In a vibrant display of international friendship, 15,000 free tulips will be given away in Toronto this weekend.
On May 9, Toronto Tulip Day will take place at Nathan Phillips Square, located at 100 Queen St. W.
Happening from noon to 3 p.m., or until tulips run out, the celebration is hosted by the Consulate General of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Toronto as a “living symbol of the Netherlands’ enduring gratitude to, and ongoing friendship with, Canada.”
“Join us in marking the anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands, a victory that was secured through the courage, sacrifice and dedicated efforts of Canadian men and women during the Second World War,” the Consulate General said.
Plus, it is also the chance to celebrate Dutch Heritage Month in Ontario.
No registration or entry fee is required, and tulips are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
“We recommend arriving early to make sure you get yours,” the Consulate General noted.
More flower fun in Toronto
Also happening on May 9, the Toronto Flower Market will hold its first spring celebration from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 1001 Queen St. W.
Taking place on the corner of Queen and Shaw at CAMH, the celebration will transform TD Commons into a “botanical treasure chest,” Natasa Hansen, the market’s founder, previously told Toronto.com.
At the market, which has run for over a decade in the city, visitors can look forward to Ontario-grown flowers and plants that are sold directly by the growers. And no two market days are ever the same — each brings its own gathering of local growers and florists.
Aside from the flowers, there will also be small businesses and makers who “support a life lived with plants and flowers.”
“Think handmade vases, small batch honey, and more,” Hansen noted.
And if you can’t make it on May 9, the market will also run on June 13, July 11, Aug. 15, Sept. 12 and Oct. 10.