Ultimate Guide to Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa [2025]

Looking for the best place to see the Tulip Festival in Ottawa? Here we have provided an Ultimate Guide to the Canadian Tulip Festival.

Ottawa is a beautiful city with so many awesome places to explore. During spring, the town transforms into a walking heaven as thousands of tulips and cherry blossoms bloom.

Tourists not only from Canada but from the whole world arrive every year (in May) to see the beauty of this amazing Tulip Festival which has been a tradition for more than 100 years. There are over a million tulip flowers around the whole city which are of more than 60 different varieties. Trust me, exploring it feels like you are wandering in heaven on earth.

The Event lasts for almost 10 days, during which you can enjoy many live shows and see how a perfect example of a true friendship looks like.

Come Join me in exploring(digitally) the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa. Here, we have covered everything from the best places to see the tulip festival to where to stay.

Ottawa Tulip Festival 2025

The Canadian Tulip Festival aka Ottawa Tulip Festival is an Annual Tradition in Canada that has been continuing since 1953. The first-ever Canadian Tulip Festival was led by the Ottawa Board of Trade and Malak Karsh (founder of the Festival) was the one who suggested the idea of the Tulip Festival in 1953.

It’s the largest tulip festival in the world even bigger than the Netherlands. It’s a ten-day event where millions of tulip flowers are put on display for the Public. The best thing about the tulip festival is that it’s absolutely free to attend, you don’t have to pay anything for it(even for tourists).

Besides that, the city also hosts so many live performances, and fireworks shows that you can enjoy while exploring the city.

Why Does Canada Have a Tulip Festival?

Canada’s annual tradition the Canadian Tulip Festival is a truly remarkable celebration of the enduring friendship between Canada and the Netherlands. The festival’s origins trace back to World War II when Princess Juliana of the Netherlands sought refuge in Ottawa for 3 years with her family during the Nazi occupation of her country.

During their, stay in Canada, the Princess of the Netherlands gave birth to her 3rd daughter. As per the Dutch tradition, to be the rightful heir of the throne the child should be born on a Dutch Soil. In response to that, the Canadian government declared part of the Ottawa Civic Hospital to the extraterritorial of the Netherlands (for a temporary time).

As a sign of gratitude for Canada’s hospitality, Princess Juliana gifted 100,000 tulip bulbs to Ottawa in 1945. This gesture was marked as the beginning of a tradition of annual tulip shipments from the Netherlands to Canada.

In 1953, the first Canadian Tulip Festival was held to honor the contributions of Canadian troops in liberating the Netherlands during World War II. Since then, the festival has grown into a major international event, attracting over a million visitors each year from the whole world.

The Tulip Festival acts as a true reminder of the generous friendship between Canada and the Netherlands.

Best Places to See Tulips in Ottawa [2025]

Commissioners Park 

Commissioners Park is the largest and most popular spot to see tulips in Ottawa. It’s an annual festival that takes place in Commissioners Park where more than a million Tulip flowers bloom each year.

Visitors can stroll around the flower bed and take a bunch of selfies (photographs) while enjoying the scenic view of natural beauty. Almost everyone takes a photograph of themselves with the beautiful tulip beds as it’s the perfect background for their social media posts and stories.

Not to mention, the park is also home to several attractions, including the Canadian Tulip Festival, Dow’s Lake, and the National Gallery of Canada.

Major’s Hill Park

Major’s Hill Park is an urban park, located on a hill overlooking the Rideau Canal and Parliament Hill. The park is immensely popular for providing panoramic views of the city, its beautiful flowerbeds, and its historical significance makes it a special place to visit.

During the spring season, the park becomes home to millions of tulip flowers, attracting thousands of tourists from all over the world.

Most people don’t even consider visiting it during the Ottawa Tulip Festival which makes the place less crowded than Commissioners Park, and being located right in the middle of downtown, it more accessible for families and budget travelers who wants to enjoy the festival & don’t like crowded place that much.

The Rideau Canal

The Rideau Canal is a 202-kilometer (126-mile) long canal that connects the Ottawa River to Lake Ontario in Kingston, Ontario. The canal is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a popular spot for boating, fishing, and skating (depending upon season).

It’s also a popular spot for festivals and other cultural events. During spring, the canal transforms itself and becomes a major spot for tourists attracting thousands of Canadians and international tourists to gaze at the scenic view of tulip flower beds laid besides the canal.

Dow’s Lake

It’s a famous lake located in Commissioners Park, west of downtown Ottawa, making it a popular spot for skating during the winter season.

It is also one of the best places where you can enjoy the Canadian Tulip Festival, held every year in May. The festival displays over a thousands of tulips in bloom, making it a perfect location for anyone who wants to have a romantic date with their partners.

In addition to the tulip festival, the place also hosts a lot of other events throughout the year, such as the Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival, the RBC Bluesfest, and the Canada Day celebrations.

Canadian Museum of History

The Canadian Museum of History (CMH) is a national museum located just across the river from Ottawa. The museum is dedicated to preserving the history of Canada and its people who have majorly contribute to make the city the best in the whole Canada.

It is a popular tourist destination attracting over 1.2 million people every single year.

The place is also known for hosting the Canadian Tulip Festival where they display thousands of tulips in bloom that are of different varieties in shape, size, and color. The event is free for public to attend and enjoy.

Parliament Hill

Another great place to see the Tulip Festival in Ottawa is Parliament Hill. But it has very few limited spots where you can enjoy the scenic view of the festival, thus it’s one of the least visited places to see tulips in Ottawa.

During the festival, thousands of tulips bloom which makes the place worth visiting. Visitors can also enjoy live music & dance performances event throughout the whole city.

Taking a photograph along with the parliament building in the background is a must if you are visiting the place during the bloom. (just kidding)

Tulip Festival Ottawa 2025

The Ottawa Tulip Festival 2025 will run from Friday, May 10, 2024 – to Monday, May 20, 2024 (expected). For more details visit the Ottawa Tulip Festival 2025.

History of the Canadian Tulip Festival

The Canadian Tulip Festival has its origins back from World War II. In 1940, when the Nazis invaded the Netherlands, the Dutch royal family Princess Juliana was forced to flee their homeland. They found refuge in Canada, where they stayed for almost 3 years till the war was over and their country was freed from Nazi Occupation.

During their stay, the Princess gave birth to her 3rd child (daughter). As per the Dutch tradition, to be the rightful heir of the throne the child should be born on a Dutch Soil. So, the Canadian government declared part of the Ottawa Civic Hospital where the child was born to the extraterritorial property of the Netherlands. (temporarly.)

In 1945, when Princess Juliana, returned to her home country (Netherlands), the Dutch royal family began sending tulip bulbs to Canada each year as a sign of gratitude for Canada’s kind hospitality.

In 1953, the first Canadian Tulip Festival was led by the Ottawa Board of Trade and Malak Karsh (also known as the founder of the Festival) was the one who suggested the idea of the Tulip Festival.

The festival was held in Commissioners Park, where more than 300,000 tulips bloom alongside the Rideau Canal making the park not less than a heaven.

The Canadian Tulip Festival is a symbol of the true friendship between Canada and the Netherlands.

Where is the Tulip Festival held in Canada?

The Canadian Tulip Festival helds in Ottawa, (the Capital city of Canada) every year. The festival takes place in various locations throughout the city, but the best location to view the Tulip Festival is Commissioners Park, located on the shores of Dows Lake where thousands(may be millions) of Tulips bloom making the park so beautiful that you don’t want to leave once you have visited it.

Major’s Hill Park, Parliament Hill, and the Rideau Canal are also great locations to view the Tulip Festival in Canada.

When can you see tulips in Ottawa?

Tulips usually bloom in Ottawa from late April to early May. The exact timing of the bloom keeps on changing because of the weather conditions. In 2025, the Canadian Tulip Festival is expected to take place from May 10 to May 20, so it’s a perfect time to plan your visit if you want to see the full-bloom tulip in Ottawa.

Month-wise data of Tulip bloom season in Ottawa:

• Late April: The earliest tulips start to bloom in late April.
• Early May: The peak bloom period is typically in early May.
• Mid-May: The tulips are still in bloom in mid-May, but they may start to fade.
• Late May: By late May, most of the tulips will have faded.

Make sure you check out the tulip bloom forecast before making any plans to visit the Ottawa Tulip Festival. The National Capital Commission (NCC) maintains a tulip bloom forecast on its website.

Is the Ottawa Tulip Festival worth it?

Yes, the Ottawa Tulip Festival is totally worth visiting. It is one of the largest tulip festivals in the world, where more than 1 million tulips bloom every year across various locations around the city transforming it into a walking heaven.

Tulip Festival is a perfect place to see beautiful flowers, enjoy outdoor activities, and learn more about Dutch culture. Here are some of the pros and cons that will help you decide whether you should visit the Tulip Festival in Ottawa or not.

Pros:

• Free admission: The festival is absolutely free to attend, which turns out to be an affordable option for families and budget travelers who are looking to explore the city.
• Wonderful Tulip displays: With millions of tulips in bloom, the festival is perfect to relax and enjoy the beauty of nature.
• Fun Activities: The festival offers a variety of activities that you can enjoy which includes live music concerts, dance performances, and a lot of children’s activities.

Cons:

• Crowds: The festival can get very crowded, especially on weekends. Since it’s free, so everyone wants to enjoy it. If you don’t like crowded places, then consider visiting the festival earlier or later in the event week.
• Parking can be Challenging: Parking during peak times is a problem and is quite expensive if you park in the downtown area. If possible for you then consider taking public transportation or carpooling.
• Weather: The weather in Ottawa can be unpredictable in May, so be sure to dress in layers to keep yourself warm and sturdy.

How long the Tulip Festival lasts in Ottawa?

The Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa usually lasts for 10-11 days. The exact dates vary from year to year, depending on the weather conditions but the festival usually takes place in the middle of the month.

It is held at various locations throughout the city, but the best location is Commissioners Park, located on the shores of Dows Lake. Meanwhile, you can also explore Major’s Hill Park, Parliament Hill, and the Rideau Canal as they are also popular tulip-viewing places in Ottawa.

Is the Canadian Tulip Festival free?

Yes, the Canadian Tulip Festival is absolutely free you don’t need to pay anything for it. Anyone can stroll around the colorful tulip beds, admire the scenic view of nature, and enjoy various activities without any cost.

While the Tulip Festival is free, some special events require a paid ticket, such as Tulip Legacy Walking Tours, which provides detailed information about the festival’s history and significance. Food and beverages are also available on-site but you have to pay for it.

Despite these additional paid events, the overall Canadian Tulip Festival remains free and open to the public, allowing everyone to enjoy and experience the beauty of the Tulip Festival in Ottawa.

Final Thoughts: Ottawa Tulip Festival

The Ottawa Tulip Festival is a decades-old tradition in Canada that doesn’t get enough attention. After the pandemic, the number of visitors to the festival has decreased drastically. Sadly, myths and misconceptions about Canada are more popular than these true gems festivals showcasing how rich history we have.

If you ever come to Canada, especially in the spring season, make sure to add the Ottawa Tulip Festival to your bucket list. The city has a lot of great historical monuments, parks, and museums that you can visit and explore. Consider attending the Tulip festival Ottawa, I can bet you wouldn’t be disappointed.