CF-18 flies over Ottawa for Canadian Tulip Festival opening ceremony

A CF-18 Hornet is pictured on the afternoon of March 15, 2026, above Winnipeg, Man. (Allan Robertson).

A Royal Canadian Air Force CF-18 flew over Ottawa on Saturday morning for the opening ceremony of the Canadian Tulip Festival.

The CF-18 flew over the ceremony at Commissioners Park around 11:30 a.m. According to a statement from the Department of National Defence, the fighter jet was from the 3 Wing Bagotville, Que.

• Princess Margriet of the Netherlands visits Ottawa as Tulip Festival begins

“Founded to celebrate the Dutch royal gift of tulips, the festival honors Canadian troops for liberating the Netherlands and commemorates the Ottawa birth of Princess Margriet — the only royal ever born in Canada,” the statement reads.

The 2026 Canadian Tulip Festival runs until May 18.

• Sign up now for daily CTV News Ottawa newsletters
• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App