Canadian Tulip Festival

Welcome spring at the world's largest tulip festival! This popular annual event features massive tulip displays, family fun and more.

Over 11 days each May, the Canadian Tulip Festival celebrates the seasonal flower’s beauty and its historic ties to Canada’s capital. The outdoor event takes place at Commissioners Park, where over 300,000 tulips bloom alongside the Rideau Canal's picturesque Dows Lake. Access to the site and select programming is free!

Tulips (day and night), kids fun and souvenirs

Take photos and selfies amongst the dozens of multicoloured garden beds; visit the heritage display to learn about the historic gift of tulips which led to the festival’s creation; shop for fresh cut flowers, crafts, art and more at the tulip boutique; take the kids to the Tulip Town activity area; and enjoy lit garden beds and a blacklight boardwalk experience after dark.

Tours, workshops and movie

Enjoy a Self-Guided Legacy Tour that conveniently uses QR codes. Additional free programming includes daily outdoor movies at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., as well as a new sound and light Show every evening on the blacklight boardwalk at 9:15 p.m.  

Royal roots 

The festival began with a special gift. The Royal Family of the Kingdom of the Netherlands took refuge in Ottawa during the Second World War, and Her Royal Highness, Princess Margriet was born here in 1943. Two years later, Canadian troops played a key role in liberating the Netherlands. In gratitude, the Dutch government has sent Canada a gift of tulip bulbs every year since 1945, inspiring what has become the Canadian Tulip Festival.

ByWard Market expansion

Ottawa's annual Tulip Festival is expanding into the ByWard Market! 

Tulip Palooza is on from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, May 18. Guests are encouraged to party in a pollinator’s paradise, at the York Street OTTAWA Letters. With a giant 8-foot-tall spring garden with huge bees and butterflies glowing brightly in blacklight with DJ performances and a street party. Arteast Artists will be Plein Air painting in the Park and also Painting in the George St. Plaza.

Catch the ByWard Market Tulip Tour on York St. for only $5 return, and get a ride down to the main Festival site at Commissioners Park, and back again running daily, May 10-20, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Most importantly, this year ByWard Market is the official/satellite venue. And visitors can visit the Commissioners Park by bus.