tulip Festival was born, and for decades the National Capital Commission has planted hundreds of thousands of tulip bulbs throughout the national capital region each year for people from around the world to enjoy each spring.
When to Visit the Canadian Tulip Festival
The Canadian Tulip Festival takes place each May for the ten days before the Victoria Day long weekend. The National Capital Commission tulip meter is an extremely useful tool in determining the bloom level of tulips around the city, and helpful for planning the timing of your visit.
Whether you plan your visit at the start or near the end of the festival, you’re guaranteed to see blooms, as early, mid-, and end-of-season tulips (each with different blooming times) are planted in festival gardens. If you’re lucky enough to visit for the week, or live nearby, you’ll notice different tulips at every stage of the festival.
Best Spots to see Blooms; Tulip Gardens Around the City
Commissioners Park
Commissioners Park is the official site of the Canadian Tulip Festival, and has the most spectacular display of tulips in the Ottawa region. The park has several sections and stretches over 8.95 hectares. You can easily spend a morning, afternoon, or entire day walking through the gardens.
Major’s Hill Park
Major’s Hill Park is another popular location to view tulips during the Canadian Tulip Festival. In particular the curvy S-shaped garden winding through the east end of the park across from the National Gallery of Canada is a favourite of visitors. As you move closer to the Fairmont Chateau Laurier, you’ll find a long rectangular garden flanked by the iconic Colonel John By sculpture which has a beautiful display of blooms. It provides a great photo-op with the Parliament of Canada in the background, and scenic spots to sit and enjoy the view.
Other sites
Across the Ottawa River in the city of Gatineau, you’ll find some smaller gardens on the banks of the Ottawa River beside the Canadian Museum of History. Confederation Park across from Ottawa City Hall also has some beautiful beds, often mixed with other spring flowers like hyacinths daffodils
If you opt for a bike ride or walk along the Rideau Canal pathway you’ll also find several gardens dotted along the main pathway, primarily on the west side of the canal. Some are quite large, brimming with colourful blooms. Just minutes from the main pathway you’ll also find a beautiful circular garden surrounding the Share the Flame monument at Lansdowne Place, right next to Queen Elizabeth Drive. This bed is often planted with Olympic Flame tulips - bright yellow tulips with red stripes flickering up the sides. With benches nearby it’s a great place to escape the crowds and is only minutes from the bustling shops and restaurants of Lansdowne Place.
The NCC’s interactive map is a great resource to plan a tulip tour around the capital, and to find those hidden, not so obvious gardens to view tulips
How to Get Around; Parking and Transportation
Tulip Trolley
The official transportation of the Canadian Tulip Festival, the Tulip Trolley is a great way to visit the festival, and to see the sights along the way. The trolley runs daily with tickets sold online in advance, and makes a circular route stopping at local hotels and Tulip Festival sites.
Free parking
Free parking is available for a limited time on some side streets around Commissioners Park. Be sure to keep an eye on the time and park legally, as parking officers are out in full force during the festival.
Paid parking
There are several parking lot options on nearby Preston St. in Ottawa’s Little Italy neighbourhood, as well as paid street parking on Preston St, and on site streets north of Carling Avenue. *Note: The large parking lot across from Dow’s Lake Pavilion has closed for a new construction development
Ride Share, taxis and public transportation
Both Uber and Lyft operate in Ottawa and taxis are readily available throughout the city. This is a good option to get to and from the festival, as you’ll avoid potential issues with finding parking and there are several easy drop-off areas nearby.
If you’re taking public transportation, we recommend a route which drops you off on Carling Avenue. The closest O-Train station is Preston/Carling, and you can easily transfer from the O-train from the downtown line at Pimisi station. Check the OC Transpo planning tool to plan your route.
Bike
Biking is perhaps the best way get to and from the Canadian Tulip Festival and our favourite way to get around in Ottawa. While biking is not permitted on the pathways through the festival during the festival (it can get quite busy), Commissioner’s Park is easily accessible from the Rideau Canal pathway, which links the area to downtown and to several other multi-use pathways that stretch throughout the city. If you don’t have a bike you can easily rent one for a day or a few hours from local companies like Escape Bicycle Tours and Rent A Bike.
Tulip Festival Tours, Activities and Special events
There are many special events and activities offered as part of the Canadian Tulip Festival, which vary slightly from year to year. The self-guided Tulip Legacy Walking Tour is a great way to learn about the history of the festival at your own pace. You’ll also find out cool information on the different varieties of tulips in the park by scanning the QR code at 7 select sites throughout Commissioners Park.
Other events being offered during the 2024 season are the blacklight boardwalk with sound and light show, an aerial drone show to celebrate the 100-year centennial of the Royal Canadian Air force (May 19), movies in the park, a kid’s zone, and tulip market.
What to Wear; Weather Considerations for May
Ottawa is known for its unpredictable spring weather, so we suggest preparing for a variety of weather scenarios. Rain, cold temperatures and occasionally light snow or frost are all possible, so pack or wear a variety of layers with a windproof and waterproof coat as your top layer. Waterproof footwear is also a must for rainy days and dewy mornings, and a pair of light gloves can come in handy as well. For warm sunny afternoons, don’t forget a hat and a pair of your most fashionable sunglasses.
What to Bring and What to Leave at Home
A camera is a must for visiting the Canadian Tulip Festival. Whether you have a phone, film or digital camera or professional DSLR, there are a multitude of photo opportunities to be had all over the city. No drones are permitted on the Canadian Tulip Festival sites.
If you’re planning on visiting the Canadian Tulip festival with your cutest four-legged friend, you’ll be pleased to hear that dogs are permitted on the festival grounds on leash. Be sure to clean up after your pup, and to help everyone have a good experience, take your dogs to nearby trees to relieve themselves – wet tulips are only nice when they’re moist from morning dew!
Accessibility at the Canadian Tulip Festival
If you’re visiting the Canadian Tulip Festival with children in strollers, or with someone who has limited mobility, we recommend Commissioners Park as the most accessible place to visit the festival. There is easy parking nearby and the paved path provides a good way to travel through the park. Accessible washrooms are also located on-site at each rest station.
Some tulip beds in Major’s Hill Park are surrounded by a paved path, however you may need to stray slightly from the main path and onto the grass to capture your photos.
Where to Eat, Take a Break, and Grab a Bite
Whether you’re looking for a hearty breakfast before a day of tulip viewing, or picking up a coffee for a stroll through the colourful gardens, there is no shortage of great options in Ottawa.
Packed with restaurants, pubs, coffee shops, and some great spots for authentic Italian gelato, Ottawa’s Little Italy is a great neighbourhood to start or finish any visit to the Canadian Tulip Festival. Located on Preston St., it’s a short walk from the Dow’s Lake end of Commissioners Park.
If you’re after a quick snack or something to drink onsite, there are many food vendors throughout Commissioners Park, from lemonade and coffee, to hot dogs and ice cream. These offerings vary each year, so check directly with the Canadian Tulip Festival for details.
Major’s Hill Park borders the beautiful ByWard Market neighbourhood, and you’ll have an easy time finding a restaurant, café, coffee shop, or vibrant patio to suit your individual tastes. Don’t forget to stop in at the ByWard Market Farmer’s market to grab seasonal fruits, vegetables, and fresh cut flowers, and drop by Moulin de Provence in the historic ByWard Market building for their special tulip-themed cookie.
For more information on the Canadian Tulip Festival visit the Canadian Tulip Festival.
