Ottawa Tulip Festival - May 4-21, 2012

Officially known as the Canadian Tulip Festival, this year's event takes place in Ottawa from May 4-21, 2012. Millions of tulips will blossom again, creating an exotic mosaic of colour and beauty in Ottawa and Gatineau. This is the 60th edition of the annual festival.

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2012 news and events

The 60th edition of the Ottawa Tulip Festival runs from May 4-21, 2012.
For more info you can call the Tulip Hotline at 1 800 66-TULIP or visit the official web site at www.tulipfestival.ca
See also: OttawaStart Blog: Tulip Festival

Official events for 2012 haven't been announced yet - here's what happened last year at the festival:

2011 info: Commissioners Park - Floral Central (near Dow's Lake / Preston / Carling)

Located at Dow's Lake, access is free and the park is open from Friday, May 6th to Monday, May 23rd. The park features over 300,000 tulips. Visit the NCC’s Tulip Legacy Exhibit and discover the fascinating details of the events that led to the “Gift of Tulips”.

2011 info: Major's Hill Park - Festival Central (near the Byward Market)

Open May 6-8 and May 13-23. Features extraordinary Kaleidoscope tulip beds, plus children and family oriented activities and the International Pavilion. The pavilion hosts over 20 participating embassies and local community groups. Enjoy cultural entertainment on the International Friendship Stage, taste exotic cuisine, explore new worlds, learn about other countries and their history, plan your next trip or shop for souvenirs from around the world

2011 info: The Tulip Route

This informal route winds its way along the canal and through the Nation's Capital. Stop to visit other spectacular multi-coloured tulip gardens, including the picturesque Malak bed at the Canadian Museum of Civilization, and along the shorelines of the Ottawa River in Gatineau.

2011 Tulip Festival News

May 4: CLOSE TO ONE MILLION TULIPS TO BLOOM IN THE CAPITAL
March 21: Canadian Tulip Festival 2011 Preview

Did you know?

Ottawa's tulip tradition started after the Second World War. The Dutch government and royal family donated over 100,000 tulip bulbs to Canada as a "thank you" for the generosity and help of Canadians during the war. Each year, the Dutch royal family still sends 20,000 bulbs to Canada.Read more...
The Ottawa Tulip Festival is the largest tulip festival in the world.