If you like Tulips, then the Ottawa Tulip Festival is a MUST SEE. It is one of the largest events of its kind in the world.
If you love Tulips, be prepared to have your mind blown The colours, the shapes. If you don’t like Tulips, then go for the scenery,the food and entertainment makes the trip worthwhile.
The 2019 Spring season was cooler than usual so some of the beds are delayed but there are beds that are in full bloom. The activities are spread out at different locations throughout the city. If you plan on taking it all in, a few hours is not enough. With all the Tulips and activities spread across Canada’s capital, taking in all the sights and sounds offered by Canada’s capital at this time, a few hours isn’t nearly enough. Why not go for a minimum of 2 days at best.
Wondering where to go and what to do? Well there are 4 official designated spaces for the festival. Do check the official program as it will contain the various dates and time for the activities.
There will be crowds, Commissioners Part can have thousands of visitors at any one time. Even though it can get crowded, it flows very well.
- Commissioners Park Dow’s Lake – The Garden Tulip Experience:
This is the ultimate in Tulip experience, with well over 200,000 Tulips in this location alone, get your walking shoes on. Its 1km of spectacular color and history. - Lansdowne Park – The Art & Culture Tulip Experience:
This park is about a 20 minute walk, 5 minute bike ride from Commissioners Park. This location offers more activities. Here you find various workshops, like photography, children activities, entertainment, cultural performances, art displays and the list goes on. Of course you will also find Tulips
. - Byward Market – The Urban Tulip Experience:
Here you will find a collection of Tulip art by Monique Martin, the official restaurants of the festival and a downtown Tulip shuttle going to Lansdowne Part and/or Commissioners Park. Check official schedule to get updated information. - The Garden Promenade – The Community Tulip
This location hosts the spring edition of the Ottawa wine and food festival. It’s definitely a go to for you foodies out there, sample treats inspired by Tulips.
Food
There are lots of amazing restaurants to try, junk food to inhale and of course the food sampling. If you like Portuguese food or would like to try peri-peri chicken. Give Nando’s a try. There are several but I’ve found my favorite to be Nando’s on Elgin. The ambiance is very nice and casual and the food is delicious.
Why not walk off all that food by visiting other sites in the area. l, you can just walk I’ve never had a problem finding parking and you have to try the peri-peri fries. I’ve made it my go to place every time I visit Ottawa.
Driving
For the love of everything petal soft and colorful, if you’re thinking of driving directly to Commissioners Park after 10. Do not go directly to Queen Elizabeth Driveway. It is a traffic nightmare!!!
There are multiple parking lots, around the park but getting there can be a lesson in EXTREME patience and tolerance. One a hot day, those can be in short supply. It can take well over an hour just to park your car, assuming that there are spots available in that particular parking lot.
Do yourself a favor, aim for Little Italy. There are parking lots available on streets like Preston, Booth and other smaller streets. The lots are minutes away from the park plus you have the added incentive of having an easier getaway .
A few things you should keep in mind when Tulip watching
- Be aware that the weather will play a part in how much you see of these beauties. Tulip flowers close at nights and on rainy days, this is a protective measure to keep the pollen dry.
- Apparently I wasn’t the only one who wanted to see the Tulips. Who knew!!! Over 600,000 people visit the capital doing this time.
- Ladies, we all want to look cute but if you’re there for the Tulips, walking is a huge part of the experience. Wear comfortable shoes. You can get up to more than 8000 steps at Commissioners Park alone. So be warned, your feet will thank you for it.
- You will have to walk your bike in the park. There are literally thousands of people and animals in the part at any time during the height of the festival.
- Be mindful of your dog. If he/she is not comfortable with crowds, this can be extremely stressful for your canine.
- Access the paved paths provide great access for people with mobility issues.
History
The history of the festival, however is not at pretty as the Tulips we love.
Its origins goes back to of all places Word War II after the Nazis invaded the Netherlands. The Dutch royal family fled the Netherlands and lived in exile. Princess Juliana, the future Queen and her family settled in Ottawa. The family lived in Ottawa for 3 years and in 1943, Princess Juliana gave birth to Princess Margriet at the Ottawa Civic Hospital. In order for the new born princess to maintain her Dutch citizenship, the maternity ward was declared to be outside of Canadian territory by the Canadian government.
During the occupation of the Netherlands, over 200,000 soldier from the Canadian Army played a major role in the liberation of the Netherlands from the Germans, even providing food for starving Dutch citizens. Queen Wilhelmina and Princess Juliana returned to the Netherlands in May of 1945 after the country was liberated.
In October of 1945 Princess Juliana sent 100,000 Tulip bulbs as a token of her gratitude for all that Canada had done for her, her family and her country.
Of course even a well meant gift can be the victim of bureaucracy, the letters to the then Mayor went unanswered until the secretary of Federal District Commission (FDC) got involved. This gift may not seem like such a big deal but remember that just a few months before, these Tulip bulbs was a source of sustenance for the people of this country.
And so the floral symbol of world friendship and peace was born. The following year the Princess sent 20,500 bulbs to the FDC and requested some be planted in the gardens of the Civic Hospital in the name of Princess Margriet, with 10,000 every following year.
Today Canada receives 20,000 Tulips from the Netherlands, 10,000 from the royal family and 10,000 from Dutch Bulb Growers Association.
Every year the festival attracts over 600,000 people to Canada’s capital.
Who’s Your Dahlia – It’s About Bloomin’ Time
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