Ottawa uses every excuse in
the book to put on a
festival, and its munificence is
evident at every jamboree.
Public holidays like Canada
Day are celebrated here with
the sort of spectacle that
other cities muster, but
with extra dollars to boost
the show, while seasonal
shindigs like the Winterlude
and the Canadian Tulip
Festival are as lavish as
any in the country. Other
than these large bashes,
ethnic festivals embracing
Canada's diverse population
are smaller but equally
entertaining and there's a
wide variety of musical
festivals too. The list
below is arranged
chronologically.
Winterlude . A
ten-day snow-and-ice
extravaganza spread over
February. Concentrated
around the frozen Rideau
Canal, it includes ice
sculptures at Confederation
Park - renamed the Crystal
Garden for the duration -
and snow sculptures around
Dows Lake. Other events
include speed skating, bed
races and dog-sled races.
Further information on tel
239-5000.
Canadian Tulip
Festival. Held in
mid-May, this is the oldest
of Ottawa's festivals - it
began in 1945 when the Dutch
sent 100,000 tulip bulbs to
the capital to thank the
Canadian soldiers who helped
liberate the Netherlands.
More bulbs arrived the
following year from Queen
Juliana, who had taken
refuge in Ottawa when the
Netherlands were occupied.
The transformation of the
city didn't meet with
universal approval at first
- Mackenzie King thought the
planting of tulips around
the Parliament Buildings was
"undignified", but
his staff planted thousands
in secret anyway. Nowadays
the bulbs are planted around
Parliament, along the canal
and around Dows Lake, an
outbreak of colour that's
accompanied by concerts,
parades, fireworks and a
huge craft show. The major
events take place in Major's
Hill Park and Dows Lake -
but few are free, and the
festival now has a
reputation for being rather
touristy. Further
information on tel 567-5757,
www.tulipfestival.ca
.
Franco-Ontarien
Festival . Late June.
This celebration of French
culture has built up a
reputation as being the
party that brings a bit of
wildness to conservative
Ottawa. Dalhousie St is
closed off to traffic for up
to five days, so the bands
and street dancers can take
over. Further information on
tel 741-1225, www.ffo.ca
.
Canada Day . July
1 The country's national day
celebrated in style with
parades, processions and
much flag waving. Further
information on tel 239-5000.
Bluesfest . Early
July. Canada's largest
festival of blues including
international crooners with
concerts in various venues
and free shows in
Confederation Park. Further
information on tel 233-8798,
www.ottawa-bluesfest.ca
.
Festival Canada .
July. Based around the
National Arts Centre, this
month-long festival features
performances of opera,
concerts, choral works,
jazz, English and French
theatre, cabaret and
workshops. Further
information on tel 996-5051,
www.nac-can.ca .
Ottawa International
Jazz Festival .
Mid-July. One of Ottawa's
most popular festivals,
showcasing more than 400
musicians. The main stage is
in Confederation Park with
concerts several times
daily. In addition, local
bands play around Byward
Market and at city clubs.
Further information on tel
594-3580, www.jazz.ottawa.com
.
Ottawa Chamber Music
Festival . Late July to
early Aug. North America's
largest classical music
festival, with concerts in
venues and churches across
the city. Further
information on tel 234-8008,
www.chamberfest.com .
