After seeing the colourful pictures on Instagram last year, I knew I had to check out the Laval tulip festival this year.

The Laval tulip festival takes place at the Ferme Marineau (1270 rue Principal) located just off Highway 13 North about 15 minutes from Montreal and 40 minutes from the South Shore.

This seasonal festival usually lasts about three weeks starting mid to late May depending on the spring temperatures. I visited during the first week of the festival and due to cooler temperatures not all tulips had bloomed yet but there were still plenty for amazing photos.

The site is open seven days a week from 9AM to 7PM.

There is an entry fee to access the fields of tulips. During the week it is 8$ for individuals 6 years and old, and 5$ for children under 6. The price increases on the week-end by 2$. You can buy your tickets online. I thought the price was a bit steep considering the size of the site and that it does not include anything other than the parking. I would prefer if children under 6 were free to make it more accessible as a family outing.

Red, yellow, pink… so many colors

The field of tulips was pretty awesome to see, even without all the flowers in bloom. According to the festival websites, 400,000 bulbs were planted in the field. There were so many pretty colors to choose from!

I picked a dozen tulips with my sister and I loved the bright pink tulips. I have never been to the tulip festival in Ottawa or Holland for that matter, so it’s hard to compare. However, it was neat to walk along the multiple rows of beautiful flowers. It felt very idyllic and definitely a great place to take photos. The organizers have a special section reserved for that purpose and it can be booked ahead.

Picking tulips

If you want to pick tulips they are 10$ for a dozen or 20$ for 30. You can also purchase pre-packaged bouquets on site. I brought my own bucket (as per the website) but they also had some black plastic ones available if need be.

For more information and to buy tickets online, check out their websites: www.tulips.ca.