Top Festivals and Events in Ottawa

Top Festivals and Events in Ottawa

As the capital of Canada, it's no surprise that Ottawa has a brimming calendar full of events. Canadians love a good party, and the city plays host to over 60 festivals a year, in celebration of everything from national pride, to the arts and music. With such a lot on throughout the year, its well worth booking your holiday around Ottawa's many festivals, for a truly memorable holiday. Find cheap hotels and flights with lastminute.com, and reliable travel insurance online with sites like Go Travel or the AA, and then use our guide to the best of what's on to plan your stay.

Ottawa International Chamber Music Festival: "Chamberfest" as it is known, runs from July to August, has run for 15 years, and is one of the largest in the world, showcasing internationally renowned classical music in venues across the city. Many of the performances take place in the gothic churches spread across the city. For more contemporary sounds, the Ottawa Jazz Festival also runs during the summer months.

Bluesfest: The largest blues festival in Canada kicked off in 1994, and exploded from a one stage event into an epic eleven day showcase of the best of Blues, Rock, Pop and World Music. The festival takes place in the scenic Le Breton Flats Park next to the Canadian War Museum in July.

The Fringe Festival: Fans of the theatre will love this celebration of all things Shakespearean, in a variety of avant-garde plays and performance art, where 100% of all ticket revenue goes to the performers, and new and creative expression is encouraged. Performances take place in indoor and outdoor venues across the city at the end of June.

Winterlude: Canada is covered in snow for a good part of the year, so the residents of Ottawa decided to turn it into a party instead of one bad weather forecast. This celebration of winter takes place in February and promises a winter wonderland of ice carving, snow sculptures, a "Crystal Garden" and a huge ice skating rink.

The Tulip Festival: This Spring bonanza celebrates the bounty of flowering bulbs given to Ottawa annually by the Dutch government. Over a million tulips and over 50 different varieties are expected to bloom in the spring, and it really is a dazzling sight. "The World's Largest Tulip Festival" takes place in May, and events include music concerts along the park Tulip routes.

Canada Day: On July 1st, the country celebrates itself, and Ottawa pulls out all the stops for the big bash. Large concerts, presided over by the Governor General, are held on Parliament Hill, street performers abound across the city and Major Hills Park is the best place to view the massive fireworks display in the evening.