If you’ve never been to the Canadian Tulip Festival, put it on your bucket list. It’s a phenomenal event in Ottawa featuring gorgeous blooms, art exhibits, performances, and culinary events with — you guessed it — tulips front and center. The global pandemic means nobody can be there in person this year, but we can still enjoy the festival online.
That’s right; all of the performances, programming, and public participation is just a click away! People from all over the world can take in the breathtaking sights at Commissioner’s Park/Dow’s Lake from the comfort of their homes.
The festival is a celebration of Canada’s role in liberating the Netherlands in WWll. Immediately after, the Dutch gifted tulips to Canadians as a symbol of gratitude and international friendship.
See It To Believe It
The tulip beds are nothing short of spectacular! Having been there in person a couple of years ago, I can tell you that even if you’re not a lover of tulips, you will be after the festival.
This year’s festival features the Liberation75 Tulip. Last fall, Canadians planted 1.1 million of their bulbs in memory of the 1.1 million people who served in the second world war. Now, the hearty, bright orange tulips with crown-shaped petals are in bloom!
Bloom Browsing
Beyond being introduced to exciting varieties of tulips, you can also take virtual tours of the gardens, learn about the various beds and their care.
Virtual walking tours will be offered too, a good way to relax and destress while many of us are still in self-isolation.
Other Fun Stuff
There’s something for the kids, too; download and color one of the tulip coloring pages. Scan it or take a photo of the artwork and send it back to create the Children’s Freedom Garden. Make it a learning experience by asking your child to write down what freedom means to them.
And instead of the Vintage Victory Parade that was supposed to happen, have some fun by dressing up in your 1940’s gear and recreating one of the famous images below from the WWll homecoming! Share and tag with #TulipTogether for a chance to win a VIP All-Acess 3-day Weekend at the 2021 Canadian Tulip Festival!
For all of the programming and online events, visit the festival’s website from May 8 – May 18.