It’s the last weekend of the Canadian Tulip Festival in Ottawa, bringing in well over a quarter of a million guests since it began on May 8, according to organizers.
“We expect to see another hundred thousand over this weekend, so we should get close to our usual 350,000 visitors,” said Jo Hall, executive director of the Canadian Tulip Festival.
The 74 year old festival has 120 tulip beds across the nation’s capital with hundreds of thousands of tulip blooms and about 100 different tulip varieties.
The annual event draws in tourists from all across Canada and the world.
“Today’s a perfect day. I’m so glad,” said Sydney Nixon a tourist visiting from Maryland.
Nixon was visiting her daughter and says she’s been to Ottawa several times, but this was her first time experiencing the festival.
“The weather couldn’t be any nicer. I wasn’t able to bring her last year, so she flew in this year and we’re loving it. We’re enjoying it. The tulips are just outrageous,” said Sarah Shields, Nixon’s daughter.
Steps away in Little Italy, business owners say the tulips are drawing in people and boosting business.
“Tulip festival is always great, weather permitting, especially the weekend has been great. It’s been a big plus,” said Joe Cotroneo, owner of Pub Italia.
“I’d say almost double maybe. It takes a lot of prep work and a lot of staffing to get ready to handle a crowd like this.”
Hall says the tulip festival alone brings a $50 million economic boost to the city.
Visiting from Montreal, Dan Vasile and Ioana German say they came specially for the festival.
“Just amazing for me. I love it,” said Vasile
For Vasile, it’s his first time attending the festival but German says she attended once before more than 20 years ago.
“What was the most interesting thing is to discover so many types of tulips. I had no idea that there are so many types of tulips,” said German.
Those wanting a last chance to check out the show stopping festival will have one last opportunity before it wraps up after Victoria Day.
