Visiting Ottawa & Central Ontario

With the sight of over a million tulips blooming across Canada’s Capital Region, you know spring has arrived in Ottawa and central Ontario. Now celebrating the 60th year, the Canadian Tulip Festival has become a springtime ritual in Ottawa. The season to get outside has begun. Ottawa race weekend brings the world's elite racers to Ontario in May for Ottawa Race Weekend, with the Ottawa Fringe Festival, Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival and outdoor Ottawa Jazz Festival following through the spring and summer. Outside the Capital Region, events liven up central Ontario’s communities from Bancroft’s Annual Rockhound Gemboree to Cornwall's Lift-Off Hot Air Balloon Festival.

Nothing signals spring in Ottawa like the Canadian Tulip Festival. 2012 marks the 60th anniversary of the festival, with over 50 varieties blooming across Ottawa and Gatineau. Visit Commissioners Park and follow the tulip route along the Rideau Canal, to witness the colourful tulip in bloom. Festivities are held May 4th through the 21st, with performances, lectures and live concerts across the Capital Region.

The 2012 Ottawa race weekend is May 26th and 27th, bringing elite runners and fitness enthusiasts to one of Canada’s premier sporting events – The Ottawa Marathon. Race Weekend events include the marathon, half-marathon, wheelchair marathon, along with a 10K, 5K, 2K and the finish of the Y kids marathon. Marathon weekend includes events for active visitors and plenty of fun and festivities for supporters and fans.

June brings a variety of festivals to Canada’s capital city, including the Ottawa Fringe Festival and Tim Hortons Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival. June 16th through the 26th artists and audiences invade the city for fringe’s unrestricted artistic expression. Venues range from Academic Hall and Studio Leonard-Beaulne at the University of Ottawa, to Bring Your Own Venues in the parking top Hi-Ottawa Jail Hostel, Café Alt and Luna’s Place. Enjoy the latest cutting edge entertainment at the Ottawa Fringe Festival.

Music Fans plan your getaway to the 2012 TD Ottawa International Jazz Festival. Set for June 21st through July 1st, Ottawa’s Confederation Park host’s performances by Ninety Miles on June 22nd, Trombone Shorty on June 25th and Chris Botti accompanied by the National Arts Centre Orchestra, on June 29th - to name just a few. With an amazing line-up, jazz fans don’t miss the summer Ottawa Jazz Festival.

Take advantage of spring and summer to visit Cornwall and the Seaway Valley. At the north end of Ontario’s Waterfront Trail Recreational Path, outdoor enthusiasts enjoy over 100 km of trail, following the path of the St. Lawrence River. An ideal destination to enjoy hiking, bicycling or strolling along the river, visit Gananoque, Brockville or Cornwall, hit the path and enjoy.

July brings Ontario’s only hot air balloon festival, the Kinsmen Cornwall Lift–Off Hot Air Balloon Festival. The 2012 events run July 12th through the 15th in Cornwall’s Lamoureux Park. Along with the breathtaking sight of brilliantly coloured hot air balloons lifting off, festivities include live entertainment and fireworks. Enjoy a 2012 summer getaway to Central Ontario!

Ottawa & Central Ontario Hotel Map