Ottawa Tulip FestivalThe Ottawa Tulip Festival began with a gift of flowers from a grateful queen and has blossomed into an annual multicultural artistic event.
Some women love roses. I prefer tulips. That's why this festival is paradise on earth for me. I've participated twice and would love to make an annual trek if I could!History of the Festival The Festival began with a gift of flowers. Well, a gift of flower BULBS, to be exact. And not just a few. Try 100,000 of them. The year was 1945. The Second World War had just ended. A grateful Princess Juliana of the Netherlands presented Ottawa with 100,000 tulip bulbs, in thanks for the safe haven the Canadian government had given her family during the war and for the role Canadian troops had played in liberating Holland from the Nazis. The flowers began to bloom, each year attracting more and more attention. In 1953, the city decided to host a festival to celebrate the annual blossoming of this gift. Festival Features Today the festival, which takes place in downtown Ottawa in May, is about more than gardens. Although the flowers are still the main attraction, the event has branched out to include music concerts, art shows, food and handicraft tents, and public lectures. The main events are held in Major's Hill Park, within walking distance of the Parliament Buildings and the National Gallery of Canada. One of my favourite features of the festival is the parade of papier mache tulips decorated with different scenes.
Here's a close-up of one:
You can find more information about the festival at www.tulipfestival.ca You may enjoy:
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