Canadian Tulip Festival

May 11, 2026 MLT

1 Day

Low

The Canadian Tulip Festival was established to celebrate the historic Royal gift of tulips from the Dutch to Canadians immediately following the Second World War as a symbol of international friendship. The Festival preserves the memorable role of the Canadian troops in the liberation of the Netherlands and Europe, as well as commemorates the birth of Dutch Princess Margriet in Ottawa during World War II—the only royal personage ever born in Canada.

The Canadian Tulip Festival has been celebrating the tulip, an international symbol of friendship and peace, since 1953. The first Canadian Tulip Festival was held at the suggestion of world renowned photographer Malak Karsh.

Tour Inclusions

Guided Tour of Rideau Hall, Governer General’s Residence
Visit to the grounds of Rideau Hall
Visit to the ByWard Market
Tulip Rideau Canal Cruise
Dinner in Ottawa at the Mandarin
Services of a Professional Maple Leaf Tour Director
Deluxe Motor Coach Travel with WiFi, air conditioning, TV/VCR, reclining seats with drink holders and seat belts.
All taxes and service charges are included (except for Tour Director and Driver gratuity).

Monday, May 11, 2026 Tour Itinerary

8:00 am Depart Kingston, Shrine Club (3260 Princess St at Collins Bay Rd) and travel to our Nation’s Capital.
8:30 am Depart Gananque, Hwy 2 Carpool Lot
9:00 am Depart Brockville, Food Basics Jefferson Dr.
10:30am Arrive at Rideau Hall.
11:00 am Enjoy a guided tour of the grounds & Rideau Hall.
12:00 pm Visit the ByWard market in time to wander and browse this wonderful area with its quaint booths, craftspeople and markets, with time for lunch on your own.
2:00 pm Guided Rideau Canal cruise. From the boat you will enjoy the best view possible of one of the engineering marvels of the nineteenth century- the Rideau Canal. Our guide will show you this major part of Canadian history as no one else is able to. Along the way you will be shown many of the major sites that have led to the development and rise of Ottawa as a city and a seat of government. We will travel along the Rideau Canal to Dows Lake and then return.
3:30 pm Visit Commissioner’s Park to walk among the tulips, visit the numerous booths, purchase tulips and enjoy the beauty that surrounds you. In the spring, Commissioners Park is home to the Capital’s most dazzling display of over 300,000 tulips. During the Canadian Tulip Festival and the Tulip Legacy Exhibit held here each spring, winding pathways will lead you through an explosion of colour in the gardens of Commissioners Park, making the spring a wonderful time to take a quiet break in the park with the beautiful views of Dows Lake in the background.
5:00 pm To complete our day, we will have dinner together at the Mandarin.
6:30 pm After a great day in our Nations’ capital, we begin our journey home.
7:30 pm Approximate arrival back in Brockville
8:00 pm Approximate arrival back in Gananoque
8:30 pm Approximate arrival back in Kingston.

Belleville

IHOP, 902 Wallbridge-Loyalist Road

7:00 am

Napanee

Flying J, Northeast Corner

7:30 am

Kingston

Shrine Club 3260 Princess Street

8:00 am

Gananoque

Hwy 2 Carpool Lot

8:30 am

Brockville

Food Basics Jefferson Dr.

9:00 am

Insurance

TRAVEL INSURANCE
Cancellation & Medical Insurance is strongly recommended for overnight tours and out of country travel.

Travel Insurance is available for purchase through Maple Leaf Tours.

Call us today for your no-obligation quote 613-384-0012 in Kingston OR 613-969-8884 in Belleville!

BEFORE YOU GO

There are regular stops made for comfort breaks
A portion of the proceeds from this Maple Leaf Tour Helps to Support Indigenous Scholarships
Tipping for tour director and driver is voluntary depending on quality of service
For the comfort of fellow travellers, kindly refrain from using scented products

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