FIREWORKS MONDAY MAY 23, 2011!! 

VICTORIA DAY WEEKEND, May 13th to 23th, 2011

Celebrate Victoria Day with us at Queen Juliana Park, at the corner of Carling Avenue and Preston Street. Make a day of it, incorporating Ottawa's beautiful Tulip Festival, in neighbouring Commissioner's Park. This is a family event with something for everyone: midway rides; petting zoo; food, drink, and dessert concessions; buskers; children's activities; and live musical performances (see Events). The festival wraps up with a spectacular FIREWORKS display on Monday, May 23.

A Little History About Victoria Day....

Whether you are celebrating in Banff at the close of their ski season with the Victoria Day Slush Cup; packing up your tent trailer to stake out your favorite campsite; priming the pump and opening the cottage; putting the boats in the water; or just enjoying Victoria Day weekend at home, Ottawa has everything you need to celebrate!

Victoria Day occurs every year on Monday, prior to May 25th. It is the official celebration in Canada of the birthdays of Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth II.  Victoria Day was established as a holiday in Canada West (now Ontario) in 1845, and became a national holiday in 1901.  Victoria, queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and empress of India was born on 24 May 1819. She ascended the throne after the death of her uncle George IV in 1837 when she was only 18. She ruled until her death in 1901 when her son Edward the VII became king of England.

People of the Algonquin First Nation were in the Ottawa area since time immemorial.

The former City of Hull, Quebec, was first settled in 1800.

The Town of Bytown became the City of Ottawa on January 1, 1855.

The City of Ottawa became the capital of Canada on July 1, 1867.

Today, the Ottawa / Gatineau region is the fourth largest urban area in Canada.

In some parts of Canada, the holiday is colloquially known as May Two-Four. This phrase has two meanings: the holiday always falls near the date of May 24th, and a two-four is slang for a case of 24 bottles of beer.