The Canadian Tulip Festival is now underway in the capital
The Canadian Tulip Festival is now in full bloom at Commissioners Park.
The festival opens on Friday with an opening ceremony from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m, followed by music and Dutch theatre and storytelling.
Listen to a conversation with Jo Riding of the festival on 1310 NEWS' The Rick Gibbons Show:
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On weekends, there will be bands playing along the boardwalk for visitor's enjoyment along with the thousands of tulips.
New this year, the Canadian Tulip Festival is offering a digital garden tour, complete with all the horticulture and heritage highlights that can be found in Commissioners Park through a mobile app.
Guests are being encouraged to download the festival’s 'GrowIt Mobile App' to enjoy a self-guided tour through the park.
Attendees will also have the chance to win tickets to Alegria by Cirque du Soleil each day of the festival.
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The Canadian Tulip Festival was established to celebrate the Royal gift of tulips from the Dutch to Canadians, as a symbol of international friendship
Canadian troops played a memorable role in the liberation of the Netherlands and Europe during the Second World War.
The festival also commemorates the birth of Dutch Princess Margriet in Ottawa, the only royal person ever born in Canada.
Admission to Commissioners Park is free but the Tulip Legacy Walking Tour is $5 for adults and $3 for students and seniors.
Kids under 12 are free.
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Tickets to the 'VIP fireworks experience' and the 'VIP fireworks boardwalk seating' sold out even before the festival began. Festivalgoers are still able to watch the fireworks in the park for free.
Fireworks will start around 10 p.m. on May 19 during the Victoria Day long weekend.
Queen Elizabeth Drive will be closed on the weekends and Victoria Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m and will stay closed until 11 p.m. on May 19 for the fireworks.
The festival runs from May 10 to May 20.
