Special Events and Festivals: Tulip Festival
The Tulip Festival has been held each spring since 1953, and showcases several million tulips and other bulb flowers along Ottawa's rivers, canals and pathways. The single most outstanding display is at Commissioner's Park at Dow's Lake where there are over 300,000 tulips. Other outstanding displays at Rideau Centre (19,000 bulbs), Casino de Hull (50,000 bulbs), and all along Queen Elizabeth Drive on the west bank of the Rideau Canal.
In 2002 from May 3-20, the Canadian Tulip Festival celebrates its 50th Anniversary with the creation of Tulipmania; Tuips like you've never seen them before! Exciting new and artistic Tulipmanial Exhibits, a Tulip Explosion floral design and flower show, a 50th Anniversary Community Tulip Garden–of five-foot tulips–and a gala 50th Anniversary Tulip Ball with an International Floral Gown The Origins The Dutch Royal family gave 100,000 bulbs to Canadians as token of thanks for being sheltered here during World War II after their country was over-run by the Germans, and for the Canadian liberation of Holland. The Royal Family stayed at Rideau hall (Government House) for the duration of the war. When Queen Juliana was pregnant with Princess Margriet, the problem of royal inheritance (requiring heirs to be born in Holland) was solved when the Canadian Parliament passed an act temporarily ceding a room in the Ottawa Civic hospital to the Dutch Crown. The first bulbs were gifted in 1945, and the first Tulip Festival was held in 1953. Flotilla 
One of the major highlights of the Canadian Tulip Festival each year is the Flotilla on the Rideau Canal, the festival's ever popular and colourful parade on water. On Sunday, May 19, the Flotilla will celebrate Tulips Forever! and will salute Britain with up to 75 spectacularly decorated boats entertaining a hundred thousand people lining the historic Rideau Canal. The Flotilla sets sail from Dows Lake Pavilion at 1 p.m. and heads along the Rideau Canal to the National Arts Centre. The literal "floats" feature imaginative creations adorning their boats with tulips, and providing entertainment for the crowds on shore. The Rideau Nautical Modellers, whose membership includes both adults and children, will join in the Flotilla festivities once again. Enjoy this varied display of thirty miniature boats at Dows Lake Pavilion
Tulipass You can get a Tulipass, which gets you unlimited access to Major's Hill Park, all Main Stage concerts plus added value discounts at most Official Sites. Tulipasses are avaialbel at various retailers before the Festival and at the gate at Major's Hill Park. NOTE: Dogs, cats and other pets are not allowed on Majors Hill Park. Tulip Route The Tulip route takes you past major tulip beds and event venues between downtown, Confederation Boulevard and the Casino de Hull. There a free shuttle bus between Official Sites provided on weekends by OC Transpo along the Tulip Route. Only two sites in Hull required a fare for STO Route 21: the Écomusée and Casino de Hull. There is plenty of parking near Majors Hill Park and around Dow's Lake.
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