by Amanda DeGrace
With the warmer weather finally here, my family begins to get excited for many of the festivals that happen in the Ottawa area this spring summer.
Festivals for us mean family time, enjoying time outdoors, great music, enjoying meals with great friends and coming home after a long day in the sun to crash in to bed and hopeful for a full night of sleep! Here are three fantastic festivals and celebrations coming up this spring summer in Ottawa.
May 3-20 is the Tulip Festival. Pack a picnic or enjoy some of the onsite food as you explore various cultures through the world pavilion, bring a few extra water bottles, a stroller and /or baby carrier and get ready to walk through rows and rows of colourful tulips, crafts for the kids, there is music in the evenings and tons of fun all day long. Enjoy the Tulip Festival from Dows Lake and downtown behind Parliament Hill.
July 1 – Canada Day celebrations in the Nations Capital! Thousands of people head downtown to Parliament Hill to enjoy the celebrations with concerts, acts, food and more. But don’t dismiss some of the smaller celebrations that are happening in the city. They often have the same amount of energy and fun with a lot less people. Be sure to see the fireworks at night, as they are beautiful!
July 4-14 – get ready for RBC Royal Bank Bluesfest. This outdoor festival is home to 4+ stages and is jammed pack with fantastic artists. We love taking our children to outdoor music festivals. They have tons of room to move around and can rest wrapped up taking a nap on our back or in the stroller. Do take into consideration the amount of noise and ensure the little ones ears are well protected.
Last year our daughter, who was 4 months old at the time, was definitely the youngest to see Lauryn Hill! This year we are looking forward to Dixie Chicks, Tragically Hip, Zac Brown Band, Matt Good, and many more! Most tickets are less then $50 for a day and gives you access to a full days worth of amazing music. Even better… kids are free!
The above festivals are just the beginning of all the fantastic festivals that happen in the Ottawa area. Check out the Lumiere Festival, Folk Festival, Gatineau Hot Air Balloon Festival, Chicken and Rib Cook off (yum!), Greek Festival (oh even more yum!), Busker Festival and many more. For a full listing of Ottawa festivals visit www.ottawafestivals.ca
