5 ways to celebrate Victoria Day in Ottawa

With its high standard of living, beautiful architectural designs, and optimal geographical location, it comes as no surprise that Ottawa is both a fantastic place to live and visit. The Canadian capital boasts a wide range of cultural and entertainment attractions. We’ve put together a list of our favourite events so you can make the best of the holiday weekend.

Located on the southern banks of the Ottawa River, The Hill is the perfect spot to take in the fireworks on Victoria Day. Whether you’re amongst a group of friends, with family, or enjoying them with a special someone, the vivid firework show set against the backdrop of the sprawling urban landscape around you is a breathtaking view you won’t want to miss. Best of all? The Hill is open to visitors free of charge.

When: May 22th, 2017
Where: Parliament Hill, 90 Wellington St, Ottawa 

Fisher Park is a gorgeous, family-friendly destination for your Victoria Day celebrations. The Fisher Park Community Recreational Council will host its annual Victoria Day event starting in the late afternoon. It features a petting zoo and large bouncy castles for the kids, a delicious charity BBQ, live music to entertain the festivities, and stunning fireworks starting at dusk.

When: May 22nd, 2017, starting at 4pm
Where: Fisher Park Community Centre, 250 Holland Ave, Ottawa

The Canadian Tulip festival is held annually in May. Displaying over a million tulips, the popular festival is a crowd-pleaser, drawing upwards of 500,000 visitors a year. To mark the occasion, the Tulip Festival will host their 65th Anniversary Tulipmania Fireworks in honour of Victoria Day. Bring a blanket or lawn chair, get nice and comfortable, watch the show and enjoy the tunes. Their pre-fireworks show entertainment features CTV’s Sarah Freemark.

When: May 21st, 2017, starting at 7:30pm
Where: TD Place Stadium, Landsowne Park, 450 Queen Elizabeth Dr, Ottawa

Victoria Day weekend is the perfect time to bike through Rideau Canal’s scenic woodland pathway. Described as an engineering marvel, the Rideau Canal stretches between the city of Ottawa, on the Ottawa River, and the city of Kingston, on Lake Ontario. The Canal is a real treat for outdoorsy folks—a perfect place to picnic. Other attractions include fishing locations, camping opportunities, and boating and paddling on the waterways.

When: May 20th-May 22nd, 2017
Where: 34 Beckwith Street South, Smiths Falls, ON

ByWard Market is the true heart of the city. A district located in the Lower Town neighbourhood, ByWard Market is the foremost shopping destination in Ottawa. The ongoing Canadian Photography Institute’s Photography in Canada: 1960-2000 exhibition is a distinguished event to attend on Victoria Day. Displaying a collection of photographs from across four decades, that span conceptual, documentary, portrait and urban landscape themes, the exhibition is a chance to immerse yourself in Canadian culture. Afterward, enjoy the many fine dining restaurants at the ByWard Market.

When: May 20th-May 22nd, 2017, 10am-5pm
Where: National Gallery of Canada, 380 Sussex Dr, Ottawa