More Ottawa Festivals

Canadian Tulip Festival
This event occurs every year in May, when millions of tulips blossom throughout the city. It includes several official locations and attraction sites. Toronto folk-rock band the Skydiggers play an annual show here, and have been named the official band of the festival. How cool is that? 567-4447 or 1-800-66-TULIP

During World War II, Queen Wilhelmina of the Netherlands, along with her daughter Princess Juliana and her children, lived at Stornoway House in Rockcliffe Park during the time of their exile (some considered this an act of cowardice, leaving the Dutch people to suffer Nazi wrath). During her time in Ottawa, where few people recognized her, Princess Juliana sent her two daughters to public school, did her own grocery shopping, and even went to the movies unescorted. In 1945, Princess Juliana returned to the Netherlands with her mother to set up a temporary Dutch government, becoming Queen Juliana three years later. Once home, she expressed her gratitude to Canada, specifically to the City of Ottawa and its people, by sending the city 100,000 tulip bulbs. The following year, she sent another 20,500 bulbs, with the request that a portion of these be planted at the grounds of the Ottawa Civic Hospital where she had given birth to Princess Margriet in 1943. (The Parliament of Canada passed a special law at the time temporarily declaring the delivery room Dutch soil to ensure that the Princess was born in the Netherlands.) Queen Juliana promised Ottawa an annual gift of tulips during her lifetime to show her lasting appreciation for Canada’s wartime hospitality. Out of these donations, Ottawa has held its first annual Canadian Tulip Festival in May since 1953, and the 1967 festival was opened by Queen Juliana herself.

Ladyfest Ottawa

This event is (according to the website) a “non-profit, primarily women-organized music and arts festival that is open to everyone.” The festival originated in Olympia, Washington, in 2000, along with other Canadian cities such as Toronto, Guelph, and Halifax; it first came to Ottawa in 2001. As well as their annual festival of music shows, craft fairs, and DIY workshops, they hold various events throughout the year. A magnificent mixture of kick-ass, no bullshit, and health-wise attitudes. Check out their website for more information.