World’s largest tulip festival returns to Ontario with new events under the stars

Spring will be in full bloom this May as the world’s largest tulip festival returns to Canada’s capital. The Candian Tulip Festival will run for 11 days starting on May 13, with all-new programming to celebrate its 70th Anniversary Platinum Jubilee.

“Experience the beauty and meaning behind the Gift of Tulips from the grateful Netherlands to all Canadians with free historical and horticultural displays set among 300,000 tulips blooms over one kilometer of strolling parkland on the shores of Dow’s Lake in Ottawa,” the description says.

For the first time, visitors at this year’s festival will get to watch movies under the stars among rows of vibrant tulips.

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Plus, the Dow’s Lake Boardwalk will be transformed into a kilometer-long blacklight garden display, which will allow us to see the tulips in UV light the same way pollinators do.

Admission to the festival is completely free but there will be food trucks and a tulip boutique on-site. You might also want to have some money on hand to sign up for other activities, like the day and night walking tours and tulip bingo.

The Ghosts of the Glebe walking tour is described as a “hauntingly beautiful” experience set across several important gardens. During the tour, you’ll get to see twenty breeds of tulips while you listen to a touching true story about several servicemen who “paid the ultimate price for our freedom.”

The final day of the festival will be commemorated with a grand finale fireworks show, so if you plan to visit, be sure to stick around ’til the end.