Tulips. Race bibs. Ribfest smoke drifting across a parking lot. Patio weather that actually holds.

Ottawa in spring is a different city. The Rideau Canal thaws, festivals roll in, and somewhere around mid-May the whole place comes to life in a way that surprises people who've only ever visited in the other three seasons. 

Here are a few events to mark in your calendar.

Ottawa Grassroots Festival (April 23-26, 2026)

Immerse yourself in the vibrant local music scene at the Ottawa Grassroots Festival. This festival is a non-profit, volunteer run organization dedicated to bringing the community together through an annual weekend of concerts, food, and fun. Checkout their website at ottawagrassrootsfestival.com for artist lineups and ticket details.

The Canadian Tulip Festival (May 8-18, 2026)

Commissioners Park at Dow's Lake has 300,000 tulips planted across it every May. That number doesn't fully register until you're standing in the middle of it, looking at dozens of varieties spread across garden beds that run as far as you can walk. Commissioner's Hill and the Lansdowne gardens are both worth a visit too, but Dow's Lake is where you start.

The festival runs May 8 through 18 this year. Beyond the gardens, the tulip boutique has flowers, handmade goods, and local artwork, there are outdoor concerts and cultural performances throughout the day, and a sound and light show on the blacklight boardwalk every evening that's a completely different experience from the daytime gardens.

The weekend crowds pack the pathways fast so consider visiting during the week if able. Bring a camera too, because phone shots don't quite capture what those multicoloured beds actually look like up close.

The festival draws visitors from across Canada every year and has since it began as a celebration of the historic tulip gift between Canada and the Netherlands after World War II. Worth knowing the interesting backstory if you don't already.

Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend (May 23-24, 2026)

Each year the city plays host to one of the largest and most popular multi-day running events in Canada. The Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend draws close to 50,000 runners to compete in a variety of different races. These races include a 2K, 5K, 10K, kid's marathon, half marathon, and of course the full marathon. Even if you're not racing spectators can enjoy live entertainment, a beer garden, and more near the starting area at City Hall. The atmosphere and buzz in the city come race weekend is truly special.

Kanata Ribfest (May 22-24 2026)

There is truly nothing like the smell that the Kanata Ribfest brings to town. Every spring vendors descend upon Kanata with offerings of everything from poutine, home made mac & cheese, chicken, brisket, pulled pork and of course the real attraction, the delicious ribs. Experience live music, a fantastic atmosphere, and some of the best food you can find. The Kanata Ribfest is free admission and is a great time for all especially if you're hungry. As an added bonus, the festival takes place less than a five minute drive away from the Brookstreet making it the perfect spot for at least a quick visit.

Make Brookstreet Your Base

When spring hits the nation's capital all the fun isn't confined to one corner of the city. The added congestion in downtown Ottawa from the influx of guests can make navigating from your hotel to your destination much more of a pain than it needs to be. 

Luckily the Brookstreet Hotel is in Kanata, which puts you close enough to get to all of the action but removed enough from downtown that you can also enjoy the scenic natural beauty of Canada’s capital region. 

The Au Natural Spa is available on site when your legs are done after Race Weekend or from exploring the city. Perspectives Restaurant handles dinner when you've had enough festival food, or when you need a proper meal before you kick off the day. That's all not to mention the 276 luxury rooms and suuites for you to recharge in. It's the spring getaway hotel setup that actually makes sense.

Plan your spring getaway and come find out what the fuss is about.