The beloved annual Canadian Tulip Festival is almost upon us and ready to celebrate its 65th anniversary. This year, the festival will also be a place to celebrate Canada 150.

The Canadian Tulip Festival bills itself as the largest festival of its kind in the entire world – a claim which has yet to be proven wrong. From May 12 to 22, over one million beautiful blooming tulips will be showcased throughout the capital region, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from across Canada and around the world. It will truly be a sight to behold.

Not only is the tulip the official flower of Ottawa, but it also serves as an international symbol of friendship. Back in 1945, Canada received 100,000 tulip bulbs from the Dutch royal family as a show of gratitude for sheltering Princess Juliana and her children during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands in World War II. In 1953, in order to continue remembering and celebrating this gift, the Canadian Tulip Festival was born.

In honour of Canada’s sesquicentennial, this year’s theme for the Canadian Tulip Festival is “One Tulip, One Canada,” represented by the special red and white Canada 150 tulip. Over 200,000 of the one million festival tulips will be Canada 150 tulips, ensuring that they are clearly visible all over Ottawa.

You’ll be able to find large displays of tulips throughout the city. One of the most notable locations is always Commissioners Park, which will feature over 300,000 tulips of many different varieties for visitors to enjoy. Large, colourful tulip beds will also be blooming on Parliament Hill, in the ByWard Market neighbourhood, by the Fairmont Château Laurier, and in Major’s Hill Park.

One of the best ways to take in some of these tulip displays is with a guided bus tour. Hop-on, hop-off transportation will be provided by the Official Canadian Tulip Festival & Garden Promenade Transportation Services, allowing you to travel at your own pace along the flower route. Are you a fan of both guided tours and of good food? The Culinary Tulip Tour will take you on an excursion to some of the best culinary neighbourhoods in the capital region as well.

On top of all the stunning tulips, the Canadian Tulip Festival offers a host of fun, family-friendly events. You can buy tickets for the Opening Night Vernissage, a catered event which will feature a tribute to Canada’s founders. You can also enjoy a delicious meal on Sunday, May 14 at the Mother’s Day Dutch Brunch, and have a swingin’ time at the Canadian Tulip Festival Swing Dance on Friday, May 19. Finally, the festival will receive a fitting farewell at Lansdowne Park on May 21 with the 65th Anniversary Tulipmania Fireworks – Victoria Day Celebration.

If you have the chance to visit the capital region this May, then you definitely shouldn’t pass up the opportunity to take part in some Canadian Tulip Festival events, or to simply stop and smell the flowers. Participate in Canadian history by celebrating Canada 150 at the 65th annual Canadian Tulip Festival.