Tulips in front of the Parliament Buildings during the Tulip Festival in Ottawa

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A world of tulips. Canadian Tulip Festival

During spring, Ottawa becomes a canvas adorned by the Canadian Tulip Festival! Each May, Canada's capital blooms to life, boasting a mosaic of over a million tulips, with red and white petals encircling the iconic Parliament Buildings. This festival celebrates the friendship between Canada and the Netherlands, which began with the safekeeping of Dutch royalty during WWII and the birth of Princess Margriet in 1943 in Ottawa.

This year, the floral festival is collaborating with the Royal Canadian Air Force to mark its 100 years of service. The 72nd Canadian Tulip Festival, being held between May 10 and 20, is free for all and usually showcases its largest display of tulips in Commissioners Park. If you happen to be near Preston Street, you also might want to catch a glimpse of the parade with the Canadian Armed Forces Central Band. Experience this enchanting event, a tradition that cherishes the bond between nations and the promise of renewal, one tulip at a time.