It’s the 65th anniversary of the Canadian Tulip Festival, set for May 12 through 22, 2017, in the nation’s capital, Ottawa.

This flagship festival showcases the city’s official flower, the tulip, as a symbol of international friendship.

There will be activities at four official sites as well as “Tulipmania Fireworks” set to music, guided tours, vintage military displays paying tribute to veterans, and the World War II liberation of the Netherlands by Canadian troops.

• Lansdowne Park Tulip Gallery – Friendship, Floral and Art Tulip Experience featuring floral exhibits and installations from artists across Canada, the Tulip Café in Aberdeen, interactive family programming, arts and crafts.
• Commissioners Park – Garden Tulip Experience with mass-planted tulip beds.
• ByWard Tulip Park(ing) – Urban Tulip Experience bringing tulips to the downtown market.
• Tulips on the Garden Promenade – City Tulip Tour Experience that showcases Ottawa’s public gardens.

This special 65th edition of the Festival also marks a partnership with the Canadian Garden Council to create the “Garden Promenade” as part of expansion plans to showcase and promote the Capital as a garden tourism destination – a growing segment of the tourism industry (as we Road Trips Gardeners certainly know).

(Photo courtesy of Canadian Tulip Festival)